Utah Cooperation Cohort
The Utah Cooperation Cohort is a statewide, collaborative initiative to advance a culture of cooperation across difference. This initiative is made possible by a partnership between the University of Utah, the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE), and Interfaith America.
The Utah Cooperation Cohort has brought together eight public universities and colleges across the state, including:
"Colleges and universities are places where people with different experiences, beliefs and ideas learn not only alongside one another, but from one another. The Utah Cooperation Cohort gives us an opportunity to turn that principle into practice, by helping us build the relationships, habits and skills that allow us to work across differences and act together for the common good."
- Taylor Randall, University of Utah President
Each participating institution has made a presidential-level commitment to champion cooperation across difference and is contributing funding to a grant program intended to build respect across different communities, develop genuine relationships across those communities, and foster common action for the common good.
“This initiative reflects the strong collaboration among Utah’s colleges and universities and our partners to help students learn how to work across differences, engage in their communities and contribute positively to the state.”
- Geoffrey Landward, Utah Commissioner for Higher Education.
The Utah Cooperation Cohort offers grants for projects that intentionally promote cooperation across meaningful political, religious, ideological, and other differences. The grants provide funding and support for members of participating institutions to design and lead programming on Utah campuses and in their surrounding communities. To expand the resources available for these projects, the University of Utah has pledged a 1:1 match of the funds contributed by each participating campus.
“Utah is emerging as a national leader in work rooted in cooperation across difference, equipping students with skills that are both in demand in the workplace and essential to citizenship in an increasingly diverse democracy.”
- Eboo Patel, Interfaith America Founder and President
Additionally, grantees will participate in a community of practice designed to strengthen their projects, build their capacity to engage across difference, and connect them with others doing similar work across Utah.