The University of Utah began using the Ute name in 1927. Forty-five years later, the school entered into an agreement with the Ute tribe, a partnership that has been formalized through a series of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) since 2003.
But has that relationship been fair to the Utes?
While Ute athletics brings in millions of dollars each year, The Tribune found:
• Lack of enrollment progress: The U.’s estimates for the number of Ute tribal members attending the school now show little to no substantial gains since the 1950s. Three students received the Ute Tribe Scholarship during the 2024-25 academic year. The U. says six Ute students have earned bachelor’s degrees since 2014, with one achieving a doctorate.
• Not providing enough to cover tuition: The latest agreement states a specific scholarship amount, and the U. has declined the tribe’s requests to boost that number to cover tuition increases — leaving at least a $2,600 gap for those now granted a “full” award. In all, the university has invested some $225,000 (raised through private donations) to support scholarships for 18 students since 2014.
• Limited progress in supporting K-12: The U. is additionally supposed to support Ute students in K-12. Is investment is roughly $100,000 per year given to the tribe since 2020. But data shows no real gains as the tribe’s kids living on and near the eastern Utah reservation continue to have the worst test scores and the largest high school dropout rates in the state.
Leaders from both the tribe and the school, however, hope they can take steps toward a better future. And there are signs that the next MOU, which is currently being negotiated, could be more beneficial to the Ute Tribe.
Among the items being discussed are:
• Expanding the scholarship program for tribal members
• Health care initiatives
• Additional programs for Ute youth
The Salt Lake Tribune is exploring the important relationship between the tribe and the university and we want to talk to you.
Read the rest of The Tribune’s coverage of the Ute Tribe’s fight to improve educational opportunities for its children and young adults.
The University of Utah gets millions from using the Utes name. But what does the Ute Tribe get?
From racist cartoons to NCAA approval
A timeline of the Ute Indian Tribe’s relationship with the University of Utah.
Ute student test scores continue to worsen
And Utah lawmakers say they have no plans to help.
(Keith Secola Jr.| Special to The Tribune)
Reporter Courtney Tanner previously examined hundreds of pages of records, from the boarding school era to the transition to public schools to recent grades, ACT scores and graduation rates in the Uintah and Duchesne school districts.
Ute kids singularly fall behind in every metric and have for decades.
• One solution: The Ute Tribe runs its own high school, where students are learning their culture — and succeeding.