A Passion for Learning, A Path to Connection: Chloé Bennett’s ETAP Journey

Editor's Note: This story is fourth in a UTA Libraries series featuring employees pursuing higher education through UTA's Employee Tuition Assistance Program (ETAP).   

Some people return to the classroom to earn a promotion or complete a degree. Chloé Bennett returned for something different. 

The Creative Spaces and Services Librarian at UTA Libraries enrolled in American Sign Language courses through UTA’s Employee Tuition Affordability Program, known as ETAP.  

Along the way, Bennett found more than a new skill, building meaningful connections with the Deaf community, strengthening the support she provides to students and gaining a new perspective on accessibility, communication and the value of lifelong learning. 

The experience has been about more than taking classes for Bennett. It has been an opportunity to grow personally; strengthen the work she does every day and connect with others in ways she never expected. 

Over the past three years, Bennett has helped faculty bring learning to life through UTA Libraries' Creative Spaces and Services department. She works with instructors to develop hands-on learning experiences that pair their course content with the technologies and expertise available throughout the Libraries. 

She smiles when describing her role. 

"I make boring classes fun,” Bennett said. 

That same enthusiasm extends to her own education. 

One of the first employee benefits that caught Bennett's attention when she joined UTA was ETAP. This program that provides eligible employees with tuition assistance to pursue an undergraduate degree, graduate degree or job-related coursework at the university. 

"I was really excited about the opportunity to take classes," Bennett said. "I would be in college forever if I could afford it because I just like learning things." 

Rather than pursuing another degree, Bennett chose to study American Sign Language, something she had wanted to learn for years. 

Today, Bennett's coworkers often call on her when a Deaf or hard-of-hearing student visits the Libraries and needs assistance. 

"I'm definitely not a perfect translator but getting to help someone communicate what they need is honestly really fun," Bennett said. "People get so excited when you can speak to them in their language. It shows that you care." 

Her coursework has also introduced her to a welcoming community that has inspired her to continue learning. 

"It's such an open and genuine community," she said. "I don't feel like I have to be anyone other than myself. That's not something you find everywhere." 

Learning ASL has also changed the way Bennett approaches her work. It has made her more aware of accessibility in all forms, influencing how she thinks about creating welcoming experiences for every student who walks through the Libraries' doors. 

Returning to the classroom also gave Bennett a new appreciation for being a student. 

Having previously worked as a teacher and recently completed her master's degree before joining the Libraries staff, she expected to feel out of place sitting alongside undergraduate students. Instead, she found a classroom filled with people who simply wanted to learn. 

"I expected to be the older student in the room," Bennett said. "Instead, it just felt like we were all there to learn together. When I was an undergraduate, I wasn't a very good student, but now I'm doing it because I genuinely love learning, and it's so much more fun." 

That passion has been supported every step of the way by her supervisors and coworkers, who have encouraged her to attend classes during the workday and even practiced sign language with her between meetings. 

"Everybody's been really supportive," she said. "Whether it's making time for classes or practicing sign language with me, people have been incredibly encouraging." 

For Bennett, ETAP has opened doors that otherwise would have remained closed. 

"I wouldn't be able to take these classes if they weren't covered by the university," she said. "This has been a huge opportunity for me." 

As she prepares to continue her ASL studies, Bennett hopes other employees who have considered returning to school will take the first step. 

Her advice is simple. 

"Take something you love," she said. "Don't start with a class you think you just have to get out of the way. Take something that genuinely interests you. You'll enjoy the experience so much more." 

Whether someone is pursuing a degree, building new skills or simply following a passion for learning, Bennett believes the experience is worth it. 

For her, ETAP has been more than a tuition benefit. It has been an opportunity to keep learning, strengthen the work she loves and building meaningful connections across campus. 

"The joy of lifelong learning," she said. "That's what this is all about."