Benefits of establishing a student operated forecast office and active learning environment for undergraduates

During the 2013-2014 academic year a group of University of Utah undergraduates created an operational weather center modeled after the local National Weather Service (NWS) field office. The Ute Weather Center creates pin-point forecasts for several locations in the Salt Lake City region. Along with creating daily forecasts primarily focused on the University of Utah, the student-run, student-led team collaborates with the local NWS field office and the University's Facilities Management to create accurate and timely severe weather forecasts. The Ute Weather Center also serves as a proving ground for computer programmers and broadcasters. The center has developed several popular user products and has created additional experimental products specifically designed to appeal to the social media and technology-centric demographic of the student population. The primary goals of this project are to better prepare undergraduate students for the job market and to establish a sense of community amongst the undergraduate students within the Department of Atmospheric Sciences.