
Higher Education
This Think Tank explored the evolving role of state higher education systems, with a particular focus on Utah’s colleges and universities. Students examined how institutions balance technological advancements, diversity, and economic demands while maintaining their historic role of expanding educational opportunities.
Through in-depth research, students analyzed the University of Utah’s advising system, identifying ways to enhance student support and decision-making. Their final project aimed to improve navigation within the university, ensuring students have better access to resources and guidance.
Instructors:
Michael Young
Paul Brickman John Francis
More Praxis Labs

Infectious Disease on the Run
Margaret P. Battin, PhD
Wendy Hobson-Rohrer, MD
This Praxis Lab examined the history, science, and ethical implications of pandemics, from the Black Plague to COVID-19. Students analyzed how diseases spread, the social and political responses to outbreaks, and the ethical considerations of public health interventions.

How We Die
Margaret P. Battin, PhD
This Praxis Lab explored the evolving landscape of death and dying in the modern world, examining the shift from infectious disease mortality to prolonged battles with degenerative illnesses like cancer, heart failure, and dementia.

Education, Incarceration & Justice: Punishment and Opportunity in an Era of Mass Imprisonment
Erin Castro
Roberto Garcia
This Praxis Lab examined the deep connections between education, incarceration, and justice in the United States, a country with the highest incarceration rate in the world. Students explored the historical and systemic forces that have expanded the carceral state, disproportionately affecting low-income communities and communities of color.