Weekly Letter from the Provost—April 24 Edition

• 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

Board of Trustees Meeting Recap

I had multiple opportunities to update Board members and committees on academic affairs at DU this week: 

Faculty and Educational Affairs Committee (FEAC): The presentation I delivered focused on the Goal 2 Committee’s efforts to improve career outcomes and better prepare all students to succeed and lead in an AI-transformed workforce. I began by reviewing my three overarching goals for academic affairs and pivoted to an overview of the Goal 2 Committee’s structure and charge. I also shared some of the great work DU has done outside of the committee to promote career outcomes for students, such as the Career Outcomes Dashboard and AI-related academic offerings and resources.

The latter content includes the University’s AI at DU website. The Goal 2 Committee chairs, Liz Lierman and Lorenzo Patelli, provided updates on their committee’s work toward developing their final report by May 1. Deans Naomi Boyd (DCB), Torrey Wilson (GSPP), and Bruce Smith (SCOL) spoke to the ways in which their academic units are supporting our goal 2 efforts. I encourage you to review this week’s FEAC presentation materials.

Executive Session: For this meeting, the Goal 3 Committee chairs, Leslie Hasche and Jennifer Karas, reviewed the scope, process, and timeline their committee is using, alongside the dean and faculty-led initiatives to support DU’s academic transformation. Todd Rinehart, vice chancellor for enrollment, provided an undergraduate enrollment update, and Corinne Lengsfeld, senior vice provost for research and graduate education, provided a graduate student enrollment update. 

Korbel Honors Program Featuring Melinda French Gates

The annual honors is a celebration of the Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs and members of our community who are making a difference in the world. On Wednesday night, Melinda French Gates was the event’s honored guest and speaker. I was pleased to attend and shared a few words about the importance of making space for women leaders through providing seats at the table, while also supporting their work through professional networks. 

Fulbright Awards Reception

This week, Chancellor Jeremy Haefner and I had the privilege of participating in the spring reception to honor the University’s Fulbright Award recipients. The Fulbright Program was created in the aftermath of World War II to promote international education as a way to bridge cultural divides. In our world today, that work is perhaps more important than ever, and we are so proud of our DU community members for achieving this distinction. To become a Fulbright Scholar is a true honor—researchers and teachers who receive this award not only represent their institutions, but their country globally. The University’s awardees include: 

• Rashida Banerjee, professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning Sciences, received a 10-month Fulbright award in Taiwan for the upcoming academic year.
• H.G. Parsa, Barron Hilton professor and chair, Fritz Knoebel School of Hospitality Management, received a four-month grant to conduct work in Serbia. 
• Several DU students have been named Fulbright grantees to conduct research and teach in France, Spain, and Colombia.

Thank you to Mark Levine, professor in the Daniels College of Business and member of the Fulbright Board, for proposing and organizing this event as a way to honor DU’s recipients, and spark interest in potential applicants.

June Commencement Schedule and Regalia

Chancellor Haefner and I invite and encourage all faculty to participate in the 2026 Commencement Ceremonies, which will be held on June 12-13 in Magness Arena. The ceremony schedule includes the following events:

Friday, June 12

• Crimson Graduate Commencement Ceremony, 9:30 a.m. (CAHSS, Daniels, DU/Iliff Joint Program, GSPP, Korbel, and Morgridge)
• Gold Graduate Commencement Ceremony, 2:30 p.m. (NSM, GSSW, RSECS, and the PSC)

Saturday, June 13

• Rose Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony, 9:30 a.m.
• Oak Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony, 2:30 p.m.
• All undergraduate divisions and colleges will participate in both ceremonies.

Faculty are asked to assemble in the Hamilton Gymnasium 30 minutes prior to each ceremony.

Academic Regalia for Faculty: Deadlines and Procedures
Faculty planning to participate in commencement should place their order for academic regalia rentals by Friday, May 1 at 5 p.m. There is no cost to faculty or academic departments for regalia rentals submitted by the deadline. After the deadline, all rental charges will be incurred by academic departments.

Regalia will be available for pickup from the DU bookstore during the week of June 8. Rental regalia may be returned following ceremonies in Hamilton Hall or at the DU bookstore by Friday, June 19 at noon. Regalia not returned by this deadline will be considered purchased, and the purchase charge will be incurred by academic departments. Additional information is available on the website for commencement. If you have questions, please direct them to Claire Brownell.

You can order regalia at this website. 

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 subcommittees have submitted their respective reports to the subcommittee chairs, who are working with Corinne and Todd to prioritize the recommendations and assemble the individual reports into a comprehensive draft. The groups have done an excellent job in making recommendations for future success across key metrics for enrollment, retention, and graduation. They have identified key data points to further analyze to make recommendations for future enrollment sizes for both undergraduate and graduate student populations. 

I express continued thanks to committee chairs, Corinne Lengsfeld and Todd Rinehart, and the entire Goal 1 Committee for their efforts.

4D Symposium on May 7 and 8

This year's 4D Symposium, "A World of Purpose," will take place on May 7 and 8 in Community Commons. The event will feature dozens of informative sessions, engaging panels, and interactive workshops that bring the 4D Experience to life for students, faculty, and staff. Come learn, be in community, and engage in dialogue around innovative models and practices that advance intellectual growth, character, well-being, and purpose—both in and out of the classroom, as well as through research and scholarship.

Highlights include:

• Contemplative Conversations on Meaning in This Moment, facilitated by Shannon Silva, PhD, associate professor, GSSW
• Poetry Hands On by the former Colorado Poet Laureate Joe Hutchison 
• A Future of Work plenary panel, which will be moderated by me and feature leaders in the public and private sectors (with lunch generously sponsored by TIAA)
• Partners in Purpose: Student-Faculty Collaboration for Meaningful Impact panel, moderated by Virginia Pitts, PhD, director of university teaching in the Office of Teaching and Learning
• 4D Coffeehouse, a world cafe-style event engaging the big question, “What if purpose was the purpose of higher education?” (sponsored by the LearningWell Coalition)
• 4D Faculty Teaching Fellows Showcase (reception sponsored by the LearningWell Coalition)
• Stars in Our Constellation awards ceremony and lunch

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 committee met today to finalize the recommendations and key performance indicators (KPIs) that will be included in the final report submitted on May 1. Earlier this week, the committee’s steering group reviewed the reports of five different working groups, which developed specific proposals to advance the committee’s charge. This week, all proposals under consideration have been examined for consistency, and the co-chairs presented an outline of the final report to the entire committee. As per the committee’s charge, the final report will provide a consistent set of recommendations on how DU will improve career outcomes and better prepare students to succeed in an AI-transformed workforce.

I express continued thanks to committee chairs, Liz Lierman and Lorenzo Patelli, and the entire Goal 2 Committee for their efforts.

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.
 
As a reminder, the Goal 3 Committee is working under the updated timeline for academic transformation that was shared in last week’s newsletter. This week, the committee continued drafting the report and supported deans as academic unit data snapshots were reviewed and contextualized by the deans. Committee chairs, Leslie Hasche and Jennifer Karas, joined me in updating the Board on dean and faculty-led transformation efforts, including the approach to establishing a culture of academic program review. Next week, the committee will finalize the report and incorporate feedback from committee members.

I express continued thanks to committee chairs, Leslie Hasche and Jennifer Karas, and the entire Goal 3 Committee for their efforts.

Research Data Survey

DU faculty are invited to participate in a study on research data management (RDM) needs, challenges, and support gaps among DU researchers being conducted by University Libraries. Eligible participants are faculty or principal investigators engaged in research. If you participate, you will be asked to complete an anonymous 15 to 20 minute online survey about your data workflows, storage needs, and views on institutional support. Participation is voluntary with no compensation, but your input will help improve research services. Please contact Yue Hao, data services librarian, with questions.

Register Now: “Beyond the Classroom and Courtroom” Teacher-Scholar Lecture

You are invited to the next Teacher-Scholar Lecture and reception on May 5, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the Faculty Lounge (CCOM 2800). The co-directors of the Center for Immigration Policy and Research, Professor Rebecca Galemba (Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs) and Professor Lisa Martinez (College of the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences) will present “Beyond the Classroom and Courtroom: Student and Community-Centered Immigration Research and Policy Work.” Their talk highlights how their sustained partnerships with local nonprofits Casa de Paz and the Colorado Asylum Center create meaningful, applied learning for students, while advancing research and policy impact. Register today!

I send my best wishes to you all this spring term. 

Sincerely, 
 
Elizabeth G. Loboa
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor