Weekly Letter from the Provost—October 2 Edition
Dear colleagues,
We have made it to week four, and I continue to hear great things from our students about their DU experiences this fall. Thank you for your consistent and intentional efforts to shape their experiences, within and beyond the classroom, toward careers and lives of purpose!
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
Welcoming Our New Faculty Colleagues
This fall, I am pleased to welcome DU's newest faculty members to our academic community. We look forward to the contributions these faculty members will make to our classrooms, our scholarship, and our community. Last month, faculty and staff from across the university joined together to welcome our new colleagues at the New Faculty Luncheon. My thanks to the many faculty and staff who helped make the luncheon possible, including the Faculty Senate, which co-sponsored the event with the Office of the Provost. To learn more about this year's new faculty, we invite you to explore the New Faculty Booklet on the Provost's website.
Founding Dean Search Updates
As announced in previous newsletters, the job postings for our two founding dean searches are available online with applications due Oct. 15:
I am grateful to each of the search committee members and to their chairs (Sahara Byrne, MCE+GSSW+GSPP; Naomi Boyd, NSM+RSECS) for their efforts. Thank you to those who completed surveys to inform these searches. I will share key findings in next week's newsletter.
In terms of the remaining timeline, the search committees will complete first-round interviews in October. Finalists will be invited to present to the DU community before the end of fall quarter, during the first two weeks of November. The goal is to announce the dean appointments in December in time for a Jan. 1, 2027, start date.
Operational Transformation Website is Now Live
A new Operational Transformation website has launched with information and updates on this important initiative. Learn more about DU's efforts to align operations with our revised academic vision, including processes, technology, data, people, and facilities. A key part of DU Forward, Operational Transformation will simplify processes, revisit policies, and help us ease burdens on staff and faculty over the coming years. Check out the website!
Registration Now Open for the Crimson Classic
Register now for the 14th Annual Crimson Classic 5K Run or 1.5-Mile Walk on Oct. 21 at 3 p.m.! Enjoy some music, stretching, snacks, and an afternoon run or walk through the DU campus with your fellow students, faculty, staff, and alumni. This is a free event.
The first 500 community members to register will receive a race T-shirt, and all participants will be granted admission to the post-event celebration area. Visit the Crimson Classic website to register, learn more, or download a 5K training plan.
Goal 1: Shape Enrollment and Improve Retention and Graduation Rates
Collaborative Online International Learning Information Session and Call for Proposals
Join DU's Global Learning Office on October 7, 2026, at 10-11am MT to learn about Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL). COIL is a pedagogical method of virtually connecting students and faculty from two different institutions to enhance global and intercultural learning. COIL allows faculty to build new connections or strengthen current ones with colleagues at institutions abroad.
Register here for next week's information session.
Summary Findings from DU's First Graduate Student Experience Survey Now Available
The results are in from DU's first Graduate Student Experience Survey. This past spring, 483 graduate students shared feedback about their academic experience, sense of belonging, use of resources, and overall satisfaction.
Key findings include:
- High satisfaction with degree programs (85%), faculty engagement (83%), and the overall academic experience (79%)
- Strong connections with peers and faculty, with 80% saying faculty care about them as individuals
- Academic reputation and location are the leading reasons students choose DU
- Students who use support resources report high satisfaction, though awareness and utilization vary across academic units and programs
- Affordability and perceived value remain significant concerns
The full summary and crosstabs are available on Data Insights. Please reach out to studentsuccess@du.edu with any questions.
Reminder: Accessibility Council Fall Meeting
I invite you to join the Fall Accessibility Council Meeting to connect with colleagues, learn about accessibility initiatives across DU, and share your ideas for creating a more inclusive campus experience for students, faculty, and staff.
Fall Accessibility Council Meeting
Oct. 7, 2026
3-4:30 p.m.
Anderson Academic Commons, Room 290
RSVPs are welcome, but not required.
Learn more about the Accessibility Council and its work on the group's website.
Goal 2: Improve Career Outcomes and Better Prepare Our Students to Succeed and Lead in an AI-Transformed Workforce
Celebrating DU's Faculty Career Champions
Last Friday, we celebrated 136 faculty who were nominated by their students for going above and beyond in helping them prepare for their careers. Below are the faculty who received this year's "Awards of Excellence." This was DU's 10th year celebrating Faculty Career Champions, and over 900 faculty have been nominated by their students during that time!
2026 Faculty Awards of Excellence Recipients:
Rachael Liberman, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Elizabeth Sperber, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Michael Kerwin, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Xi Yang, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Brian Cicero, College of Professional Studies
Kay Rudisill, College of Professional Studies
Tom Hall, Daniels College of Business
Tamara Hannaway, Daniels College of Business
Gwen Vogel Mitchell, Graduate School of Professional Psychology
Artur Poczwardowski, Graduate School of Professional Psychology
Sophia Sarantakos, Graduate School of Social Work
Michele Smith, Graduate School of Social Work
Ilene Grabel, Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs
Kaitlyn Sims, Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs
Rashida Banerjee, Morgridge College of Education
Norma Hafenstein, Morgridge College of Education
Mohammed Albow, Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science
Alannah Oleson, Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science
Elizabeth Jordan, Sturm College of Law
Justin Marceau, Sturm College of Law
Goal 3: Strengthen Academic Excellence
Nominations Now Open for the 2027 RSCW Awards
The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs invites nominations of outstanding DU faculty for the second annual Research, Scholarship, and Creative Works (RSCW) Awards. These awards celebrate exceptional research, scholarship, creativity, and impact across career stages and disciplines.
New this year is the RSCW Dissertation Award, which recognizes an exceptional doctoral dissertation that demonstrates significant achievement in research, scholarship, or creative work. Nominations open Sept. 28 and close Oct. 28.
Learn more about award categories and the nomination process on the RSCW Awards website. Reach out to this email with questions.
DU Faculty Member Receives Major Grant to Launch the National Center for Work, Economic Mobility, and Strong Families
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded $14.5 million over five years—beginning with $2.9 million this year—to support the launch of the National Center for Work, Economic Mobility, and Strong Families at DU. This national center will be led by Dr. Galena Rhoades, research professor in the Department of Psychology, and housed within the Institute for Relationship Science. The five-year initiative will support research and policy efforts focused on economic opportunity, family stability, child well-being, responsible fatherhood, and effective human services programs. The center will serve as a national hub that connects researchers, government leaders, and community organizations to address some of the most pressing issues facing families today. In addition to conducting and supporting research, the center will provide fellowship opportunities for emerging scholars and help translate research findings into practical guidance for policymakers and practitioners. Please join me in congratulating Dr. Rhoades and her colleagues for this incredible achievement!
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 newsletter. Previous newsletters can be found on the provost's communication center on the University's website.
Wishing you continued productivity and renewed energy as we reach the midpoint of the fall quarter!
Sincerely,
Elizabeth G. Loboa
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor