When students at the University of Utah Asia Campus (UAC) step outside their classrooms in Incheon, they now find a little piece of Utah right outside the gate — “Cottonwood Heights-ro.”
On October 16, 2025, Mayor Mike Weichers and Councilman Matt Holton from the City of Cottonwood Heights, Utah, visited the University of Utah Asia Campus to celebrate this special connection. The new honorary road name stretches 1.3 kilometers through Yeonsu-gu, symbolizing the friendship between Cottonwood Heights — just minutes from the U of U’s Salt Lake City campus — and Incheon, Korea.
The road’s name marks more than geography; it celebrates the sister-city partnership between Yeonsu-gu and Cottonwood Heights, established earlier this year to strengthen ties in education, culture, and sustainable urban development. For the University of Utah Asia Campus, located at the heart of Yeonsu-gu, this partnership reflects its very mission — connecting people and ideas across borders.
“The University of Utah Asia Campus is that bridge between Cottonwood Heights and Yeonsu-gu,” said Mayor Weichers. “It’s amazing to see how education can create friendships that reach across oceans.”
During their visit, Mayor Weichers and Councilman Holton met with Utah Asia Campus students, faculty, and staff, sharing stories about community, belonging, and what it means to make a city thrive.
For Urban Ecology majors at Utah Asia Campus, this global tie is already part of their education. They’ve been collaborating with Cottonwood Heights city planners on real-world urban design projects — from reimagining parks to exploring sustainable development. It’s hands-on learning that brings “global classroom” to life.
Chief Administrative Officer Gregory Hill said,
“It’s powerful to see our students connect with leaders from Utah — to see global cooperation in action, not just in textbooks.”
As Utah Asia Campus celebrates more than a decade in Korea, the story of “Cottonwood Heights-ro” stands as a symbol of what the University of Utah does best: bringing people together and nurturing curiosity – turning learning into impact, from the Wasatch Mountains to the shores of Incheon Bay.