This article originally appeared in the Money print issue, in stands March 2025. It has not been updated and some information may be out of date.
In Room 411 of the Union, the University of Utah’s Center for Student Access and Resources (CSAR) has become a vital support system for non-traditional and parenting students.
Established in the wake of the anti-DEI laws passed by Utah last year, which led to the consolidation of various student support centers, CSAR now administers scholarships. It provides essential services previously managed by the Women’s Resource Center, the LGBTQ+ Resource Center, the Black Cultural Center and others.
Jenna Templeton, associate director of CSAR, described the center’s primary role as a scholarship administration office.
“We were created to administer all of the scholarships from the offices that were closed after HB261 was passed,” Templeton said. “So you can think of us as a scholarship administration office. We’re not providing direct services, but we are supporting and connecting students with the resources they need.”
With over $2 million allocated annually, CSAR manages scholarships that specifically support non-traditional students, parenting students, first-generation college students and those pursuing STEM or healthcare-related fields.
These scholarships are designed to be as accessible as possible, with many of them having lower GPA requirements to ensure students balancing family, work and academics still have financial support.
Many of the scholarships available through CSAR existed before the consolidation of resource centers, ensuring that students continue having access to financial aid that might have otherwise disappeared.
Who Qualifies as a Non-Traditional Student?
The U defines non-traditional students as those who graduated from high school or earned an equivalent diploma seven or more years before admission and have not previously enrolled in a regionally accredited college or university.
For these students, balancing education with other responsibilities, like work and family obligations, can be challenging. CSAR steps in, providing targeted support through scholarships and cohort programs designed to foster academic success.
Christine Contestable, a student resource navigator at CSAR, said the resource center has awarded 50 non-traditional students scholarships so far this academic year.
“We have about 50 parents who are receiving parenting scholarships,” she added. “So it is a lot of students that are getting served by these scholarships, and we want parenting and non-traditional students to know that we’re here, that these exist and that we want to support them both.”
Scholarships for Parenting Students
Parenting students have access to scholarships that help alleviate the financial burden of higher education. Among these is the Beatrice F. Kroesche Memorial Scholarship, which provides $1,500 per semester to undergraduate single parents or those raised by a single parent.
Another option is the Pete & Arline Harman Trust, which awards $3,250 per semester to full-time undergraduate non-traditional parenting students or graduate parenting students with a GPA of at least 2.70. The Simmons Family Foundation Scholarship offers $1,000 per semester to both undergraduate and graduate parenting students maintaining a minimum GPA of 2.70.
“These scholarships have been offered for over 20 years, and they are here in support of all students who apply and meet the requirements,” Templeton said.
Cohort Programs and Additional Support
In addition to financial aid, CSAR manages cohort programs designed to support students throughout their academic journey. CSAR’s approach focuses on smaller, targeted cohorts, unlike the large-scale programming events previously organized by individual resource centers.
“[There are programs] like the Larry H. and Gail Miller Enrichment Scholarship cohort and the one I work with, Heidi & Greg Miller Single Parent cohort. These are cohort programs that provide additional resources and support to students in specific circumstances,” Contestable said.
Through these cohorts, students receive mentoring, community-building opportunities and additional financial assistance, all aimed at improving retention and graduation rates.
Alongside serving as a central hub for scholarships to assist students facing challenges in higher education, CSAR also offers a space where students can study, access shared computers, print documents and even heat meals in the provided microwave.
Addressing Student Retention: The ‘Thinking of Leaving’ Initiative
Beyond scholarships, CSAR also seeks to address student retention challenges. One initiative, called the “Thinking of Leaving” form, allows students to share their concerns before deciding to drop out.
“It serves as an information-gathering form for us to intervene before a student decides to leave the University of Utah,” Templeton said. “We reach out to see if we can address any barriers they’re facing and, by doing so, hopefully retain them at the university.”
Through this program, students who may be struggling financially, academically or personally relate to resources to help them stay enrolled.
