Utah Valley University (UVU) launched a new Foster Success program to support youth transitioning from foster care into higher education reconfirming its commitment to helping students succeed in completing their education.
Recognizing the effects that a history of distress can have on learning and development, the program creates a trauma-informed approach to best engage with students. It highlights the importance of understanding the impact that foster care has on people, its key features, and how to help students find purpose during their education.
UVU administrators, faculty, foster care representatives, and youth involved in foster care collaborated and planned for over a year to bring the program to life. Experts from UVU’s Mental Health Services, with personal experience in foster care, also created specialized training for UVU employees.
Wendy Simmerman, senior director of workforce alignment at UVU and long-term foster parent, created this program by witnessing the challenges youth face as they age out of the system. Youth involved in foster care tend to face seemingly endless obstacles and are expected to join higher education with deep-rooted histories of trauma, lack of family support, and limited awareness of how to adjust to new education settings.
“Youth coming from the foster care system face significant barriers to completing their education,” said Simmerman. “The most rewarding part of working on this initiative was meeting with alumni, staff, and faculty who have overcome those barriers and done it. Their resilience and courage show us what is possible, and their generosity in sharing their experiences helped us create a foundation of support that will benefit them for years to come.”
The Foster Success program collaborated with the Office of the Provost, Academic Affairs, and other key divisions at UVU to provide the most impact. By recognizing that these students face difficult and unique challenges, the program and its partnerships provide the necessary support for them to succeed academically and personally. It directly points them to services involving housing and food security, financial aid, and even counseling to ensure every holistic need is met.
Associate Provost of Student Success David R. Connelly, Ph.D., is another essential leader in the program. “We realize that often students who come to UVU from foster care have experienced disruption and trauma, impacting both their studies and their well-being,” Connelly said. “An encouraging support network is key to any student’s success — more so for students who lack stable family support. We want our students who have navigated life in the foster care system to know they are smart, resilient, and capable.”
As UVU continues prioritizing student success and belonging, the Foster Success program provides hope for foster youth pursuing higher education. The obstacle guidance, empathic support, and caring network creation prove how every UVU student can thrive, regardless of their background. The program is paving the way to change lives and build successful futures for each student.
For more information on the Foster Success program or how to get involved, visit https://www.uvu.edu/foster-success/.
About Utah Valley University
At Utah Valley University, we believe everyone deserves the transforming benefits of high-quality education — and it needs to be affordable, accessible, and flexible. With opportunities to earn everything from certificates to master’s degrees, our students succeed by gaining real-world experience and developing career-ready skills. We continue to invite people to come as they are — and leave ready and prepared to make a difference in the world.
