[2] The mission of the press is to "publish and disseminate scholarly books in selected fields, as well as other printed and recorded materials of significance to Utah, the region, the country, and the world.

[5] The University of Utah Press awards five annual or biennial prizes for scholarly and/or literary manuscripts.

"[15] Lecturers from a variety of cultures and fields are chosen on the basis of their leadership, integrity, and commitment to human values.

The lectures consider the relationships between scientific and scholarly advancements and moral values and are published in an annual volume by the University of Utah Press.

[15] Past lecturers include: E. O. Wilson, Carlos Fuentes, Freeman Dyson, Paul Farmer, Steven Pinker, and Toni Morrison.