Center for Native Excellence and Tribal Engagement

The mission of the Center for Native Excellence and Tribal Engagement at the University of Utah is to facilitate the social, academic, and cultural engagement of American Indian and Alaska Native students, staff, trainees, and faculty through cultural affirmation, academic and professional development, and post-graduation preparation for undergraduate students. Additionally, the center serves all tribal nations as the cultural conduit to both tribal communities and the University of Utah via research, education, cultural reverence, and community outreach. 

Goals

• Recruitment – To increase the number of American Indian students who enroll at the University of Utah.
• Retention – To increase the retention and graduation rate of American Indian students at the University of Utah.
• Culture – To increase the cultural and historical competency of American Indians for all students, staff, and faculty at the University of Utah.
• Community Outreach – To increase communication and collaborative relationships with tribal nations and American Indian communities throughout the State of Utah.

University of Utah Indigenous Land Acknowledgment

The University of Utah has both historical and contemporary relationships with Indigenous Peoples. Given that the Salt Lake Valley has always been a gathering place for Indigenous Peoples, we acknowledge that this land, which is named for the Ute Tribe, is the traditional and ancestral homelands of the Shoshone, Paiute, Goshute, and Ute Tribes and is a crossroad for Indigenous Peoples. The University of Utah recognizes the enduring relationships between many Indigenous Peoples and their traditional homelands. We are grateful for the territory upon which we gather today; we respect Utah’s Indigenous Peoples, the original stewards of this land; and we value the sovereign relationships that exist between tribal governments, state governments, and the federal government. Today, approximately 60,000 American Indian and Alaska Native Peoples live in Utah. As a state institution, the University of Utah is committed to serving Native communities throughout Utah in partnership with Native Nations and our Urban Indian communities through research, education, and community outreach activities.