About Belonging @ Eccles

Strategic Initiatives

In alignment with the University of Utah strategy, Eccles School climate assessment data, and best practices in higher education, the Belonging Steering Committee leads out several strategic initiatives, including:

Hiring Toolkit
Onboarding Toolkit
Functional Area Education Plans
Transparency Website
Data Integrity Process
Engagement Working Group

Initiative Process

  1. Listening. Meeting with stakeholders throughout Eccles and the University to understand existing initiatives, impact, pain points, and perspectives.
  2. Identifying Problems. Using information gathered during the listening phase to synthesize into a core set of issues with common understanding.
  3. Proposing Initiatives. Drawing from identified problems to envision targeted initiatives backed by data and resources.
  4. Gathering Buy-In. Sharing proposed initiatives; collecting input and buy-in from the Dean’s Team, faculty and staff, and existing committees.
  5. Implementation. Identifying project leads, timelines, goals, and objectives; beginning to move forward with initiatives.
EDI Process Wheel

Steering Committee

Tara Hardison, Assistant Dean, OEO/Title IX Eccles Liaison

Molly Coughlin, Associate Director, Business Career Services
Austin Hendrickson, Director, Student Affairs & Belonging
Catherine Smith, Senior Director of Marketing
Steve Stubben, Associate Dean, Faculty and Research; Professor; David Eccles Faculty Scholar
Jess Taverna, Assistant Dean, Undergraduate Studies; Professor
Kristen Yunis, Instructional Designer, Executive Education