In the last 10 years

What a ride the last decade has been.

Just 10 years ago, as LMFAO strutted around in leopard-print pants with their Billboard-hit song “Party Rock Anthem,” the final installment of the Harry Potter franchise broke box office records, and the U joined the Pac-12. And since then, the U has made astounding progress. We want to share some highlights on how your alma mater is adding value to your degree—and a way for you to be entered to win a $50 gift card.

2. Advancing Science Funding for research at the U has nearly doubled in the last 10 years. In 2011, the U brought in about $369 million. By last year, that figure skyrocketed to more than $603 million. And that progress is getting noticed, as the U joined Harvard, MIT, Stanford, and others to become one of 65 world-class members of the Association of American Universities (AAU), an organization for institutions at the forefront of scientific inquiry and educational excellence.

4. Snagging Trophies In 2011, the U joined the Pac-12 and immediately got to work. The Utes have had a resounding and ongoing impact on the Power Five athletic conference, including:

• Football: Pac-12 South Division champs in 2015, 2018, 2019
• Skiing: NCAA champs in 2017, 2019, 2021
• Gymnastics: Pac-12 champs in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2021
• Baseball: Pac-12 champ in 2016

1. Sharing Knowledge We’ve had tens of thousands of people join the U alumni community. In fact, the U awarded 78,854 degrees from 2011-2020—and more people who start studying are graduating. The six-year graduation rate has leapt from 55% to a peak of 70% in the last decade, making it one of the fastest-growing in the country. Outgoing U President Ruth Watkins made increasing the six-year graduation rate a hallmark of her eight-year tenure.

3. Enhancing Health It’s no wonder more people are turning to U of U Health for their care. It was ranked among the top 10 academic medical centers for 10 years in a row, and in the past decade, patient visits skyrocketed from 569,000 to 2 million annually. To expand opportunities for patients, U of U Health now has 12 neighborhood health centers from Farmington to South Jordan and beyond.

5. Rebuilding a Magazine Of course, our favorite accomplishment by the U in the last decade is what you’re holding in your hands. Continuum magazine became the standard-bearer for U news and insight from its founding in 1991, and we hope the newly redesigned and renamed University of Utah Magazine continues that tradition of excellence. But we want to hear from you! Fill out the survey at magazine.utah.edu/survey and be entered to win a $50 gift card from the Red Zone.