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A Navigate U Step-by-Step Guide
A Strategic Approach to Enhancing Academic First Experiences

Overview & Rationale

In response to a recommendation from NISS, the University of Utah is launching a First Experience (FE) course initiative designed to support first-year student success and persistence. Research shows that early, structured engagement—through first-year seminars and experiential learning—positively impacts retention and completion. 
 
The FE initiative is grounded in national best practices and the University’s Exceptional Educational Experience (E3) framework. It incorporates experiential elements that support engagement, reflection, and real-world relevance—drawing on the criteria originally developed for Experiential Learning (EL). These criteria have been thoughtfully integrated into the FE framework to support consistency, scalability, and continued advancement of the U’s experiential learning effort. This alignment ensures every student benefits from a meaningful and impactful learning experience early in their academic journey. 

FE Course Design Principles (Aligned with EL Criteria)

FE courses will:

  1. Connect (Community)
    • Foster community through peer interaction and engagement with faculty, staff, and campus resources.
    • Include strategies that support engagement such as constructive dialogue, collaborative assignments, project-based learning, or college/school and campus resource exploration activities.
  2. Empower (Knowledge & Skills)
    • Support academic transition and confidence-building through research, writing, and self-assessment.
    • Include integration with campus services (e.g., advising, success coaching, U Career Success, wellness).
  3. Impact (Pathways & Purpose)
    • Support students in connecting their academic experience and coursework to future goals, career paths, or societal contributions.
    • Include reflective components and experiences that emphasize relevance and application. 

Additional Notes:

  • FE courses may be variable in credit (e.g., 1-3 credit hours).
  • FE courses may be General Education courses, where appropriate, but do not need to be GE-designated. If they are, all GE course standards still apply.
  • Courses should be taught by trained instructors and accessible to all first-year students in each college/school or through the Quest program. 

Call to Action: AY 2025-26 Pilot Year

The 2025-26 academic year will serve as a pilot year for the First Experiences initiative. During this time, colleges and departments are encouraged to:

  • Begin identifying existing course that align with the FE design principles.
  • Explore opportunities to develop new FE courses that reflect these principles.
  • Consider partnering with the Quest team to support students through Quest 1120 or Quest 1130 as an alternative FE pathway. 

Timeline & Key Dates

  • Sept – Oct 31, 2025 – Consultation available (as needed)
  • Oct 31, 2025 – FE attribute application deadline for Fall 2026
  • Nov 3 – Nov 26 – Review and confirmation 

For applications and additional resources, visit: https://firstexperiences.utah.edu/

This pilot phase is a crucial step in ensuring that all first-year students benefit from a meaningful and equitable academic introduction to the University of Utah. We invite all colleges and departments to begin exploring how their programs can contribute to this campus-wide effort for full launch in AY 2026-27. 

Last Updated: 8/28/25