WHAT? COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS
Expect The Great is a free event focused on college and career awareness and readiness for students needing additional support to access higher education and workforce development in Utah. The theme of this initiative is “Build, Invest, Connect. Empower.”
Expect The Great, ETG, gathers hundreds of high school and college students, parents, corporations, and community leaders from around the state to continue delivering on the vision by providing information, resources, and other support to increase college participation, retention, and graduation. Workshops will be provided along with thought-provoking panel discussions, exciting keynote speakers, networking, and educational opportunities to interact with college and university representatives from the 16 USHE institutions. ETG includes an admissions and career expo to introduce participants to higher education representatives and employers.
WHO? FRANCE A. DAVIS
Expect The Great began with the leadership of Utah System of Higher Education Board of Regents Vice Chair France A. Davis, who sought an outreach event aimed at increasing college access, participation, retention, and graduation for the state’s African, African-American, and Black students and communities.
Regent Davis was appointed to the Board of Regents in 2008; he has served as pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Salt Lake City since 1974.
WHEN? WInter
Expect The Great has been facilitated each school year since 2011. The college student retreat was added in 2013.
This year’s Expect The Great Event will take place IN PERSON on January 30 (high school) and 31st (higher education).
WHERE? HOST INSTITUTIONS
2025: IN PERSON, hosted by Davis School District Freeport Center Training Facility (January 31 and February 1)
2023: IN PERSON, hosted by Southern Utah University (October 27-28)
2022: VIRTUAL, hosted by Snow College (Friday, March 25 and Saturday, March 26)
2021: VIRTUAL, hosted by Weber State University (March 26 and 27)
2019: Utah Valley University (October 4 and 5)
2018: Salt Lake Community College (October 5 and 6)
2017: Westminster College (Saturday, October 28)
2016: University of Utah (Saturday, November 5)
2015: Weber State University (Saturday, October 10)
2014: Salt Lake Community College (Saturday, November 8)
2013: University of Utah (Saturday, November 16)
2012: Weber State University (Saturday, November 3)
2011: Salt Lake Community College (Saturday, October 15)
WHY? ACADEMIC AND CAREER VIABILITY
Expect The Great originally began as one effort to contribute to Utah Governor Gary Herbert’s goal under his Education Excellence Commission for at least 66 percent of Utah’s adults between the ages of 20 and 64 to hold a postsecondary degree or certificate by the year 2020. The success and popularity of the event has carried it beyond 2020.