Local Content and Services Report
Welcome Friends
On behalf of the Utah Education Network (UEN), I am proud to share this Local Content and Services report highlighting our work in 2024. It shows our ongoing commitment to support education throughout Utah with robust content and services that:
- Connect 3.3 million Utahns to quality broadcast programs
- Support educators with productions that amplify their inspiring stories and best practices
- Create world-class professional learning opportunities
- Connect K-20+ schools and public libraries to high-speed broadband internet
- Collaborate with stakeholders and community members to advance our shared public service mission
We’re honored to continue our vital role supporting Utah education. I hope you enjoy reflecting with us on these accomplishments from 2024 and look forward to further opportunities in the year ahead. Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Laura G. Hunter, PhD
Station Manager, UEN
Productions
Katie Neal brings valuable insight to her work as producer and host of Students In Focus, which features exceptional student media. The program’s first season featured 16 episodes and included interviews with Jerusha Hess, co-writer of “Napoleon Dynamite,” and Virginia Pearce, Director of the Utah Film Commission.
Education Podcast
UEN Homeroom fosters a community of learning by showcasing the innovation and dedication of Utah educators. UEN produced 12 episodes of the podcast for Season 6. In addition, the program hosted a pop-up studio where educators could record their own podcasts at the Utah Coalition of Education Technology’s annual conference.
in 2024
Teacher Takeaways
In “PDTV: Project-Based Science with Bluetooth Technology,” a student discusses Coriolis currents with the program’s host, Katie Blunt. Season 8 featured 11 new episodes spotlighting how Utah teachers are practicing Utah’s Ed Tech competencies. Each episode is accompanied by a toolkit related to the featured competency.
to date
Engaging Art
“Art Connection: Champions of Change” tells the story of the Girl Scout troop that persuaded Utah legislators to send a statue of Dr. Martha Hughes Cannon to Washington, D.C. for the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. UEN’s Art Connection segments air nationally and spotlight the role of art in Utah communities.
Local STEM Stories
As featured in “SciTech Now: MOTUS Bird Tracking,” the Eccles Wildlife Education Center has implemented an innovative approach to gathering insight into the migration of small birds in Utah. UEN’s SciTech Now productions delve into the latest advancements in science, technology and innovation.
Education Resources
Software for Education
UEN manages enterprise licensing for more than 30 educational software tools
for K-12, higher education and libraries serving 900K+ students and saves $4.4M
in state funds. Through our work, Utah learners are able to access the same
value-focused software regardless of where they live.
Impactful PD
UEN-designed courses deliver comprehensive training in education technologies for teachers that support Utah’s education standards. To date, 600 teachers have enrolled in the Ed Tech Endorsement Program.
High-Quality Digital Media to Go
UEN eMedia helps Utah teachers like Jennifer Burt create lessons that ignite learning. The digital collection has 26K+ digital resources and 11 content hubs that are aligned to Utah Core Standards.
Award-Winning Partnership
UEN’s work with the Natural History Museum of Utah (NHMU) helped Research Quest achieve 135,000 logins by 600 teachers and their students. Collaboration on this innovative science education program earned the partners the 2024 Public Media Award for Digital Media by the National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA).
Helpful How-Tos
UEN Teacher Tips provides timely, practical strategies to inspire fresh and effective teaching practices. This year’s 24 episodes covered topics including digital literacy, podcasting and more.
Network Map
Locations
WAN Broadband Connections
To hide or show layers, click on the checkmark.
Infrastructure
Utah learners and educators depend on UEN’s wide area network for access to fast, reliable broadband. Researchers rely on our network to collaborate and access high-capacity computing resources.
Ed Tech Insights
Conducted every other year, the Digital Teaching and Learning Technology Inventory highlights UEN’s leadership role in education technology. This year’s survey revealed insights into device-per-student ratios, aging wireless and wired school networks, and more.
Community Access
Libraries are community anchor institutions that help residents throughout the state access digital resources. UEN connects 92 public library sites to broadband internet with more to come in 2025.
Closing the Distance
UEN’s distance education system makes it possible for learners to participate in opportunities they otherwise could not access from their home districts. For example, our virtual platforms close the miles between many rural students and courses to complete high school or earn college credit through concurrent enrollment.
TV for Lifelong Learners
Events
Leading Schools Summit
Forty-five school leaders participated in UEN’s multi-day summit to gain knowledge and inspiration for leading student-centered learning initiatives in Utah schools.
Tech Summit
In June, UEN gathered 400 IT professionals for a two-day summit spotlighting innovations and strategies for managing their organizations’ technology needs.
Ed Tech Conference
In March, UEN directly engaged more than 2,300 educators and library staff at the region’s largest ed tech conference through 21 sessions and other activities. This year’s event combined the annual conferences of the Utah Coalition for Educational Technology and the Utah School Library Association.
Cybersecurity Conference
UEN supports a stronger cybersecurity culture for Utah’s education and healthcare entities through a range of activities. This year, UEN continued its longstanding role as an in-kind sponsor of SAINTCON, which drew 1,500 participants.
Teach & Learn With OER
UEN and the Utah Academic Library Consortium hosted a virtual symposium for higher education faculty and staff who want to bring open education resources to their institutions. Presenters drilled down into pedagogy, tools and practical applications.
10th Annual Distance Education Summit
Distance education technology helps ensure that Utahns in rural areas can access college courses and other opportunities. This year, 22 distance education professionals joined UEN at the University of Utah to discuss topics including cybersecurity, tools and best practices.
Board Members
Utah Valley University
Represents: Higher Education
Central Utah Educational Services
Represents: Public Education
Murray School District
Represents: Public Education
Utah State University
Represents: Higher Education
University of Utah, Utah System of Higher Education
Represents: Higher Education
Beaver School District
Represents: Public Education
Kane County Hospital
Represents: Rural Hospitals
Utah State Board of Education
Represents: Public Education
Education Advisor
Represents: Office of the Governor
Utah State Library
Represents: State Library
Davis Technical College
Represents: Technical Colleges
Board membership through December 1, 2024
Learn more
2024 Financials
We depend on funding provided by the public and other contributors. As such, we have a responsibility to be good stewards of the resources entrusted to us through sound fiscal and management practices.
Income
| State Appropriation | 35,326,800 |
| Federal E-Rate | 8,750,000 |
| KUEN Grants | 4,700,000 |
| ARPA | 2,800,000 |
| Other | 2,073,000 |
| Total | $ 53,649,800 |
Budget
| Personnel | 18,900,800 |
| Circuits | 13,054,000 |
| Operations | 8,400,000 |
| Software | 10,600,000 |
| Equipment | 2,695,000 |
| Total | $ 53,649,800 |