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HERRIMAN — The University of Utah and Salt Lake Community College are taking steps to expand access to higher education through the opening of a new building at SLCC's Herriman Campus.
The Juniper Building in Herriman opened Monday, signifying a first-of-its-kind collaboration between the two institutions, offering students a seamless journey toward achieving higher education.
Students will be able to earn an associate's degree at SLCC and transfer their credits to the U., where they can earn a bachelor's degree, all under one roof.
"This campus will play a key role in making college more accessible to those who call this area home and, in turn, help their families and community thrive and prosper," said SLCC President Deneece G. Huftalin. "I also hope this campus will become a central place for community-wide learning and engagement. We are particularly grateful for the partnership and support from Herriman city in advancing access to higher education in their rapidly growing community."
The new 88-acre campus will be home to over 2,000 students — with projections that it will serve around 7,000 students by 2025 — after opening Aug. 22, according to a release from SLCC.
The Juniper Building will allow students to earn their associate's degree in business, economics, education, psychology, general social and behavioral sciences, family and human studies or computer science information systems.
Following their associate's degree, students will be able to have a seamless transition to the U. — where they will be able to earn a bachelor's degree in business, economics, education, psychology, general social and behavioral sciences and family and human studies — at the same location.
In addition to academics, the Juniper Building will provide enrolled students with resources and amenities, such as admissions, financial aid and advising. More buildings are anticipated to meet future growth at the Herriman Campus.
📚Salt Lake Community College & the U are joining hands celebrating higher education by opening the Juniper Building on the new Herriman Campus.
— Karah Brackin (@kbontv) August 7, 2023
This building is the first completed building on the campus⬇️⬇️⬇️@KSL5TV@UofUNews@SaltLakeCCpic.twitter.com/QwkzFPwqRk
"A Top 10 university of tomorrow is actually a Top 10 university that thinks really deeply about access and trying to include everyone in the process of higher education," U. President Taylor Randall said. "If we do this right, we're going to be taking the best of two remarkable, different models of education, we're going to be putting them together and you're going to see students flocking to this place from all over."
As one of the fastest growing areas in the Salt Lake Valley, U. and SLCC officials hope the Herriman Campus will make higher education more feasible for students who juggle multiple responsibilities like working and/or caring for children while attending school.
"Education is a priority in Herriman. We love the idea that students can receive their entire formal education — from elementary school through a college degree — all within the same community," said Herriman Mayor Lorin Palmer. "We look forward to working with Salt Lake Community College and the University of Utah as partners in serving our community's educational future."
Contributing: Karah Brackin
