Weekly Letter from the Provost—April 3 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's Hockey Team Advances to the Frozen Four
Congratulations to DU’s men’s hockey team, the coaches and staff who support them, and Denver Athletics for last weekend’s victory. With this win, they earned a spot in the Frozen Four to compete for the NCAA’s national hockey championship (for the third consecutive year)! The team’s sportsmanship and competitive spirit bring so much joy to our campus and community. We wish the team the best as they continue to advance.
Women’s Gymnastics Team Competes in the NCAA Regionals
I offer my congratulations and well wishes to the women’s gymnastics team as well. They travel to Oregon State today to compete in the NCAA Regionals. DU Gymnastics has now qualified for the NCAA Regionals in 27 consecutive seasons in which the competition has been held, excluding the canceled 2020 postseason. In 24 of the last 25 NCAA gymnastics championships, DU has had at least one gymnast advance to Nationals, including three gymnasts one season ago. We wish you continued success and thank you for representing our University with excellence!
Annual DU Women in STEM Alumni Meeting
On Tuesday night, I had the honor of opening the annual meeting of DU’s Women in STEM alumni event at the Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science. I express special thanks to Susan Adams, a DU adjunct faculty member and founder of Women of AI in Colorado, for serving as convener and moderator of the panel discussion, “Engineering AI Solutions That Matter.”
The University is committed to supporting AI usage that is ethical, inclusive, and aligned with societal needs, a position that corresponds with both our research and teaching missions. This week’s event was an encouraging reminder of the impact women leaders are making across DU and the broader community.
The University is committed to supporting AI usage that is ethical, inclusive, and aligned with societal needs, a position that corresponds with both our research and teaching missions. This week’s event was an encouraging reminder of the impact women leaders are making across DU and the broader community.
An Update on the Miller National Academy Executive Director Search
The University of Denver is currently seeking a founding executive director to lead the Miller National Academy for Free Expression and Pluralism, a new initiative dedicated to strengthening civil discourse, pluralism, and free expression in American public life. At a time of profound polarization and declining trust across institutions, the Miller National Academy is designed to connect ideas to action, bringing together leaders from civic, nonprofit, media, business, philanthropic, and educational communities to model how disagreement can be principled, rigorous, and constructive.
Over the next few weeks, we will host four finalists on campus for a broad range of interviews and engagement opportunities with key stakeholders to identify the inaugural executive director before the end of the spring term.
Over the next few weeks, we will host four finalists on campus for a broad range of interviews and engagement opportunities with key stakeholders to identify the inaugural executive director before the end of the spring term.
Annual Performance Review Training Workshops
This week, faculty supervisors participated in Annual Review Performance Workshops facilitated by Leslie Hasche, vice provost for faculty success, and Sarah Watamura, Faculty Senate president. These sessions reinforced shared expectations for faculty annual reviews, supporting institution-wide expectations for strengthening consistency, clarity, and equity across academic units.
Supervisors engaged with core principles grounded in the Appointment, Promotion, and Tenure (APT) policies, emphasizing that annual review is more than merit alone. The workshops highlighted the importance of meaningful feedback, reflection, goal setting, and clear documentation, as well as tools and practices that support transparent, evidence-based evaluation and constructive conversations.
I am grateful to faculty supervisors for their thoughtful engagement in this work and their commitment to supporting faculty success through well-designed and consistently implemented annual review processes. Workshop materials can be accessed here. Questions may be directed to Leslie Hasche or Sarah Watamura.
Supervisors engaged with core principles grounded in the Appointment, Promotion, and Tenure (APT) policies, emphasizing that annual review is more than merit alone. The workshops highlighted the importance of meaningful feedback, reflection, goal setting, and clear documentation, as well as tools and practices that support transparent, evidence-based evaluation and constructive conversations.
I am grateful to faculty supervisors for their thoughtful engagement in this work and their commitment to supporting faculty success through well-designed and consistently implemented annual review processes. Workshop materials can be accessed here. Questions may be directed to Leslie Hasche or Sarah Watamura.
Join Me for Lunch!
Please join me in the faculty lounge (Community Commons 2800) from noon to 1 p.m. on April 6 for our “First and Third Mondays” lunch. Bring your food, questions, and ideas—I look forward to engaging with you. For reference, here are the dates reserved for lunches for the remainder of the spring quarter:
- April 20
- May 6 (due to travel on May 4)
- May 18
- June 1
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.
This week, the committee discussed a process for handing off and/or evaluating new program ideas to attract students. A subset of the Goal 1 Committee also set meetings with content experts to begin understanding the benchmarking, scenarios, and other key variables needed to generate academic right-sizing models.
I express continued thanks to committee chairs Corinne Lengsfeld, Todd Rinehart, and the entire Goal 1 Committee for their efforts.
This week, the committee discussed a process for handing off and/or evaluating new program ideas to attract students. A subset of the Goal 1 Committee also set meetings with content experts to begin understanding the benchmarking, scenarios, and other key variables needed to generate academic right-sizing models.
I express continued thanks to committee chairs Corinne Lengsfeld, Todd Rinehart, and the entire Goal 1 Committee for their efforts.
DU Student Selected as a 2026 Goldwater Scholar
I am very pleased to congratulate Luca Kaminski on being selected as a 2026 Goldwater Scholar. This remarkable accomplishment reflects not only Luca’s achievements as a student, but is also a tribute to the hard work of the faculty and staff who supported their recommendation, nomination, and application processes.
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.
While the committee works to finalize its report, they would like to invite members of the campus community to celebrate student employees and their supervisors during National Student Employment Week (April 13-17). There are a few opportunities to participate in the festivities:
While the committee works to finalize its report, they would like to invite members of the campus community to celebrate student employees and their supervisors during National Student Employment Week (April 13-17). There are a few opportunities to participate in the festivities:
- April 8: Shining a Light on the Student Researcher
- April 13: Hot Ones Employer Panel: Students are invited for a lunch session of Hot Ones, featuring key employers who will share career tips for student employees and answer their toughest questions.
- April 15: Student Employment Celebration: Join the Student Employment team in recognizing our award-winning student employees and supervisors! We'll have fun toasting these achievements while providing a space to chat and learn from each other over crafts.
- Swing by Beans any time during the week to try weekly specials chosen by our Student Employment Award winners!
The AI Exchange: Using AI to Support Neurodiverse Students
The AI Exchange is a monthly series hosted by the Office of Teaching and Learning to explore how AI can support educational activities across DU. April’s session is a collaborative coffee chat with the Learning Effectiveness Program (LEP) and Student Disability Services (SDS), focusing on the use of this technology to better support students with disabilities and neurodivergence.
Participants will explore tools like Jamworks, and will discuss strategies for helping students and faculty maintain their authentic voice while using AI to enhance learning and productivity. Registration is available on this website.
Participants will explore tools like Jamworks, and will discuss strategies for helping students and faculty maintain their authentic voice while using AI to enhance learning and productivity. Registration is available on this website.
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.
The committee’s work has entered an important new phase, moving from broad idea generation toward the development of concrete, actionable recommendations to support the delivery of a full report by May 1. To support this timeline, the committee has divided into several focused subgroups. This reorganization is intended to explore areas of the committee’s charge that have not been addressed in depth, and to support more targeted progress across key dimensions of academic transformation.
Current areas of focus include: report synthesis and coordination, lessons drawn from restructuring efforts at peer institutions, approaches to sustaining academic program review, and faculty success, retention, and relocation during periods of academic change. Together, this work will inform the next stage of recommendations under goal 3.
Thank you to committee chairs Leslie Hasche, Jennifer Karas, and to the entire Goal 3 Committee for your continued commitment to this work and our shared academic mission.
The committee’s work has entered an important new phase, moving from broad idea generation toward the development of concrete, actionable recommendations to support the delivery of a full report by May 1. To support this timeline, the committee has divided into several focused subgroups. This reorganization is intended to explore areas of the committee’s charge that have not been addressed in depth, and to support more targeted progress across key dimensions of academic transformation.
Current areas of focus include: report synthesis and coordination, lessons drawn from restructuring efforts at peer institutions, approaches to sustaining academic program review, and faculty success, retention, and relocation during periods of academic change. Together, this work will inform the next stage of recommendations under goal 3.
Thank you to committee chairs Leslie Hasche, Jennifer Karas, and to the entire Goal 3 Committee for your continued commitment to this work and our shared academic mission.
Academic Transformation Updates in the Colleges and Schools
The University’s academic transformation is a collaborative effort that draws on a cross-section of campus stakeholders. The Goal 3 Committee will deliver its final report on May 1 concerning a broad range of opportunities to position DU’s academic offerings for an even brighter future. These changes are being pursued in response to external pressures across the entire higher education sector, and the accompanying calls from students and their families for a reimagined university experience.
Under the leadership of deans, associate deans, and department chairs, the colleges and schools are supporting DU’s academic transformation through thoughtful restructuring activities, and I would like to highlight two of these in this week’s newsletter.
Under the leadership of deans, associate deans, and department chairs, the colleges and schools are supporting DU’s academic transformation through thoughtful restructuring activities, and I would like to highlight two of these in this week’s newsletter.
Morgridge College of Education (MCE)
Starting last fall, I engaged MCE faculty to review two high-level proposals that would result in the college’s merger with either the Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) or the Graduate School of Professional Psychology (GSPP). After a series of similar conversations with GSSW and GSPP faculty, representatives from all three academic units launched task forces to gather input and submitted reports to me in late March. These reports evaluated the strengths and challenges associated with a potential MCE merger with either GSSW or GSPP.
I express sincere thanks to the faculty, staff, students, and leaders within all three of these units for their efforts toward developing their reports, which I have now received. I am currently evaluating these reports, along with the supporting material requested from Henrika McCoy, GSSW dean and MCE acting dean, and Torrey Wilson, GSPP dean. I hope to announce the MCE’s new structure in next week’s newsletter.
I express sincere thanks to the faculty, staff, students, and leaders within all three of these units for their efforts toward developing their reports, which I have now received. I am currently evaluating these reports, along with the supporting material requested from Henrika McCoy, GSSW dean and MCE acting dean, and Torrey Wilson, GSPP dean. I hope to announce the MCE’s new structure in next week’s newsletter.
College of Professional Studies (PSC) Continues Academic Transformation Efforts
The market for online graduate professional education programs, housed in PSC, has fundamentally changed over the past few years. As a result, PSC is making a deliberate, data-informed decision to close programs where demand has declined and is unlikely to return, shifting focus to units with the greatest potential for sustained revenue growth. This is the continuation of a two-year strategy of streamlining and differentiating that has been implemented under the strong leadership of PSC’s dean, Bobbie Kite.
Moving forward and effective March 31, 2026, PSC will concentrate most fully on new bachelor completion offerings, where differentiation is strong and financial sustainability is achievable. Last week, PSC received approval from the Higher Learning Commission to launch four new accelerated bachelor of professional studies degrees in fall 2026.
The closure of programs is very difficult, especially for our colleagues who have been impacted by these decisions. PSC and DU leadership are working hard to support the faculty and staff who will either lose their jobs or experience position changes, and are committed to developing and delivering teach-out plans to the graduate students impacted by these program closures.
Moving forward and effective March 31, 2026, PSC will concentrate most fully on new bachelor completion offerings, where differentiation is strong and financial sustainability is achievable. Last week, PSC received approval from the Higher Learning Commission to launch four new accelerated bachelor of professional studies degrees in fall 2026.
The closure of programs is very difficult, especially for our colleagues who have been impacted by these decisions. PSC and DU leadership are working hard to support the faculty and staff who will either lose their jobs or experience position changes, and are committed to developing and delivering teach-out plans to the graduate students impacted by these program closures.
Applications Now Open: Teaching and Learning for Regeneration and Resilience
The Center for a Regenerative Future is now accepting applications for its spring Teaching and Learning for Regeneration and Resilience training. This in-person workshop is designed for DU staff and faculty who are interested in strengthening their capacity to support student learning and personal well-being in the context of ecological crisis.
The training will take place on June 9 and 10, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Priority consideration will be given to applications received by Friday, May 15, at noon. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until all available spaces are filled.
Questions may be directed to Julia Senecal and more information is available on this website.
The training will take place on June 9 and 10, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Priority consideration will be given to applications received by Friday, May 15, at noon. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until all available spaces are filled.
Questions may be directed to Julia Senecal and more information is available on this website.
As ever, I am grateful for your dedication to our students, your intellectual contributions, and your support to the DU community.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth G. Loboa
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor