UVU’s enrollment and retention are at all-time highs, with a record 44,653 students enrolled for the Fall 2023 semester and retention rates, outcome measures, and graduation numbers setting records every year. Student Affairs supports UVU’s goals of enrollment and retention by providing support for the primary reasons UVU students leave the university.
Student Affairs is working as outlined in the Completion Plan 3.0 to increase student retention and completion.
Student Affairs has contact with new and prospective students throughout the admissions process and their first year at UVU. As a university, our annual goals are to increase overall enrollment by 2%, underrepresented student enrollment and completion by 2%, and international student enrollment by 3%.
Students in our service region have a touchpoint with UVU admissions beginning in high school. Admissions counselors are available to help students navigate the admissions process.
Outreach Admissions Counselors are on staff to specifically serve students from underrepresented populations, such as first-generation students, adult learners, veterans, and minority students.
Students who have multiple points of connection with the university throughout their first year at UVU have been proven to have higher retention and completion rates. The First-Year Experience & Student Retention department was created to specifically target first-year students. We are also expanding orientation and first-week activities to increase awareness for resources on campus and to further increase contact with first-year students.
The various programs and departments under Student Services and other areas of Student Affairs are important touchpoints for students, especially those from groups historically underrepresented in higher education. The Women’s Success Center, Multicultural Student Services, the Veteran Success Center, Accessibility Services, and other areas all have outreach events and programs throughout the year to connect to student populations and provide any needed support.
Many UVU students and prospective students face obstacles that impact their ability to attend college. Student Affairs provides support to students who are struggling with these external barriers and connects them to resources to help them succeed and focus on their academic goals.
Paying for college is one of the most significant barriers to higher education, and finances are the top reason students withdraw from UVU. Students may need to leave school because they need to support their families or prioritize paying for their basic needs, such as food, housing, and childcare.
Coordinated Access to Resources and Education, or the CARE Hub, launched in 2019 to connect students to support and resources for needs like food and housing insecurity, healthcare, and childcare. The Student Emergency Fund also supports students in immediate financial need. When students have support meeting these foundational needs, they can focus on their education instead.
Physical and mental health are equally important to a student’s overall well-being and ability to focus on academics. Departments across the Student Affairs division support students’ physical health, including Student Health Services, the Student Life & Wellness Center, and the CARE Hub.
Mental health support is available through Student Health Services’ individual and group therapy. Other programs and initiatives like UVU Thrive and Wellness Programs all contribute to mental health by connecting students to the resources and education they may need.
Many students, especially first-year students, struggle to adapt to college-level courses and the new responsibilities they may have. In addition to the academic support available through Academic Affairs programs, Student Affairs supports students through advising and mentoring from both the university level and the federal level through programs like TRIO and GEAR UP.
Students are more likely to stay at UVU when they have personal and social connections at the university. By prioritizing the student experience, we facilitate connections through student clubs, UVUSA, multicultural initiatives, and other programs that bring students together.
