As thousands of new students arrived on campus this fall semester, Jonathan Sandberg, recently appointed associate dean of Undergraduate Education, is determined to help their college journeys be deeply rooted in the mission and aims of Brigham Young University. Sandberg is responsible for overseeing the administration of the new general education course UNIV 101: BYU Foundations for Student Success.
During the 2023 winter semester, Sandberg was one of the five pilot professors of the groundbreaking course and played a crucial role in developing the course content and outcomes. Sandberg helps to assign and then train the faculty who teach the course, works with the office of First-Year Experience to coordinate peer mentors and professors, revises and adjusts the UNIV 101 curriculum, and observes and provides feedback to professors — all with the goal to help students find success at BYU.
“Administering 101 is a massive project carried out by a wonderful team across several units on campus — Undergraduate Education, Enrollment Services, unit leaders in colleges and departments, and many more,” Sandberg said.
While teaching UNIV 101, Sandberg loves interacting with students and helping them make connections to campus resources that open doors to educational opportunities. He has a strong passion for helping students embed themselves into the uniqueness of the university.
“It's not just another university, it's not just the university my siblings went to, or it's not just a cheap university. There's a mission, and we're trying to accomplish something that is important to the Lord. That's a really rewarding feeling,” Sandberg said.
According to Sandberg, a successful UNIV 101 class begins with a faculty member and a peer mentor who are truly committed to their student’s university experience and students who are willing to engage in the class and care about each other. The course is most rewarding when all involved hone into the unique mission of BYU. Sandberg finds the BYU mission to be inspiring, as it calls students to pursue university education not just to get a job post-graduation, but as a life-changing experience focused on the balanced development of the total person, one who becomes a life-long disciple to Christ.
“We must embrace the mission and aims of BYU and these ideals that former students and faculty saw in vision,” Sandberg said. “People had visions of these students walking across this campus in this part of Provo when there were no buildings here before. This is really sacred; our students are actually part of the fulfillment of prophecy. It's amazing to think about. It's mind-blowing to think about.”
Photo by Y Photo
Photo by Y Photo
President C. Shane Reese referred to the creation of UNIV 101 as the most significant thing that has happened at BYU in the past 30 years. As the only class every incoming student takes in their first semester at the university, UNIV 101 has an outreach that impacts the entire BYU family. Sandberg sees the course as adding a new level of excitement and passion to the university. He understands how UNIV 101 not only impacts freshmen at BYU, but also fosters a positive change in faculty who teach the course.
“This class allows faculty to become more deeply connected to students in a different way that will trickle into all of their classes, and the students will feel like they can succeed,” said Sandberg. “It’s exciting, there's so much energy and excitement about it.”
Maria Summers, assistant director of General Education, shared how Sandberg has brought a “wave of enthusiasm and innovation” to the GE department.
“His kindness and excitement have been truly inspiring, making a significant impact on our team,” Summers said. “In just a short time, he has accomplished many wonderful things, including enhancing many aspects of our UNIV 101 course and fostering a collaborative environment.”
When asked what he looks forward to most working in Undergraduate Education, Sandberg said “watching students flourish.” Sandberg hopes students who are first generation without familial guidance, students who speak English as a second language, those whose racial, ethnic, or cultural background is underrepresented on campus, students who are not members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints adjusting to a new culture, who come from difficult economic and educational backgrounds, along with all other students who may feel out of place on BYU campus, can find covenant belonging in UNIV 101 and sense how much they are needed at BYU.
“Helping students on the margins of BYU become part of the center of BYU; that's what I'm excited about,” Sandberg said.
Sandberg emphasized his love for the UNIV 101 learning objectives: first, students will become aware of resources on campus. Second, students will become invested in the mission of BYU and become “a living, breathing, manifestation of the mission.” Third, students will create covenant belonging and form a community.
Photo by Y Photo
Photo by Y Photo
Jonathan Sandberg has a bachelor’s in family studies and a master’s in marriage in family therapy from BYU and a doctorate in marriage and family therapy from Kansas State University. Sandberg taught at Syracuse University in New York for 10 years before returning to BYU in 2008 to teach in the Marriage and Family Therapy program. Sandberg and his wife, Sharon, were called to serve as mission leaders from 2019 to 2022 in Bakersfield, CA. After their missionary service, Sandberg returned to BYU where he assisted in the development of UNIV 101: BYU Foundations for Student Success. Sandberg, a marriage and family therapist, has seen clients yearly since 1994, except for his time as mission president.
Sandberg is excited to continue in his role as associate dean of Undergraduate Education at BYU and is inspired by the mission of the university. Students are poised for ongoing success under Sandberg’s educational and professional experience, his passion for UNIV 101, and Christ-centered leadership.