Utah Valley University (UVU) has entered into a new institutional partnership with the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium (LLPA), expanding hands-on learning, undergraduate research, and career-connected opportunities for students across the university.
Utah Valley University (UVU) has entered into a new institutional partnership with the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium (LLPA), expanding hands-on learning, undergraduate research, and career-connected opportunities for students across the university.
Formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and announced during a public event at the aquarium’s Sam & Aline Skaggs Science Learning Center, the collaboration strengthens UVU’s commitment to engaged learning and community partnerships that prepare students for real-world success.
The partnership establishes the LLPA as a premier experiential learning site for UVU students and creates a dedicated space for instruction and research within the facility. Through this collaboration, UVU students from multiple disciplines will have expanded access to field-based coursework, applied projects, and research experiences in a professional scientific environment.
“This partnership represents an extraordinary expansion of opportunity for our students,” said Daniel Horns, Ph.D., dean of the College of Science. “By embedding learning directly within a world-class facility like the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium, we are creating immersive, hands-on experiences that extend beyond the classroom. This space is designed to serve students from across the university, not only those majoring in science.”
Key components of the partnership include:
The partnership aligns with UVU’s broader institutional initiatives, including the College of Science, which emphasizes undergraduate research opportunities, and the Innovation Academy, both of which advance project-based, interdisciplinary learning in collaboration with campus and community partners. Together, these efforts reinforce UVU’s focus on workforce readiness, applied learning, and student success.
The long-term framework established through the MOU supports continued growth in experiential education, expanded student research opportunities, and strengthened collaboration between UVU and community partners. The agreement also enhances pathways for paid student research and applied learning experiences alongside aquarium professionals.
