Our goal is to forge vanguard studies of shifting sexualities, changing genders, dynamic immigrants, disability politics, intersectional identity, and emergent struggles against all bigoted thought and action.

The School for Cultural and Social Transformation has identified the following funding priorities for the Imagine New Heights campaign:

• First Year Diversity Scholars: This program is designed for new incoming freshmen from underrepresented communities transitioning into college. It aims to assist first-year students through mentorship and other student support services to ensure student success.
• Second Year Programming: This effort provides support to continuing students through academic and non-academic programs, workshops, and leadership development, persisting until completion.
• Community Engaged Learning: A major part of the Office for Equity and Diversity and School for Cultural and Social Transformation, the goal is to continue working in and with communities that are underserved and underrepresented.
• Cutting-Edge Research: The School for Cultural and Social Transformation aims to contribute new research on identity and culture, providing tools for students to thrive in college communities they may not have considered prior to coming to the University of Utah.
• Pacific Islander Studies Initiative: This initiative provides brand new, highly desired academic-to-community programming that is changing the equation of how the university serves Pacific Island communities and solicits community wisdom. With several hires, the strategy is to create a Center for Pacific Islander Health and Wellness and to have the best Pacific Islands Studies in the continental United States.
• Disabilities Studies: With the expert help of our Disability Studies scholar in Gender Studies, the school agreed to move the courses of study that comprise Disability Studies into Transformation, focusing on not only medical models but on disability-as-diversity and the structural barriers that ableism spawns at every turn.
• Islamic Studies: The Division of Ethnic Studies still seeks a search in Islamic Studies that would tie to and strengthen Religious Studies in the College of Humanities. Along with Islamic Studies, the school is hoping to hire more faculty in LatinX Studies, possibly in conjunction with Criminology Studies in the College of Social & Behavioral Science, and future hires in Black Feminism and LatinX Feminist Studies.
• Diversity Emergency Funds: This fund is committed to serving students during life changes and getting over financial barriers that may stand in the way of graduation.
• Alumni Relations: The school is cultivating relationships with alumni who majored or minored in Ethnic and Gender Studies.