A Design Center for Colorado Communities
The University Technical Assistance Program (UTAP) is a clinical teaching practice at the University of Colorado Denver College of Architecture and Planning. This work has been funded by the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) for several decades and has provided technical services to rural and small local government units in nearly every county of the state.
We provide design and planning services to cities, towns, and neighborhoods across the state while giving students a chance to work on real projects. Our staff and multi-disciplinary teams collaborate with clients to advance community-driven ideas through applied research and innovative design. We take projects from abstract ideas to inspiring design solutions that raise crucial support and funding and ultimately enhance the quality of community life throughout Colorado.
Our Impact
We have worked on 3,000+ projects; serving hundreds of communities in 50 out of 57 rural counties in Colorado.
75% of our projects are ultimately implemented.
52% of Coloradans have benefited from a UTAP project​.
95% of our students are hired within the first month of graduation.
Meet Our Team
Jennifer Kovarik
UTAP Field Supervisor
Eastern Region
Jennifer emphasizes connections between the built environment, community, and health in underserved areas throughout Colorado. Although Jennifer is from a large city, she enjoys the complexity of rural design projects and opportunities to incorporate art and design while providing realistic multidisciplinary learning opportunities that result in enormous community impact and easy project implementation. Jennifer holds dual master’s degrees in Urban and Regional Planning and Landscape Architecture from the University of Colorado Denver, a graduate certificate in Public Health from CU Anschutz, and a B.S. in National Resources and Environmental Science from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. She is a Professional/Registered Landscape Architect in Colorado, holds the American Institute of Certified Planner (AICP) Certification, and is a Certified Health Coach. Jennifer also serves on the International WELL Building Institute Health Equity Advisory Board and the State of Colorado Main Street Advisory Board. In her free time, she enjoys creating abstract art, both urban and mountain adventures, as well as hiking, telemark, skate, and cross-country skiing.