33 Utah high schools will have a full-time college access advisor by fall 2019
Thirty-three Utah high schools will have a full-time, permanent college access advisor this fall, the Utah Board of Regents announced at its meeting on Friday, January 25, 2019, at Utah Valley University.
The near-peer college access advisor will help students register for and complete college entrance exams, submit college applications, apply for scholarships and financial aid, and connect them to first year experience programs to ensure a smooth transition from high school to college.
High schools with a college access advisor are anticipated to see the college enrollment rates of their graduates increase 5 to 9 percent.
This expansion is the first step in taking the program statewide. In September 2018, the Board of Regents approved a proposal that would provide a college access advisor for every high school in Utah. The $6 million proposal is the Board’s top legislative priority for the 2019 session.
“We are very pleased to announce the expansion of the college access advising program, which has been proven to transform the ability of Utah high school students to access college,” said Dave Buhler, Commissioner of Higher Education. “We look forward to working with the Legislature this session to make college dreams a reality for more Utah students.”
Under the direction of the Board of Regents, every high school in Utah will have a full-time, permanent college access advisor by the 2021-2022 school year, contingent on legislative funding. As the program is implemented across the state, it will be regionally integrated into local public colleges and universities to tie in with their programming and college access efforts.
To fund this initial expansion, the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education has reprioritized $1 million of existing funds.
Dr. Rich K. Nye, Ogden School District Superintendent, added, “Ogden School District is excited for two of our schools to participate in this initial expansion. Having a person on the ground, full-time, helping students navigate college admissions and the financial aid process will be instrumental to getting more of our students connected to college opportunities. Our students, particularly those who are underserved or who would be first in their family to go to college, will especially benefit from this effort.”
This statewide college access advising program expands the Utah College Advising Corps at the University of Utah, which was initially established in 2007 under a joint grant from the Board of Regents and the University of Utah from the Jack Kent Cook Foundation. The program has been in 12 high schools for nearly 11 years, 11 high schools in Salt Lake County and one in St. George.
It is anticipated that the following high schools will have full-time college access advisors for 2019-20 school year:
Weber/Davis County Cluster
Weber School District
- Fremont High School
- Weber High School
- Roy High School
- Bonneville High School
Davis School District
- Clearfield High School
- Layton High School
Ogden School District
- Ben Lomond High School
- Ogden High School
Utah County Cluster
Alpine School District
- Mountain View High School
- Orem High School
- West Lake High School
Provo School District
- Provo High School
- Timpview High School
Nebo School District
- Springville High School
- Payson High School
Washington County Cluster
Washington School District
- Dixie High School
- Desert Hills High School
- Snow Canyon High School
- Hurricane High School
- Crimson High School
- Water Canyon High School
- Pine View High School
Salt Lake County Cluster
(continuation of existing program)
Salt Lake City School District
- East High School
- West High School
- Highland High School
Granite School District
- Granger High School
- Cyprus High School
- Hunter High School
- Kearns High School
- Taylorsville High School
- Cottonwood High School
Jordan School District
- West Jordan High School
Canyons School District
- Hillcrest High School
