Weekly Letter from the Provost—April 17 Edition
Dear colleagues,
This weekly newsletter will serve as one of many tools my office will use to keep you informed and engaged as we make progress toward our three goals for Academic Affairs. We are grateful for your interest and support. Previous newsletters can be found on the provost’s communication center on the University’s website.
If you have suggestions for what we should include in future communications, please submit your ideas or stories here. Suggestions received before noon on Monday will be reviewed and considered for publication in that week’s newsletter. Others will be held for consideration until the following week.
Today’s update falls into four categories:
This weekly newsletter will serve as one of many tools my office will use to keep you informed and engaged as we make progress toward our three goals for Academic Affairs. We are grateful for your interest and support. Previous newsletters can be found on the provost’s communication center on the University’s website.
If you have suggestions for what we should include in future communications, please submit your ideas or stories here. Suggestions received before noon on Monday will be reviewed and considered for publication in that week’s newsletter. Others will be held for consideration until the following week.
Today’s update falls into four categories:
- Campus news and happenings
- Goal 1: Shape enrollment and improve retention and graduation rates for all students
- Goal 2: Improve career outcomes and better prepare our students to succeed and lead in an AI-transformed workforce
- Goal 3: Strengthen academic excellence
Campus News and Happenings
DU Hockey National Championship
This past Saturday night and on national television, DU’s hockey team won the University’s 11th national championship, which is the most of any men’s hockey team in the country. Congratulations to the team, coaches, and staff for your incredible season which culminated in such an exciting final win! I hope many of you had the opportunity to join the team in celebrating their accomplishment during the campus bonfire and the championship celebration.
Photo credit: NCAA Photos / @clarksoncreative
Academic Transformation Update
In recent meetings and previous newsletters, we have stated that the Goal 3 Committee would communicate evaluation status for DU’s academic units on April 20 (i.e., need to be reviewed by the Academic Unit Review Committee [AURC], watch and wait, or stable). To allow deans more time to review the Goal 3 Committee’s preliminary recommendations, to contextualize the data used to make these recommendations, and to engage the faculty on data-driven solutions, we have adjusted the timeline—academic units will receive notification of their evaluation status by May 4. Below is a summary of some of the key activities, by month, of the academic unit review timeline. This chart provides more granular information on each step in the timeline.
April
April
- By April 17, Goal 3 Committee chairs communicate units’ preliminary evaluation status to the deans.
- By April 29, deans will be asked to contextualize their units’ data with Goal 3 Committee chairs to finalize the units’ evaluation status.
May
- By May 1, the Goal 3 Committee will provide a report to the provost that indicates each unit’s evaluation status, recommendations regarding rehoming processes for faculty, including those with appointments in discontinued academic units, as well as recommendations for larger restructures (e.g., of colleges), and possible areas for revenue growth.
- By May 4, academic units will be notified by the provost of their evaluation status.
- By May 4, the Faculty Senate president will be notified by the provost which units should be reviewed by the Academic Unit Review Committee (AURC).
- By May 15, the AURC submits its reports with recommendations regarding unit closure to the chancellor, provost, heads and deans of the affected unit(s), the chair of the Faculty Senate Academic Planning Committee, and chairs of the Graduate and Undergraduate Councils.
June
- The chancellor and the provost provide their recommendations to the Board of Trustees regarding unit closures and restructurings.
- The Board of Trustees makes final decisions based on these recommendations.
- The Board of Trustees’ decisions are communicated to faculty and staff.
- Faculty from closed units are individually notified and considered for rehoming into other academic units.
September
- Rehomed faculty may begin their new appointment.
- Faculty from closed units who are not rehomed move into the teach-out year.
I extend my sincere gratitude to the deans and their leadership teams as well as the three Academic Affairs committee members and their chairs for working tirelessly and collaboratively. Their efforts this academic year have been critical for leading DU’s academic transformation toward an even brighter future.
Provost Concert
On Wednesday, I had the honor of attending the 31st annual Provost Concert along with a broad range of community members. This event began as a gesture of mutual support between the Office of the Provost and the Lamont School of Music, a gathering which remains a meaningful expression of that partnership today. This was my first Provost Concert, and I was honored to join attendees in celebrating this longstanding tradition. I offer a special thanks to Brian Pertl, director of the Lamont School of Music, for arranging such a beautiful event, and the students who shared their time and incredible talents with us.
Staff Senate Self Nominations Are Open
Beginning in July, DU’s Staff Senate will transition to a regional representation model that is grounded in work identity. This shift aligns representation with how staff work, collaborate, and experience institutional policies. It has been designed to strengthen connection, clarify advocacy, and remain steady, even through periods of future change. Shared governance depends on staff who are willing to engage, represent, and advocate for their colleagues. Your perspective matters and your voice is needed at this moment. The Staff Senate invites you to nominate yourself for the next cycle by this Monday, April 20.
Request to Support State Funding for Student Need-Based Financial Aid
Your help is urgently needed to convince members of the Colorado General Assembly to abide by current state legislation that provides for all eligible in-state Colorado students to receive state need-based financial aid. Your support is needed because the state’s 2026-2027 proposed budget strips state need-based financial aid from private institutions, including the University of Denver. This action takes financial aid straight out of the hands of Colorado students who select DU or other private institutions as their college of choice to attend. Specific to DU, the loss of aid amounts to approximately $3,641,493.
Please write or call elected officials that represent the House and Senate districts in which DU is located, and contact your specific state representative and senator that represents you where you personally reside. DU is encouraging legislators to abide by the current law and support our students. Time is of the essence as the subject will likely be considered during a Legislative Conference Committee as soon as Monday, April 20. Thank you for your quick attention and support!
Please write or call elected officials that represent the House and Senate districts in which DU is located, and contact your specific state representative and senator that represents you where you personally reside. DU is encouraging legislators to abide by the current law and support our students. Time is of the essence as the subject will likely be considered during a Legislative Conference Committee as soon as Monday, April 20. Thank you for your quick attention and support!
Goal 1: Shape Enrollment and Improve Retention and Graduation Rates
Updates from the Committee
The Goal 1 Committee has established three subcommittees, with subcommittee co-chairs, which will inform their efforts: you can review the revised committee and subcommittee assignments on the Provost Office website.
The committee met on Thursday to discuss the subcommittee reports submitted to date. The committee is actively drafting its report and appreciates the thoughtful contributions provided by members throughout the process. I express continued thanks to committee chairs Corinne Lengsfeld, Todd Rinehart, and the entire Goal 1 Committee for their efforts.
University Writing Center Presents: Conversations in the Disciplines—Writing and Agency
Next week, professors from diverse disciplines will briefly present their research projects and writing approaches, then will engage the audience in an open discussion. The entire campus community is welcome at this event which complements the curriculum for DU’s first year writing sequence.
Date: Tuesday, April 21 at 5:30 p.m.
Location: Anderson Academic Commons 290
Visit this website to register.
Date: Tuesday, April 21 at 5:30 p.m.
Location: Anderson Academic Commons 290
Visit this website to register.
DU Student Experience Survey
Please help us encourage students to take the DU Student Experience Survey—their feedback is vital as we seek to improve resources for them on campus. Survey participants could win one of five $200 Amazon gift cards offered as a reward for participation. The survey will be available only from April 6-22. We ask you to consider raising students’ awareness and encouraging their participation, either through announcements in your class or in Canvas. Students will receive a survey link in their email, but feel free to share this link with them.
Register for the Learning Effectiveness Program (LEP) Awards Ceremony
Faculty and staff are invited to the 2026 LEP Awards Ceremony on Friday, May 15 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in Maglione Hall, SIE Complex. At this event, we will celebrate students, staff, and faculty who have made remarkable contributions to accessibility and neurodiversity on campus. Dessert will be served. An RSVP is required at this link, and please note spaces are limited.
Goal 2: Improve Career Outcomes and Better Prepare Our Students to Succeed and Lead in an AI-transformed Workforce
Updates from the Committee
The Goal 2 Committee has established three subcommittees, with subcommittee co-chairs, which will inform their efforts: you can review the revised committee and subcommittee assignments on the Provost Office website.
The goal 2 working groups have finalized proposals for inclusion in the committee’s final report, which is organized around five core themes: 1) leveraging DU’s strengths and innovations, 2) advancing universal, responsible, and ethical AI literacy as a differentiated value proposition, 3) enhancing and scaling employer engagement, 4) strengthening internships and experiential learning to support career readiness, and 5) broadening and building on first-destination career outcomes measures. The full committee will meet next week to review and revise their proposals and to discuss the final report’s progress.
The goal 2 working groups have finalized proposals for inclusion in the committee’s final report, which is organized around five core themes: 1) leveraging DU’s strengths and innovations, 2) advancing universal, responsible, and ethical AI literacy as a differentiated value proposition, 3) enhancing and scaling employer engagement, 4) strengthening internships and experiential learning to support career readiness, and 5) broadening and building on first-destination career outcomes measures. The full committee will meet next week to review and revise their proposals and to discuss the final report’s progress.
The committee remains very interested in learning if there are ongoing initiatives within academic units that are aimed at improving career outcomes and AI preparation for students. Please contact Liz Lierman and Lorenzo Patelli if you would like to share information about existing initiatives.
Spring 2026 Career Week
Spring 2026 Career Week brings together a full slate of programs designed to support students as they prepare for meaningful careers beyond DU. Hosted by the Career & Professional Development team, the week centers on practical, timely skills students are increasingly asking for, including resources for navigating today’s job and internship market, building confidence, and developing both financial literacy and ethical fluency with AI.
Throughout the week, students will have opportunities to engage in focused workshops, connect directly with employers and alumni, and participate in the Spring Career and Internship Fair. I encourage students to review the scheduleand register to make the most of these offerings. For DU, Career Week reflects our continued commitment to connecting academic experiences with professional readiness, including supporting our students as they take their next steps with confidence.
Goal 3: Strengthen Academic Excellence
Updates from the Committee
The Goal 3 Committee has established three subcommittees, with subcommittee co-chairs, which will inform their efforts: you can review the revised committee and subcommittee assignments on the Provost Office website.
Please see the academic transformation updates above for key information on the academic unit review timeline that the Goal 3 Committee and the AURC will follow to bring forward recommendations. The committee’s main focus this week has been on conducting final assessments to establish a preliminary recommendation status for DU’s academic units. This information will be shared with the deans today to ensure that they can begin the process of contextualizing the committee’s preliminary recommendations.
Thank you for your continued commitment to this work and to our shared academic mission. We appreciate your dedication to teaching, research, creative and scholarly activity, and the care and service you provide to one another during this period of change and uncertainty.
Please see the academic transformation updates above for key information on the academic unit review timeline that the Goal 3 Committee and the AURC will follow to bring forward recommendations. The committee’s main focus this week has been on conducting final assessments to establish a preliminary recommendation status for DU’s academic units. This information will be shared with the deans today to ensure that they can begin the process of contextualizing the committee’s preliminary recommendations.
Thank you for your continued commitment to this work and to our shared academic mission. We appreciate your dedication to teaching, research, creative and scholarly activity, and the care and service you provide to one another during this period of change and uncertainty.
Invitation to the Annual Public Good Celebration
You’re invited to the 4th Annual Public Good Celebration on Wednesday, May 13 to recognize the people, partnerships, and ideas that drive socially impactful work at DU. Feel free to choose from activities across the day to build skills, share your story, and connect with a vibrant community committed to improving society. To learn more and register for events, visit the Public Good Celebration page. Events include the following:
For Faculty
For Faculty
- Academic Rigor with Journalistic Flair: Writing for The Conversation
For Students and Faculty
- Tell Your Public Good Story Workshops
- Community Engagement Photo Showcase
- Student Signature Work Showcase
- Growing Your Work & Impact: Resource Fair
For Students
- Tips for Cover Letters, Personal Statements, and More
- Using Social Media to Tell Your Academic Story
Live Podcast Taping: Advisory Opinions With Sarah Isgur and David French
Join us at The Cable Center on April 21 for a live taping of Advisory Opinions, the popular legal podcast from The Dispatch, featuring journalists Sarah Isgur and David French. Drawing on their experience as attorneys and national political commentators, Isgur and French will examine politics, policy, and culture through thoughtful legal analysis. The live taping will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. at The Cable Center. Register to attend.
I am grateful for your many contributions to the University of Denver, and for your dedication to education, scholarship, and service. Wishing you all the best for the spring term.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth G. Loboa
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor
I am grateful for your many contributions to the University of Denver, and for your dedication to education, scholarship, and service. Wishing you all the best for the spring term.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth G. Loboa
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor