The Four Year Plan

The New U Student Experience: The Four Year Plan

The core components of The New U Student Experience position you for graduation in four years, enhance your undergraduate experience with high impact programs and experiences, and help you navigate and maximize your time at the University of Utah.

At the core of your experience as an undergraduate will be learning environments that foster critical thinking and result in student learning. These will sometimes be traditional classrooms, but other times in laboratories, dance studios, archives, or in the context of volunteer activities. The New U Student Experience seeks to address your needs as whole persons—helping you choose academic experiences that will help you develop broad and deep knowledge, engage in real world application and integration, and that will put you in the company of powerful mentors or teachers.

While students are welcome to fulfill their course requirements and studies on their own, The Four Year Plan designed by the Office of Undergraduate Studies is a series of academic programs, enhancement opportunities and recommendations that students typically wouldn’t discover or have access to on their own. In combination, The New U Student Experience, goes beyond a check list of requirements to recommend a set of transformative, empowering experiences that set you up for success.

First Year

From the day you apply to the U, we want you to experience a seamless beginning so you’re prepared and excited on the first day of class. We encourage you to think about living on campus and be part of learning communities throughout your first year. Getting involved in one of the 500 student groups offered at the U—like the Freshman Council or ASUU—will help you build connections and find your place in the University community. Participation in Honors College, LEAP, ACCESS, Beacon Scholars, and Diversity Scholars among other learning communities, provides networks of peers and mentors who will help you make personal connections that will last throughout your college career and puts you in the company of supportive and inspiring teachers. Learning communities will help you integrate and move thematically through General Education. Consider taking a Block U or beginning an integrated minor.

Second Year

During the second year, we encourage students to live on campus if they can to stay immersed and focused on coursework and goals. Regardless, get a job on campus! If you continue to participate in student groups you will gain vital experience outside the classroom. High impact experiences like community service projects at the Bennion Center and other outreach to the local community are encouraged. Begin building your plan for participating in study abroad, creating your own signature experience with MUSE, and getting involved in research opportunities during your second year. If you’re doing an integrated minor, take classes in General Education recommended for the theme. If you’re a Block U student, complete the second semester. Visit the Exploration Center.

Third Year

Through MUSE and other high impact programs like UROP and Honors Think Tanks, you can gain valuable practical and real-world experience. In preparation for your career, get connected with internships and also shadow like-minded professionals in areas of interest as you begin planning for careers and other endeavors beyond college.

If you’re doing an integrated minor, complete a practicum or real world experience. Enter the major and get connected to your departmental advisor and other students in your field of study. Visit the career center.

Fourth Year

The fourth year of the program encourages students to reflect on your college experience and prepare for a future beyond graduation––whether that be graduate school or entering the workforce. Participation and completion of a Capstone Project shows the range of research, community, or other work you’ve engaged in during their time at the U. Completing an ePortfolio collecting examples of their best work and ideas generated during their studies provides a tangible example of their interests and skills to future employers. Meetings with advisors and mentors allow tracking of academic progress for successful completion of your college career and preparation for the next step after graduation.