University of Utah Cuts Advisor Caseloads by Half

Students at the University of Utah are getting more face-to-face time with academic advisors thanks to a major restructure that's already showing results. The university just reorganized how 26,000 students access academic support, replacing a patchwork system with three coordinated regions designed to catch students before they fall behind.

The old system let each college and department run advising differently. Some advisors juggled 550 students while others managed just 125, creating wildly inconsistent experiences depending on which program students chose.

The new approach groups all advising into three large regions, each led by a senior director who coordinates teams across multiple colleges. This means students get the same quality support whether they're studying engineering, nursing, or fine arts.

The university tested the model first in Region A, which includes the Colleges of Humanities, Science, and Social and Behavioral Science. In just one year, those advising teams saw appointments jump from 13,527 to 14,600, an 8% increase. Drop-in visits surged 27%, meaning students felt comfortable seeking help without scheduling ahead.

"Students don't experience the university as a series of offices," said T. Chase Hagood, vice provost for student success. "They experience it as a journey."

The restructure adds 26 new positions while phasing out 22 existing roles by the end of the fiscal year. Importantly, the university is shifting resources from management positions to frontline advising roles, putting more advisors directly in contact with students.

The changes came after a 2024 assessment revealed that fragmented support systems contributed to lower retention and graduation rates compared to peer institutions. Focus groups with students highlighted missed deadlines, confusing resources, and delays in course planning.

The Ripple Effect: When advising works better, everyone benefits. Students catch problems earlier, advisors can build deeper relationships instead of rushing through appointments, and the university can spot systemic barriers that no single department could solve alone. The new caseload target of 250 students per advisor matches national best practices, giving each student more personalized attention.

All three regions are now operating under senior directors Cyri Dixon, Hilary Flanagan, and Liz Leckie, who started in December and January. Phase two will fine-tune caseload distribution to ensure every student gets equitable support, regardless of their major.

Thousands of students will now have advisors who actually have time to know their names and goals.