The University of Utah and the Ute Indian Tribe have maintained a longstanding partnership through our Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which formalizes the university’s respectful use of the “Utes” name in athletics. This agreement embodies a shared vision for cultural collaboration and educational empowerment. As we approach the next renewal period, which should be finalized next spring, this partnership continues to evolve. While recent critiques suggest that the U benefits disproportionately from this partnership, a closer look reveals a relationship grounded in mutual respect, cultural exchange, and a commitment to uplift the Ute community.

A historical connection

The formal partnership between the University of Utah and the Ute Indian Tribe dates back over 50 years. Established in 1972, the relationship acknowledges the historical ties between the Ute Tribe and the land on which the university stands. The first official MOU was signed in 2003 and renewed about every five years since.

The current MOU, agreed to in 2020, recognizes the university’s responsibility to honor these longstanding ties and ensures that the Ute name is used with dignity and cultural sensitivity. This agreement is not a mere transaction for rights; it is a framework for collaboration that elevates Ute voices while providing real benefits to the tribe’s members, especially through scholarships and educational programs.

Cultural stewardship and respect

The U recognizes the Ute Indian Tribe’s sovereign right to control how its name is used. By granting permission, the Ute Indian Tribe is exercising its right to self-determination. The MOU reflects this, establishing that the U consults with Ute leaders on the use of symbols, traditions, and cultural programs to ensure authenticity. This sets a positive example of how educational institutions and Native nations can engage together in a way that promotes mutual respect.

Among the university’s cultural programs is the Ute Proud campaign, which encourages the U community to learn more about Ute culture, heritage and the history of our region. Each football season, the U designates a Ute Proud game to honor the Ute Indian Tribe culture and share it with the greater community. U football players wear a specially designed Ute Proud helmet for the occasion, and members of the Northern Ute Tribe perform a traditional dance at halftime. To hear how much this partnership with the football team means to the tribe, watch this video of tribal members talking with the players earlier this season.

Programs such as the Indigenous Storytelling Camp held on campus for K-12 Ute students, culminating in a public “Storyfest” event, provide platforms for Ute youth to express their culture and share it with the U community. These initiatives not only educate the broader university audience about Ute heritage but also empower Native students by celebrating their stories. Another example mentioned in the MOU is the Ute Tribe’s involvement in the annual Pow Wow led by Native students and hosted and supported by the U. This event serves as a major cultural event, drawing nearly 3,400 participants and showcasing Native traditions from 8 tribal nations. The U’s involvement with the Ute Indian Tribe extends beyond campus as well. Each spring, a delegation of U leaders travels to the Uintah and Ouray Reservation to attend the tribe’s ceremonial Bear Dance and engage with the community.

Additionally, the U’s Center for Native Excellence and Tribal Engagement plays a critical role in advancing institutional goals of access, retention, and completion for Native students. The center fosters connections with tribal nations and offers relevant support services to help students overcome barriers to completion. From Summer 2022 to Fall 2023, the center saw a 1,200% increase in student engagement, supporting 63% of American Indian and Alaska Native bachelor’s degree recipients at the university through community and academic programs. The center also helps support campus events during Native American Heritage Month, also encouraged in the MOU.

Supporting K-12 students

The U and the Ute Tribe are also committed to supporting K-12 students, fostering a pipeline for college readiness that extends beyond the university itself. Both parties recognize the significant barriers to higher education for all Native students, including those from the Ute Indian Tribe, and are committed to evaluating and addressing those barriers. To that end, the U maintains a close relationship with the Ute Indian Tribe Education Department, engaging with Ute students from as early as elementary school. The U provides educational outreach both on the Uintah and Ouray Reservation and on campus to introduce Native youth to the possibilities of higher education.

Per the MOU, the Ute Indian Tribe asks the university to assist tribal members in helping their children “be prepared to pursue a college education.” Recognizing that success is not solely measured by attendance at the University of Utah, the U supports students in considering a range of postsecondary options and making the choice that best fits their needs. For example, Uintah Basin Technical College and the Utah State University extension are both located in nearby Vernal, allowing Ute Tribe students to attend school while living at home. The U assists families and students with the application and admissions process for any school. Many students from the collaborative programs supported by the MOU go on to thrive at various institutions, demonstrating that efforts to promote higher education can benefit the broader community and dispelling the notion that a lack of enrollment at the U constitutes a failure.

The U’s various outreach efforts include programs that prepare K-12 students for college and beyond. One example is IndigeSTEAM, a summer pathway program for Native high school students that introduces them to careers in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. In 2023, 92% of participants reported learning new information about STEAM professions, with 95% recommending the program to others. Additionally, initiatives like tutoring, mentoring, college application workshops and after-school programs funded through the MOU are designed to support Ute students from elementary through high school, addressing the foundational challenges that affect college readiness.

In addition to academic support, the U also recently hosted an athletics football camp on the Uintah and Ouray Reservation. More than 35 youth participated and engaged with the U’s former and active football players, increasing their exposure not only to collegiate athletics but also to higher education in general.

As part of the MOU agreement, the U provides the Ute Indian Tribe with $500,000 over the span of the five-year agreement to support and enhance tribal educational programs and opportunities. The university invests additional funding for staff, programming, sponsorships, participation in tribal fundraisers, and the annual winter market. Estimates for the U’s sponsorships, programming and external investments in this area (not including staff) for the past three years is about $155,000, with an additional $45,000 investment in the annual Pow Wow.

Ute Tribe and Native Student Scholarships

A pivotal aspect of the U’s partnership with the Ute Tribe is the Ute Tribe Scholarship, which provides essential financial support to enrolled Ute students. Per the MOU, the university offers this scholarship to every qualified Ute Indian student who applies and is accepted to the U. It awards up to $8,000 per academic year, which covered full tuition at the time that amount was set in 2020. Now, the U offers additional financial aid packages to ensure that today’s tuition costs are covered.

In addition to the Ute Tribe Scholarship, the U also started offering a Native Student Scholarship in 2022, available to students from all federally recognized tribes in Utah. On top of this, more than a dozen scholarships are offered specifically to Native American students in many colleges and departments and at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Through its Navigate U program, the U tracks metrics on all of its students—including Ute Tribe members. Below are a few stats on U students receiving either the Ute Tribe or Native Student Scholarships:

• Ute Tribe Scholarship: Since its inception in 2014, the U has invested more than $225,000 in scholarship funding, which has supported 18 Ute students. (This money is raised from private donations.)
• Graduates: Six students earned bachelor’s degrees, with one achieving a Doctorate of Audiology, while others have secured positions in various sectors, including the University of Utah, a non-profit organization, the Salt Lake City School District and the Utah Attorney General’s Office.
• This academic year: Three students received the Ute Tribe Scholarship and another four students who identify as Ute but are not officially enrolled in the tribe received other third-party scholarships.
• Overall Native Scholarships: In the fall of 2023, the U had 88 undergraduate students enrolled who identified as American Indian. Of those, 26 were new, first-time students and that number was up 73% from the prior year’s enrollment of 15.

Increasing access to Ute Tribe Scholarships

In an effort to make the Ute Tribe Scholarship more accessible, the U proposed in a 2022 memo to the Ute Tribe that the scholarship eligibility be expanded. Currently, it is limited to enrolled tribal members. Due to the Ute Indian Tribe’s high blood quantum requirement, many students who identify as Ute are not officially enrolled in the tribe and therefore not eligible for the scholarship. The proposed change by the U would allow students to qualify for the scholarship based on a letter from the Ute Tribe’s Education Department, broadening access to financial support and aligning with the MOU’s broader goals of empowering all Ute students.

This adjustment would not only reduce financial barriers but also better reflect the complex realities of Ute identity, supporting more students who are connected to the tribe culturally and socially, even if not formally recognized as members. While the tribe has not yet responded to the proposal, it is expected that discussions along these lines will be part of the upcoming renewal agreement.

A national platform for the Ute Tribe

Through its athletic programs, the U provides the Ute Tribe with significant national visibility. Televised games and events showcase the Ute name through the Ute Proud games. Licensing revenue from merchandise featuring the Ute Proud logo directly benefits the tribe, with funds reinvested into community programs.

In 2023, Utah Athletics’ overall annual sponsorship revenue included $10.5 million from partnerships like Under Armour, $1.5-$2 million in licensing royalties from wholesale sales of all licensed products bearing university-owned trademarks such as Utah®, Block U®, interlocking Us®, circle and feather® and others. The Ute Proud® licensing revenue averages about $4,000 per year. All of this revenue supports both the university’s athletic programs and Ute-led community initiatives, reinforcing the cultural collaboration outlined in the MOU.

 Strengthening the partnership

As the U and the Ute Tribe continue to build their partnership, several key proposals have emerged for the next MOU. Some of the primary ideas from the U include:

1. Cultural Engagement: Increasing visibility of the Ute Tribe through participation in Native American Heritage Month events, athletic newsletters and Ute Proud performances during athletic games.
2. Health Care Initiatives: Appointing a dedicated liaison from the University of Utah Health System, expanding telehealth services and building on the U’s community health outreach and mental health support tailored to Ute Tribe needs.
3. Academic and Leadership Programs: Enhancing STEM education and hosting the Tri-Ute Leadership Conference to build leadership skills among Ute youth.
4. Expanded Scholarships: Proposing the expansion of scholarship access to cover tuition, fees and living expenses, and potentially including descendants, to foster greater educational opportunities and economic impact.

As both parties move forward to renew the MOU, they share a commitment to further empower Ute students, celebrate their culture and foster a collaboration that benefits both the university and the tribe.