Student success at the University of Utah doesn’t happen by accident—it is continuously being built, tested and refined as we reimagine how students find their way to support—removing barriers and illuminating clearer pathways to completion and beyond. Through the Peer Education Network (PEN) and the strategic use of tools like Penji, we are transforming a collection of strong programs into a coordinated, data-informed ecosystem designed to meet students where they are—and help them go farther.
Historically, peer education at the U has been strong, but decentralized—programs operated independently, with varying practices, tools and levels of visibility. As institutional priorities have refined around retention, completion and performance-based outcomes, so too has the need for a more coordinated approach.
PEN was created to meet that moment.
Launched in Fall 2025, PEN brings together leaders of tutoring and academic support programs from across campus to establish a shared, evidence-based framework for how peer education is delivered, assessed and expanded.
“The future of student success is not just about offering support—it’s about orchestrating it,” said Casey Hoekstra, director of the Learning Center. “Through PEN, we are building a more connected, intentional system that ensures students can access the right support at the right time.”
A commitment to shared practice and continuous improvement
At its core, PEN is built on a set of shared commitments. Programs agree to align around best practices in tutor hiring and training, implement consistent approaches to evaluation and collect and share data on usage and impact.
This collective approach reflects a broader shift underway at the university—moving from well-intentioned but distributed efforts toward a coordinated model of student success grounded in evidence and continuous improvement.
Through regular collaboration, needs assessment conversations and a growing community of practice, PEN is creating space for programs to learn from one another, identify what works and address shared challenges together. This is not a one-size-fits-all approach. PEN recognizes the unique needs of each tutoring service and includes room for personalization and adaptability within departments.
One of PEN’s most important contributions is its focus on data.
The full impact of peer education across campus has been difficult to measure at a systems level. While individual programs have demonstrated success, the university has not always had a comprehensive understanding of who is being served, how often students engage, or where gaps remain.
PEN is working to change that—bringing peer education into a shared data and assessment framework that allows the institution to better understand its collective reach and effectiveness.
“This work gives us information we’ve never had before,” said P. Brandon Johnson, senior associate dean for student success and transformative experiences in the Office of Undergraduate Studies. “By understanding how students are engaging with peer education—who we’re reaching, how often and where needs remain—we can make more intentional, evidence-based decisions about how to expand support and strengthen outcomes.”
To support this effort, tools like Penji are being used to streamline scheduling and capture engagement data across programs. While not the focus of the work itself, this kind of infrastructure helps operationalize PEN’s goals—making it easier for students to access support and for the institution to learn from how that support is used.
“Penji gives us the ability to move beyond intuition and into insight,” Hoekstra added. “It allows us to see where we are making the greatest difference for students, where gaps remain and how we can scale what works—so more students benefit.”
Expanding impact: Creating a more navigable experience for students
As PEN continues to evolve, the focus is increasingly on expansion—both in reach and impact. By identifying where peer education is most effective and where unmet needs exist, the university is better positioned to extend support to more students, particularly in high-impact courses and areas where academic challenges can derail progress.
Ultimately, PEN is about making the university easier to navigate. Students should not need to understand the organizational structure of the institution to find help. Support must be accessible, consistent and connected—regardless of where they begin. By aligning programs, practices and data, PEN is creating an experience where academic support is visible, coordinated and designed to meet students where they are, in the moments that matter most.
Email Casey Hoekstra to find out more about how to engage with PEN.