Weekly Letter from the Provost—Nov. 14
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. Thank you for your interest and support.
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.
I received a suggestion through the submission form that DU could offer staff and faculty opportunities to write letters or emails of gratitude to colleagues who have made a difference in their professional lives. As the submitter shared, “It doesn’t cost anything to say thank you, but the sentiment can go so far.” This proposal resonated with me, and I intend to take up this challenge by regularly sending messages of gratitude to faculty and staff who make a difference. I invite you to do the same.
As we end the quarter and enter finals week, I want to express my appreciation to each of you. Your dedication and care for our students make a positive impact every day. Thank you for the energy, creativity, and commitment you bring to the University of Denver. It is such an honor and privilege to serve as your provost.
Today’s update falls into four categories:
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.
I received a suggestion through the submission form that DU could offer staff and faculty opportunities to write letters or emails of gratitude to colleagues who have made a difference in their professional lives. As the submitter shared, “It doesn’t cost anything to say thank you, but the sentiment can go so far.” This proposal resonated with me, and I intend to take up this challenge by regularly sending messages of gratitude to faculty and staff who make a difference. I invite you to do the same.
As we end the quarter and enter finals week, I want to express my appreciation to each of you. Your dedication and care for our students make a positive impact every day. Thank you for the energy, creativity, and commitment you bring to the University of Denver. It is such an honor and privilege to serve as your provost.
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
Listening and Learning Sessions
On Tuesday, I spent half a day in conversations with faculty and staff in the Graduate School of Professional Psychology (GSPP). My thanks to all who participated. I would also like to extend my gratitude to the GSPP faculty for allocating a portion of Tuesday’s meeting to talk about the proposal (covered more fully in last week’s newsletter) to pursue an administrative merger between the Morgridge College of Education and either GSPP or the Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW).
On Wednesday, I had a great meeting with DU’s internationalization team. Along with so many faculty, staff, and students, I share a deep appreciation for their efforts to support international experiences for our students, and to make DU a welcoming place for students globally who choose to study and work with us.
On Thursday, I spent part of the day with faculty and staff from the Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs (Korbel). Korbel has been a leader in international affairs for decades, and I was pleased to learn more about the many ways it prepares students for meaningful and purposeful careers in public service.
On Wednesday, I had a great meeting with DU’s internationalization team. Along with so many faculty, staff, and students, I share a deep appreciation for their efforts to support international experiences for our students, and to make DU a welcoming place for students globally who choose to study and work with us.
On Thursday, I spent part of the day with faculty and staff from the Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs (Korbel). Korbel has been a leader in international affairs for decades, and I was pleased to learn more about the many ways it prepares students for meaningful and purposeful careers in public service.
DU Law Stars Event
DU Law Stars is the Sturm College of Law’s signature annual awards event. It is designed to unite alumni and Denver’s legal community by celebrating those who have made remarkable contributions to the field of law and legal education.
The 2025 Law Stars honorees are:
Outstanding Alumni Award
Chad Williams (JD ’99)
William L. Keating
Alumni Professionalism Award
Sidney Brooks (JD ’71)
Robert H. McWilliams, Jr.
Outstanding Young Alumni Award
Elisa “Emo” Overall (JD ’17)
Bruce B. John
Robert B. Yegge Excellence in Teaching Award
David Thomson
Thank you to Dean Bruce Smith for the invitation to participate in this wonderful event.
The 2025 Law Stars honorees are:
Outstanding Alumni Award
Chad Williams (JD ’99)
William L. Keating
Alumni Professionalism Award
Sidney Brooks (JD ’71)
Robert H. McWilliams, Jr.
Outstanding Young Alumni Award
Elisa “Emo” Overall (JD ’17)
Bruce B. John
Robert B. Yegge Excellence in Teaching Award
David Thomson
Thank you to Dean Bruce Smith for the invitation to participate in this wonderful event.
University Council Meeting Recap
On Thursday, my office coordinated this quarter’s University Council meeting. The University Council is a convening of DU’s academic and administrative leaders, as well as leaders from the Faculty and Staff Senate, to promote the exchange of information in the spirit of community building. A special thanks to Sarah Watamura, Faculty Senate president, and Maggie Heyduk, Staff Senate vice president, for providing updates on both bodies respectively. Thanks also to Jeff Banks, vice chancellor for human resources, for providing key HR updates.
Mark DeLorenzo, senior vice chancellor of business and financial affairs, and I spent a good portion of the meeting answering follow-up questions from this week’s town hall . I concluded with a brief preview of the approach I intend to use, in coordination with the DU community, to establish DU’s academic vision and strategy for the next few years. I am grateful to council members for their feedback and help in refining the engagement plan, which I look forward to sharing with you in subsequent newsletters.
Mark DeLorenzo, senior vice chancellor of business and financial affairs, and I spent a good portion of the meeting answering follow-up questions from this week’s town hall . I concluded with a brief preview of the approach I intend to use, in coordination with the DU community, to establish DU’s academic vision and strategy for the next few years. I am grateful to council members for their feedback and help in refining the engagement plan, which I look forward to sharing with you in subsequent newsletters.
Deadline Extended: Employment Engagement Survey
There are just a few days left to participate in this year’s employee engagement survey; the deadline has been extended to Nov. 17. If you have not done so, please take a moment to complete the survey and encourage your colleagues to do the same. Your feedback is essential to helping us understand what is working well, where improvements are needed, and how we can continue to strengthen our workplace community.
The survey is 10 to 15 minutes long and requires a login for basic demographic information to help us identify trends and ensure no group is represented by fewer than a handful of responses, protecting individual identities while enabling meaningful analysis. However, responses are confidential.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Andrea Groth, manager of employee engagement and well-being, Human Resources and Inclusive Community.
The survey is 10 to 15 minutes long and requires a login for basic demographic information to help us identify trends and ensure no group is represented by fewer than a handful of responses, protecting individual identities while enabling meaningful analysis. However, responses are confidential.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Andrea Groth, manager of employee engagement and well-being, Human Resources and Inclusive Community.
Faculty Discussion Hour Occurring Next Week
The Office of Teaching and Learning’s Jasmine Yap and the Division of Community and Student Engagement’s Lauren Hammond will host, “Supporting Faculty in Uncertain Times,” a faculty discussion hour, on Nov. 18 at 2 p.m. in the faculty lounge, Community Commons 2800. Please register today if you are interested.
In response to recent federal policy changes affecting higher education, this faculty discussion hour offers a space for an open conversation about how these shifts are impacting our students, our teaching, and ourselves. Michael Todd, associate vice chancellor of equal opportunity and Title IX, and Leslie Hasche, vice provost for faculty affairs, will also join to provide updates on guidance we are developing for the Office of Teaching and Learning.
In response to recent federal policy changes affecting higher education, this faculty discussion hour offers a space for an open conversation about how these shifts are impacting our students, our teaching, and ourselves. Michael Todd, associate vice chancellor of equal opportunity and Title IX, and Leslie Hasche, vice provost for faculty affairs, will also join to provide updates on guidance we are developing for the Office of Teaching and Learning.
Goal 1: Shape Enrollment and Improve Retention and Graduation Rates
Goal 1 Committee Kickoff Meeting Taking Place Next Week
Thank you to all who have agreed to serve and to Corinne Lengsfeld and Todd Rinehart for serving as co-chairs. I look forward to our first meeting on Nov. 21, where I will convey important KPIs and charge the group.
Help Students Thrive: Take a Coach Approach!
The Office of Academic Advising and Student Success’ coaching program will offer its annual “Take a Coach Approach” training. This is a great opportunity for free professional development for those who work with students at DU. This training is great for mentors, supervisors, advisors and anyone in between. All are welcome.
This two day, in-person, interactive training will provide you with effective coaching strategies to help students overcome setbacks, navigate challenges, and achieve their goals. Coaching centers the student as the expert in their own life and supports the development of accountability and self-management. You will build foundational coaching skills, such as asking curious and powerful questions to inspire self-awareness, problem solving, and action. An optional micro-credential and digital badge is now available.
Register today on Crimson Connect.
Dec. 9-10, 2025
9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Community Commons, 1600 (In-person only)
This two day, in-person, interactive training will provide you with effective coaching strategies to help students overcome setbacks, navigate challenges, and achieve their goals. Coaching centers the student as the expert in their own life and supports the development of accountability and self-management. You will build foundational coaching skills, such as asking curious and powerful questions to inspire self-awareness, problem solving, and action. An optional micro-credential and digital badge is now available.
Register today on Crimson Connect.
Dec. 9-10, 2025
9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Community Commons, 1600 (In-person only)
Goal 2: Improve Career Outcomes and Better Prepare Our Students to Succeed and Lead in an AI-transformed Workforce
Campus-wide Goal 2 Committee Kickoff Meeting Next Week
Thank you to the goal 2 committee members for their service and to Liz Lierman and Lorenzo Patelli for serving as co-chairs. The committee’s initial meeting takes place on Nov. 18.
Announcing New DU Website Featuring AI Courses and Programs
I am pleased to share two new features on DU’s AI website: one is a refreshed home page to highlight DU’s classroom, teaching, and research experiences, as well as resources in the AI realm. There is also a newly updated page featuring DU’s course offerings in AI and AI-related areas. Please submit any courses that may be missing from this list to Terese Rainwater.
Shape the Next Generation of DU Professionals
A meaningful way we can all play a role in the 4D Experience is through Crimson Constellation, our mentorship and networking platform. This platform helps support our students’ growth and creates valuable opportunities to connect with one another as colleagues. Claiming your profile signals that you are open to being contacted and allows you to mentor, start conversations, and participate in “groups” which are communities organized around shared interests, career paths, or areas of study. I encourage faculty members to activate their account today and become mentors to share your expertise, expand your impact, and help shape an even stronger next generation of DU professionals.
For more information about student-staff-faculty connections, contact Sam Anderson-Lehman. For information about student-alumni-employer-professional mentor connections, contact Marissa Ronquillo.
For more information about student-staff-faculty connections, contact Sam Anderson-Lehman. For information about student-alumni-employer-professional mentor connections, contact Marissa Ronquillo.
Goal 3: Strengthen Academic Excellence
Goal 3 Committee Kickoff Meeting Next Week
Thank you to the individuals who agreed to serve on the goal 3 committee. Thank you as well to Leslie Hasche and Jennifer Karas for serving as co-chairs. The committee’s first meeting will take place on Nov. 21.
Federal Grants and Contracts Conversation Next Week
Please join senior vice provost for research and graduate education, Corinne Lengsfeld, on Nov. 18, 12-1 p.m., as she discusses updates from the federal government and DU’s government relations firm regarding research and more.
Topics will include:
Topics will include:
- Coming out of the government shut down
- Consensus on proposed negotiated rulemaking on federal graduate loans
- General Q&A
Reminder: Celebrating Research and Creative Excellence
The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) is pleased to introduce the Research, Scholarship, and Creative Works (RSCW) Awards, honoring faculty whose unique accomplishments make a meaningful impact. These annual awards recognize excellence across career stages and disciplines. Nominations are open now through Dec. 1, 2025. Community members can explore the award categories and consider nominating a colleague whose work embodies the spirit of discovery and creativity.
Korbel’s Pardee Institute Releases 2025 Strategic Plan
We often hear we are living in a time of unprecedented uncertainty—that it is getting harder to know what tomorrow will bring. But the Pardee Institute, home to the International Futures (IFs) Model, sees things differently. The Pardee Institute believes the power of models is not predicting the future; it is helping us realize what is possible for our future.
This fall, Pardee launched its 2025 strategic plan: a roadmap for building a more knowable future. It reflects on where we have been, envisions what is possible, and calls on the DU community—and all who are invested in our shared global future—to join in the journey. You can learn more about this work on the university’s website.
This fall, Pardee launched its 2025 strategic plan: a roadmap for building a more knowable future. It reflects on where we have been, envisions what is possible, and calls on the DU community—and all who are invested in our shared global future—to join in the journey. You can learn more about this work on the university’s website.
Join Me for Lunch
Please join me in the faculty lounge (Community Commons, 2800) from 12-1 p.m. on Nov. 17 for our “First and Third Mondays” lunch. Feel free to bring your food, questions, and ideas; I look forward to engaging with you.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth G. Loboa
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor
Sincerely,
Elizabeth G. Loboa
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor