When people ask us what it’s like to be a mining engineering student at the University of Utah, we tell them that it’s like being part of a family. We may be a small department, but that’s part of what makes it so special. We know each other. We support each other. And because of that, we thrive — both as students and as future professionals.
The University of Utah and the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) have discussed cutting smaller academic programs. Unfortunately, our department — mining engineering — was mentioned by name as an example of a discipline that could be subject to review under proposed enrollment thresholds. While we don’t know the full details of these discussions, we see this moment as an opportunity to tell our story and to highlight what it really means to be a mining engineering student.
Mining engineering isn’t just a major. It’s a mission. It’s about making sure society has the minerals and materials it needs for everything from renewable energy to national defense. Our program prepares us to take on this mission with seriousness, skill and pride. We study geology, engineering design, environmental stewardship, safety systems and more — all while gaining hands-on experience in the field.
And make no mistake: Our small size does not mean small outcomes. Nearly all of us land paid internships and, when we graduate, the job market is holding steady. The University of Utah reports that many of us receive job offers well before finishing our degrees. Our alumni work in places as close as the coalfields of central Utah, the aggregate pits along the Wasatch Front and Bingham Canyon — and as far away as the goldfields of Nevada, the trona mines of western Wyoming and even remote mining camps in Australia.
We’ve also built a vibrant student life. Through our chapter of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration, we host regular meetings, organize field trips and support each other through the rigors of our program. Recently, we launched a student mine rescue team — a multidisciplinary effort that brings students from across campus together to learn about emergency response in industrial settings.
This is more than an academic department. It’s a community of future engineers passionate about building a better, more sustainable world. And while we may be small in number, our reach is global. Our work directly supports the domestic production of critical minerals — resources essential to national infrastructure, clean energy technologies and economic security.
We invite you to take a moment to look at the true impacts of mining around you. Think of where the materials came from to construct the device on which you may be reading this, the foundation of the building in which you sit, the fertilizer that was used to grow the food you eat, your favored mode of transportation … the list goes on and on.
We hope that the University of Utah, USHE and state legislators recognize the incredible value our program brings, not only to our students but to the state, the nation and beyond. We’re proud to be mining engineers in training, and we’re ready to do our part to secure the future of mineral development, environmental responsibility and technological progress.
In the end, the size of our department doesn’t define us. Our commitment, our camaraderie and our contribution to society do.
(Evoto) Trey Robison is president of the University of Utah Mine Rescue Team.
Trey Robison is president of the University of Utah Mine Rescue Team.
(Evoto) Michael Gough is vice president of the University of Utah Mine Rescue Team.
Michael Gough is vice president of the University of Utah Mine Rescue Team.
(Evoto) Eliza Watson is chapter president of the University of Utah’s Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration.
Eliza Watson is chapter president of the University of Utah’s Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration.
(Evoto) Travis Bach is chapter vice president of the University of Utah’s Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration.
Travis Bach is chapter vice president of the University of Utah’s Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration.
The Salt Lake Tribune is committed to creating a space where Utahns can share ideas, perspectives and solutions that move our state forward. We rely on your insight to do this. Find out how to share your opinion here, and email us at [email protected].
