Weekly Letter from the Provost—September 25 Edition
Dear colleagues,
As we near the end of September, it is nice to (finally) begin experiencing the relief of cooler temperatures and the hint of the beauty that comes with the change of seasons. The quarter is off to a great start, and we are hitting our full stride in time for next week’s census date. Thank you for your efforts to recruit, retain, and support our students throughout their individual journeys toward purpose and fulfillment. Your commitment to going above and beyond, in good times and bad, makes all the difference and is at the heart of what makes DU so special. I see your commitment—and hear about it from students and parents alike—time and again and look forward to celebrating and rewarding it in the future.
- 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
August University Council Meeting Recap
Enrollment Update
Todd Rinehart, vice chancellor for enrollment, and Corinne Lengsfeld, senior vice provost for research and graduate studies, provided enrollment projections for the fall 2026 entering class. Their updates were very encouraging, and they align with the numbers I have shared with you in previous newsletters.
DU set a goal in the FY 27 budget of 1,050 first-year, first-time (FYFT) undergraduate students and 1,642 new graduate students this fall. We welcomed 1,122 FYFT students on the first day of the quarter. For new graduate student enrollment, we projected 1,600-1,620 new graduate students by the fall census. However, summer enrollments (which also contribute to FY 27 revenue) exceeded estimates which will also likely offset the smaller-than-budgeted incoming class of graduate students.
DU’s ability to achieve our enrollment goals would not have been possible without the incredible leadership, dedication, and, frankly, the hard work of our central enrollment teams, and the deans, their recruitment teams, and the faculty and staff who made recruiting such a high priority this year.
Budget Update
DU set a goal of achieving a net-zero budget for FY 27 and did so in large part by meeting our admissions targets. Additionally, we achieved our FY 27 budget goal through the difficult process of expense reductions, many of which came in the form of employee departures. Mark DeLorenzo, senior vice chancellor for business and financial affairs, was joined by Brad Bohlander, senior vice chancellor for university relations, Jeff Banks, vice chancellor for human resources, Val Otten, senior vice chancellor for university advancement, Stu Halsall, vice chancellor for student affairs, and Harper Johnson, chief information officer, to discuss staffing and programming changes within their units that were implemented to support the University’s FY 27 budget goals. For more information on their presentations, I would encourage you to reach out to your unit lead or department chair.
Academic Transformation Update
In my June 9 newsletter, I announced DU’s new academic model as approved by the Board of Trustees.
One of the most important steps to support this structure is the selection of a founding dean for each of the new units formed by the merger of MCE+GSSW+GSPP and NSM+Ritchie. See below in the “Founding Dean Search Updates” for a substantive update in line with what I shared during the University Council meeting.
Operational Transformation Update
Co-leads Harper Johnson, chief information officer, and Daniel Eady, senior vice provost for strategy and operations, provided an update on this initiative’s progress. The Operational Transformation Steering Committee met several times over the summer to develop a short list of projects for initiation this fall. They also worked with University Relations staff to develop a website that will provide regular updates on in-flight initiatives and offer a venue for you to submit your ideas for operational improvement. Be on the lookout for the new website, as well as information on the projects to be undertaken this academic year, in the next few weeks.
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. You may provide comments to the search committees and me on the top priorities to be considered during the search process at the links below.
Click here for DU community guidance for GSPP-GSSW-MCE Dean search survey
- Access: Sahara Byrne, Leslie Hasche, Carter Kubic, and Cristina Meraz
- Open Sept. 11, 2026 – Close Sept. 30, 2026
Click here for DU community guidance for NSM-RSECS Dean search survey
- Access: Naomi Boyd, Leslie Hasche, Amy Wiseneski, and Cristina Meraz
- Open Sept. 11, 2026 – Close Sept. 30, 2026
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.
Goal 1: Shape Enrollment and Improve Retention and Graduation Rates
Accessibility Council Fall Meeting
Building a university where everyone can fully participate, contribute, and thrive is work that benefits our entire community. 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. The council's work reflects DU's ongoing commitment to accessibility, belonging, and student success.
Fall Accessibility Council Meeting
Oct. 7, 2026
3 to 4:30 p.m.
Anderson Academic Commons, Room 290
RSVPs are welcome, but not required.
To learn more about the Accessibility Council and its work at the accessibility website.
DU Faculty Member Tapped to Serve on State-level Advisory Board to Support Thriving Students
House Bill 26-1006 directs the Colorado Department of Higher Education to convene an advisory committee to create the Thriving Institution campus designation, recognizing colleges and universities that demonstrate strong performance for historically underserved student populations. DU is proud to announce that Cecilia Orphan, associate professor of higher education in Morgridge College of Education, has been selected to sit on the Advisory Committee on Thriving Institution Outcomes! Learn more about the committee on this website.
Goal 2: Improve Career Outcomes and Better Prepare Our Students to Succeed and Lead in an AI-Transformed Workforce
Office of Career and Professional Development 2026 Annual Report Now Available Online
From internships to first jobs, DU's career services team is turning classroom learning into real career momentum—and the results speak for themselves. With more than 77% of undergraduates and 85% of master's students completing at least one internship, partnerships with over 3,200 employers nationwide, and student workers reporting real gains in the communication and professionalism skills employers want most, this year's annual report shows what's possible when career readiness becomes part of the DU experience from day one.
Goal 3: Strengthen Academic Excellence
Nominations Open Sept. 28 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 Hosts National Meeting of Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
DU hosted the IACUC Administrators Association (IAA) Best Practice Meeting on Sept. 14-15.
The meeting brought together animal research compliance and IACUC professionals from institutions across the country for two days of discussion on regulatory compliance, animal welfare, emerging technologies, quality assurance, field research oversight, and other current topics impacting animal care and use programs.
The event was facilitated by nationally recognized leaders in the field, including Bill Greer (University of Michigan, IAA President) and Ron Banks, DVM (DU attending veterinarian). It also provided a great opportunity to highlight DU's research compliance program, connect with peers, and contribute to national conversations on best practices in animal research oversight.
DU PhD Graduate Selected for National Book Award
Carolina Ebeid, PhD graduate in DU’s Department of English and multimedia poet, has been recognized by the National Book Foundation. Her work, “Hide,” has been selected on the longlist of the National Book Awards for Poetry.
The National Book Awards were established in 1950 to celebrate the best writing in the United States. Since 1989, the awards have been overseen by the National Book Foundation whose mission is to celebrate the best literature published in the United States, connect books with readers of all ages, and champion the literary arts as a vital part of our culture.
A panel of judges selects a Longlist of ten titles per category, which is then narrowed to five Finalists, and a Winner is announced at the Awards Ceremony, scheduled for Oct. 6. Best of luck, Carolina, and thank you for the impact you have already made by achieving this level of national recognition!
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 joy in the early phases of the fall quarter!
Sincerely,
Elizabeth G. Loboa
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor