Welcome to the Department of Special Education at the University of Utah. On behalf of the faculty and staff, I want you to know how pleased we are that you have made the decision to become a special educator and join thousands of professionals from across the country who are dedicated to providing quality services to students with disabilities and their families. We are also pleased that you have chosen the University of Utah to receive your professional preparation. In doing so, you are a student in one of the most highly regarded programs in the country. The Department of Special Education was recently ranked 21st in the nation by U.S. News and World Report from among more than 700 universities and colleges preparing special education teachers and future leaders in the United States. It is our mission is to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities and their families by developing and disseminating essential skills, knowledge, and values through research, teaching and service. Our faculty are committed to preparing you to become a highly qualified professional. We pride ourselves on being supportive and available to our students. Likewise, our friendly and helpful staff will assist you in every way possible.
Faculty and staff recognize the challenges and responsibilities you face in the commitment to continue your education. We are well aware that you must carefully balance duties and activities at home, work, and here at the university. I know you will find the faculty extremely understanding and supportive, yet we must also maintain a high level of expectation that will not compromise the quality of your learning experience. As a part of our initial commitment to you, we have prepared this comprehensive student handbook. I encourage you to read it carefully. It contains a wealth of information on topics such as the background, interests, and experience of our faculty; program requirements; professional ethics; student leadership; appeals procedures, and much more. I also encourage you to keep it close by during the year, become familiar with its content, and take it with you during advising sessions with faculty and our excellent academic advisor, Patty Davis.
I look forward to meeting you in person and hearing more about your career aspiration as the year progresses. Please feel free to visit with me anytime in person or by email (hardman@ed.utah.edu). I wish you the very best in your quest to become a future leader in the field of special education.
Sincerely,
Michael L. Hardman, Ph.D. Department Chair