Our Vision, Mission & Values

VISION:

We want to be the best Human Resources Team, known for going the extra mile and making a lasting impact at the University of Denver. 

MISSION:  

It is increasingly clear that an engaged, talented faculty and staff will be critical to realizing DU's considerable aspirations and supporting a new generation of students. 

HRIC commits to attract, retain, and inspire high-quality talent at the University of Denver by: 

  • Communicate a clear employee value statement focused on empowering individuals to see the impact they have on their communities. 

  • Holding ourselves and each other accountable to foster a culture of transparency that enables lifelong learning. 

  • Proactively create an environment where we nurture and respect the person, prioritizing wellness and meeting employees where they are at in their work life harmony. 

VALUES: 

  • Inclusive Community: It’s in our name. We matter, and all of you, as individuals, matter.  

  • Partnership and Collaboration: We are here to serve our DU community, and commit to becoming a more responsive and thoughtful partner 

  • Lifelong Learning: As a part of the DU vision, we are committed to maximizing the potential of each individual. 

Our Strategic Plan

The University of Denver Department of Human Resources & Inclusive Community (HRIC) is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture through strategic leadership and innovative solutions that serve and support the University's vision, mission, and goals. Guided by DU IMPACT 2025, we provide exemplary HR services and programs to attract, inspire, and sustain excellence in our community, enabling a world class workforce by empowering employees to maximize their potential. It is increasingly clear that an engaged, talented faculty and staff will be critical to realizing DU's considerable aspirations and supporting a new generation of students.

Learn more about our Strategic Plan: The Path to 2025.

HRIC Strategic Plan

Employee Total Rewards

The University of Denver offers many core benefits and perks for staff and faculty:

  • Basic Life Insurance

    Employees working at least 20 hours per week are eligible for a basic life benefit of one times annual salary up to $100,000 (minimum of $10,000). Basic Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Employees working at least 20 hours per week are eligible for a basic AD&D benefit of up to $100,000

  • Paid Leave for Employees

    • Family and Medical Leave Act requires covered employers to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job protected leave to eligible employees for certain family and medical reasons.  Employees are eligible if they have worked for at least one year and for 1,250 hours over the previous 12 months.

    • Short-term disability (STD) insurance is designed to help employees meet financial needs if the employee is unable to work due to an illness or injury.

    • Long-term disability (LTD) insurance provides salary continuation in the event the employee’s disability continues beyond the STD period.

    • Faculty members receive one academic term of paid parental leave to be taken within the first year of delivery, adoption or placement for foster care.  Non-faculty employees receive up to ten weeks of paid parental leave.  If an employee elects to take their 12 weeks as eligible under Federal Law, those additional two weeks would be unpaid or employees can use sick and/or vacation time.

    • Bereavement leave with pay is available to employees if there is a death in the immediate family. Funeral leave is limited to three days if the burial is within Colorado, and five days if it’s outside of Colorado.

    • Full-time, non-faculty employees accrue 1 day of sick leave per month up to a maximum of 130 days.  Accrual rates are prorated by FTE for employees who work less than full-time. Under the Healthy Families and Workplaces Act, employees accrue one hour of paid leave for every 30 hours worked up to a maximum of 48 hours per year.  If an employer already provides an employee a minimum of 48 hours paid sick leave per year, no additional leave is required.  Employees begin accruing leave as soon as their employment begins, and employers may not impose a waiting period before employees can use any leave accrued.  Employees may carry over into a subsequent year up to 48 hours of accrued but unused sick leave.

  • Vacation & Paid Holidays

    • Full-time, non-faculty employees accrue vacation time based on the employee’s work schedule and length of employment.  Full-time employees accrue 1.25 days per month up to a maximum of 15 days.  After completing seven years of service at the University, employees accrue 2 days per month up to a maximum of 22 days.  Accrual rates are prorated by FTE for employees who work less than full-time.

    • The University observes the following holidays, which are paid holidays. Revised 06/2021 New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth (June 19), Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Thanksgiving Holiday (the Friday after Thanksgiving Day), and Winter Break (December 25 – 31).

  • Employee Assistance Program

    Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through SupportLinc is a health benefit separate from medical insurance.  Employees and immediate family members receive up to 6 counseling session per issue per year for a wide variety of concerns.  SupportLinc can also refer members to professional counselors and services.

  • Tuition Waiver

    Tuition waiver program is designed to enable benefited employees, their spouse/partner, and dependent children to enroll in “for-credit” courses at the University with reduced or no tuition charges.

  • RTD EcoPass

    The EcoPass provides free and unlimited ridership on RTD bus and light rail lines (with certain designated exceptions)

  • Discounts

    Work-life balance and general well-being are as important to us as the work you contribute. That's why we’re excited to offer a new employee discount marketplace DU Discounts through Beneplace, your one-stop shop for exclusive and convenient savings on the products, services and experiences you know and love.  Access to these discount offerings is cost-free for all DU employees, and it’s easy to enroll for access.

    You’ll find deals on: 

    • Electronics 

    • Appliances 

    • Theme parks

    • Hotels 

    • Movie tickets 

    • Rental cars

    • Gift cards 

    • Apparel 

    • Cars 

    • Flowers 

    • Fitness memberships 

    • Groceries 

    • Special events 

    • and more! 

  • Voluntary Benefits Options

    The University of Denver is proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package to employees holding an appointed position that is at least half time (20 hours per week).  The plans include health and accidental insurance, FSA, HSA, retirement plans and many also offer coverage for eligible dependents. For detailed information about the University’s benefits, please visit our Benefits page for more information.

Flexible Work Options

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, more people than ever before have been working and learning from home. While this practice helps mitigate the spread of disease and protect vulnerable members of our community, among other advantages, it also presents a host of new challenges for employees, managers, and faculty members. Find HRIC's helpful tips and resources, including how to submit your own Flexible Work request, below.

Submit a Flexible Work Request Here.

Submit a Request
  • HRIC Tips for Remote Work

    As more of our colleagues make the shift to remote work, below are some tips to help make this a successful transition. As always, if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact your HR Partner.

    Remote Work Graphic


    Know Your Tech

    The DU Department of Information Technology has a fantastic technology resources guide for faculty and staff with information on all the technology tools available to assist with working and teaching from off campus. If you have questions, IT support is just a phone call (or click) away! Call 303-871-4700 or request help online.


    Avoid Distractions

    If you can, find a space in your home that can be used as a dedicated work area. When working from home, it’s easy to get distracted by personal chores like laundry, walking the dog, emptying the dishwasher, etc. The best way to stay focused is to establish and maintain a daily work routine. It may sound strange, but this includes showering and dressing for work! Many people find this helpful to get into the right frame of mind.


    Know When to Stop

    The importance of routine also applies to the end of the work day. The ritual of commuting home often helps separate work and home life. When working from home, those lines can become more easily blurred.


    Wellbeing

    Be mindful of your wellbeing while working from home. Stay hydrated and remember to get up and stretch about once every hour.


    Check In

    Although working from home may initially sound appealing, it can get lonely. Most of us are used to having informal interactions with our colleagues every day and some may experience a sense of isolation. Check in with your colleagues and see how they are doing. Make time for ice breakers, even if that is not a part of your normal meeting practice.


    Pay

    Remember, non-exempt employees who work remotely when DU is open should be paid for hours worked at their regular hourly rate of pay. Overtime must be approved in advance.


    Establish and Reinforce Accountability and Norms

    Work groups should establish norms regarding how they will work together remotely. Make sure you have a way to communicate with everyone. Managers should set clear expectations for communication. Continue to communicate goals and don’t forget to celebrate successes!


    Virtual Meetings

    Agendas

    While you may not always utilize agendas for your in-person meetings, consider making this a practice for virtual meetings. Even some simple bullet points on topics for discussion will help everyone get on the same page more quickly.

    Meeting Etiquette

    Remind everyone to mute their phones and mics if using computer audio. Be aware of your surroundings and what will be visible when on a video call.

    Be Mindful

    Virtual meetings can make it hard to tell when someone is trying to share a point of view. Meeting facilitators, ask the group if there are additional thoughts before moving to the next topic. A colleague may talk over you and not even realize it! Be patient as everyone adjusts.

    Action Items

    Before the meeting ends, make sure everyone understands next steps, as well as their own responsibilities and timelines.

    Be Patient

    Working remotely, especially for extended periods of time, will be new for many of us. Ask colleagues if they need help or if they are experiencing hurdles that make remote work challenging. Problem solve together!

  • Resources for Managing and Working Remotely

    The LinkedIn Learning Pathways listed below address a wide range of topics for managers and employees on such practical matters as time management, employee motivation, and more.

  • Flexible Work Policy Toolkit

    Our toolkit will provide you with Frequently Asked Questions regarding the new flexible work policy, links to recorded training videos, instructions on how to fill out the Flexible Work Request Form and more resources.

    Visit our Toolkit.

Drug-Free Workplace

It is the University's policy to maintain a drug-free workplace and to comply with all reporting and other obligations as imposed by the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988, as amended, and the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1986, as amended. The University promotes a healthy and safe educational, professional, and residential community where drugs and alcohol do not interfere with individual performance, personal success, public safety, or the integrity of the learning environment. For help with substance abuse issues, check out the DU Health & Counseling Center's Collegiate Recovery Program.