The Utah System of Higher Education, the University of Utah, and Interfaith America are collaborating on a new initiative that offers an impactful and innovative approach to advancing a culture of cooperation across difference.

Eight public universities and colleges across the state of Utah have made presidential-level commitments to championing cooperation, investing grant funding to projects intended to build respect for different communities, to strengthen genuine relationships across those communities, and to foster common action for the common good.

“This initiative reflects the strong collaboration among Utah’s colleges and universities and our partners to help students learn how to work across differences, engage in their communities and contribute positively to the state,” shared Geoffrey Landward, the Utah Commissioner for Higher Education.

USHE’s support for the project demonstrates a statewide commitment to building bonds between communities and fostering environments that promote collaboration. As Interfaith America founder and president Eboo Patel notes, “Utah is emerging as a national leader in modeling diversity work rooted in cooperation across difference, equipping students with skills that are both in demand in the workplace and essential to citizenship in an increasingly diverse democracy.”

In addition to the presidential-level commitment and grant funding, grantees will also form communities of practice that will support the grantees’ ongoing work and development. Throughout the 2026-2027 school year, these projects will begin to make an impact across the campuses and communities involved and build the foundation for deeper collaboration across difference.