Center for Student Access and Resources becomes Student Affairs Scholarship Support Hub
The Center for Student Access and Resources (CSAR) is now the Student Affairs Scholarship Support Hub, a new name that reflects the office's expanding role in helping students navigate Student Affairs scholarship opportunities and supporting departments that administer donor-funded scholarships.
The change marks the next step in Student Affairs' efforts to create a more coordinated, student-centered scholarship experience across the division. In addition to serving students, the Student Affairs Scholarship Support Hub will partner with Student Affairs departments to strengthen scholarship administration, share best practices, and create greater consistency across scholarship programs.
After nearly two years in operation, the office had evolved beyond what its original name conveyed. Renaming it the Student Affairs Scholarship Support Hub better reflects its role as a centralized resource for students seeking scholarship support and a collaborative partner for Student Affairs departments administering donor-funded scholarships.
"This change is meant to offer students a clearer picture of the assistance they can expect from the former Center for Student Access and Resources," said Lori McDonald, vice president for Student Affairs. "With more clarity, we expect more students to seek out the services provided by the Student Affairs Scholarship Support Hub because they'll better understand how this office can support them."
The Center for Student Access and Resources was established on July 1, 2024, following the implementation of HB 261. When the identity centers closed, the scholarships they administered needed a new home. The Center for Student Access and Resources was created to oversee those scholarships and continue supporting the students who benefited from them.
For students, the Student Affairs Scholarship Support Hub will serve as a single point of contact for Student Affairs scholarship opportunities. In addition to continuing to support scholarship cohorts, the office will help students learn about available scholarships, understand eligibility requirements, navigate the application process, and connect with the resources they need throughout the process.
The Student Affairs Scholarship Support Hub will partner with departments by sharing best practices, developing consistent review processes and selection rubrics, and providing guidance on scholarship administration. Departments will continue managing their donor relationships, award criteria, and scholarship selections, while the hub serves as a collaborative resource to help create a more coordinated and consistent scholarship experience across the division.
"There has not been a centralized location for Student Affairs scholarships," said Kirstin Maanum, director of the Student Affairs Scholarship Support Hub. "We hope these changes make scholarship opportunities easier for students to navigate while helping departments create a more consistent scholarship experience across Student Affairs."
Additionally, to better reflect the team's evolving responsibilities, the Student Resource Navigator position is also being renamed Scholarship Program Advisor. While the responsibilities remain similar, Scholarship Program Advisors will now provide guidance and referrals for scholarship opportunities across Student Affairs.
The Student Affairs Scholarship Support Hub focuses exclusively on scholarships administered by Student Affairs. Students with questions about financial aid, grants, or scholarships offered outside of Student Affairs should continue working with the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid.
Visit scholarshipsupporthub.utah.edu or email scholarshipsupporthub@utah.edu learn more.