Weekly Letter from the Provost—Sept. 19
Good afternoon, faculty and staff,
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Thank you for the warm welcome last week! I truly appreciated the opportunity to meet you. Faculty Affairs hosted a wonderful coffee hour, I attended my first Faculty Senate meeting, and the afternoon reception was a meaningful way to connect with colleagues as we begin this new academic year together.
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Board of Trustees Retreat and FEAC
At this week’s Faculty and Educational Affairs Committee (FEAC) meeting during the Board of Trustees retreat, I had the privilege of joining Chancellor Haefner to discuss the challenges and opportunities ahead for higher education and DU. I also shared my three primary goals for Academic Affairs and my reflections from the listening and learning tours I have held to date with our academic community.
Our conversation with FEAC addressed a range of pressing national issues shaping the future of higher education. These included federal policy shifts such as caps on research funding, visa challenges for international students, and the elimination of Grad PLUS loans. We also examined broader societal concerns, including declining public confidence in the value of a college degree, the rising cost of attendance, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in reshaping both academic delivery and workforce expectations.
As you know, these external pressures are already impacting DU. We are experiencing enrollment declines in graduate programs and a notable reduction in international student enrollment. And changes in student loans are compounding financial barriers for prospective students. At the undergraduate level, competition from well-resourced public flagship institutions, limited offerings in health sciences, and concerns around institutional rankings and reputation are contributing to enrollment challenges. Additionally, recent campus unrest underscores the need for continued dialogue and community engagement.
As a private institution, DU is well-positioned to respond nimbly to these challenges, and DU Forward proposals have been carefully selected to address some of these pressures.ÌýMore information will be shared in the coming weeks.
Academic leadership and Faculty Senate Chair Sarah Watamura were present for this discussion. I encourage you to connect with your dean, vice provost, or Faculty Senate leadership for further insight and to continue the conversation within your units.
Our conversation with FEAC addressed a range of pressing national issues shaping the future of higher education. These included federal policy shifts such as caps on research funding, visa challenges for international students, and the elimination of Grad PLUS loans. We also examined broader societal concerns, including declining public confidence in the value of a college degree, the rising cost of attendance, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in reshaping both academic delivery and workforce expectations.
As you know, these external pressures are already impacting DU. We are experiencing enrollment declines in graduate programs and a notable reduction in international student enrollment. And changes in student loans are compounding financial barriers for prospective students. At the undergraduate level, competition from well-resourced public flagship institutions, limited offerings in health sciences, and concerns around institutional rankings and reputation are contributing to enrollment challenges. Additionally, recent campus unrest underscores the need for continued dialogue and community engagement.
As a private institution, DU is well-positioned to respond nimbly to these challenges, and DU Forward proposals have been carefully selected to address some of these pressures.ÌýMore information will be shared in the coming weeks.
Academic leadership and Faculty Senate Chair Sarah Watamura were present for this discussion. I encourage you to connect with your dean, vice provost, or Faculty Senate leadership for further insight and to continue the conversation within your units.
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Calling all DU Faculty Career Champions! Next Week is Career Week at DU!
Beginning Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, and culminating with the fall 2025 Career & Internship Fair on Thursday, Sept. 25, our students will have the opportunity to gain valuable career and professional development skills and connect with employers from different industries.
These events have been specifically designed by Career & Professional Development (CPD) staff to cater to your students’ needs and set them up for success as they prepare to join the workforce. Please with students.Ìý
Your encouragement makes all the difference!
These events have been specifically designed by Career & Professional Development (CPD) staff to cater to your students’ needs and set them up for success as they prepare to join the workforce. Please with students.Ìý
Your encouragement makes all the difference!
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Career & Professional Development (CPD) Transition
I am pleased to share that CPD is moving from University Advancement into Academic Affairs and will now report directly to me. This change strengthens the connection between our academic programs and the support we provide for our students as they prepare for life after DU. This change allows us to build even stronger pathways for internships and experiential learning, while continuing to partner with Advancement to engage employers and alumni as mentors and advocates. CPD has earned state and national recognition for its work, and I look forward to working with this team to help our students thrive in an AI-transformed workforce.Ìý
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Faculty Senate
It was my pleasure to meet and engage with Faculty Senators last week. Faculty Senate is the primary body through which faculty participate in DU’s shared governance model. The Senate is looking for faculty nominations for their committees, faculty input on Senate business, and suggestions for topics for learning. I have included links for three opportunities to learn more and participate.
1. Faculty Nominations for Important CommitteesÌý
If you are interested in potentially serving on high-level policy, implementation, or search committees in AY 25–26, Faculty Senate invites you to self-nominate and provide your interests and expertise using .
2. Faculty Input on Senate Business for the YearÌý
Faculty Senate is soliciting Faculty input on topics for Senate to address this year. Submit your questions using .
3. Community Input (Faculty and Staff) for Learning TopicsÌý
Senate looks forward to hosting (and co-hosting) learning sessions on topics that are important to our community, so that we can work from a place of shared information and engage productively across differences in strategy, perspective, and opinion. to submit feedback.
1. Faculty Nominations for Important CommitteesÌý
If you are interested in potentially serving on high-level policy, implementation, or search committees in AY 25–26, Faculty Senate invites you to self-nominate and provide your interests and expertise using .
2. Faculty Input on Senate Business for the YearÌý
Faculty Senate is soliciting Faculty input on topics for Senate to address this year. Submit your questions using .
3. Community Input (Faculty and Staff) for Learning TopicsÌý
Senate looks forward to hosting (and co-hosting) learning sessions on topics that are important to our community, so that we can work from a place of shared information and engage productively across differences in strategy, perspective, and opinion. to submit feedback.
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Staff Senate
Staff Senate is also looking for your input and participation. ÌýSimilarly, I have included two links should you like to join this work.Ìý
1. Staff Input on Senate Business for the YearÌý
Staff Senate is soliciting your input on topics for Senate to address this year. Share what you would like to discuss and focus on using .
2. Staff Senate Business MeetingsÌý
All DU community members are welcome to attend Staff Senate monthly business meetings, which are held on the second Wednesday of each month from noon-2 p.m.
1. Staff Input on Senate Business for the YearÌý
Staff Senate is soliciting your input on topics for Senate to address this year. Share what you would like to discuss and focus on using .
2. Staff Senate Business MeetingsÌý
All DU community members are welcome to attend Staff Senate monthly business meetings, which are held on the second Wednesday of each month from noon-2 p.m.
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Featured Academic Goal
As I mentioned in , our work this year centers on three Academic Affairs Goals:Ìý
1. Shape enrollment and improve retention and graduation rates for all students (undergraduate and graduate)Ìý
2. Improve career outcomes and better prepare all students to succeed and lead in an AI-transformed workforceÌý
3. Strengthen academic excellenceÌý
In this week’s message, I am focusing on the first goal and featuring a few examples of work in my office that shape enrollment and improve retention for all students, undergraduate and graduate.
1. Shape enrollment and improve retention and graduation rates for all students (undergraduate and graduate)Ìý
2. Improve career outcomes and better prepare all students to succeed and lead in an AI-transformed workforceÌý
3. Strengthen academic excellenceÌý
In this week’s message, I am focusing on the first goal and featuring a few examples of work in my office that shape enrollment and improve retention for all students, undergraduate and graduate.
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Student Research as Signature Work
As an extension of DU's deep commitment to the teacher-scholar model and to encourage enrollment by providing unique, meaningful opportunities for Students, I am delighted to announce we are expanding support for Student Research and Creativity, which features student-driven, faculty-mentored research and creative projects. Through this work, students will extend their learning beyond the classroom.
In the past academic year alone, nearly 700 DU undergraduate students contributed to research projects. This includes numerous examples of students collaborating as research assistants on faculty-led projects and, increasingly, students conducting their own research to advance new knowledge. In addition, 89 students presented 91 posters at the Signature Work Showcase as part of DU’s Public Good Celebration. Ìý
This year, students can apply for Student Signature Work Grants, which include:
In the past academic year alone, nearly 700 DU undergraduate students contributed to research projects. This includes numerous examples of students collaborating as research assistants on faculty-led projects and, increasingly, students conducting their own research to advance new knowledge. In addition, 89 students presented 91 posters at the Signature Work Showcase as part of DU’s Public Good Celebration. Ìý
This year, students can apply for Student Signature Work Grants, which include:
- ÌýStudent stipend: $3,800
- Project funds: up to $1,500
- Faculty stipend for developing outstanding mentoring plans: $200Ìý
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Accessibility Council
As DU strives to provide learning opportunities for all students, I am particularly excited by the Accessibility Council. Comprised of faculty, staff, and students, the council’s goal is to create a more inclusive and accessible DU. Ìý
I am pleased to note that through Student Disability Services (SDS) and Learning Effectiveness Program (LEP) in the Division of Student Affairs, we are seeing growth both in terms of student enrollment and retention. SDS has nearly 2,035 undergraduate, graduate, and law students enrolled. Participation in LEP has increased, from serving 349 students in 2023 to 430 students this year.Ìý
In recognition of faculty contributions in supporting students, LEP recognized these faculty with awards in 2025: Ìý
As DU strives to provide learning opportunities for all students, I am particularly excited by the Accessibility Council. Comprised of faculty, staff, and students, the council’s goal is to create a more inclusive and accessible DU. Ìý
I am pleased to note that through Student Disability Services (SDS) and Learning Effectiveness Program (LEP) in the Division of Student Affairs, we are seeing growth both in terms of student enrollment and retention. SDS has nearly 2,035 undergraduate, graduate, and law students enrolled. Participation in LEP has increased, from serving 349 students in 2023 to 430 students this year.Ìý
In recognition of faculty contributions in supporting students, LEP recognized these faculty with awards in 2025: Ìý
- Bethany Waddington, LEP Partnership Ìý
- Carwyn Sharp, LEP Partnership
- Brian Gearity, Excellence in Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Ìý
To encourage student success, I want to draw your attention to several resources to support accessibility:
- For additional college, school, and academic unit support: Accessibility Council’s Accessibility Ambassador program Ìý
- For classroom support: Ìý
- Additional classroom support: SDS Faculty Training (within Canvas)
I encourage you to join the Accessibility Council for its fall quarter meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025 at 3 p.m. in Anderson Academic Commons, room 290. These meetings are open to all faculty, staff, and students.
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Connecting DU to DC
Stephanie O’Malley, associate vice chancellor for government and community relations, and Corinne Lengsfeld, senior vice provost for research and graduate education, spent a full day on Capitol Hill on Sept. 3, 2025, meeting with congressional and senate offices, as well as the deputy under secretary of the Department of Education, where DU received bipartisan interest and support as we discussed the importance of access to loans for graduate and professional degree seekers.
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Deadlines and Announcements
- Wednesday, Sept. 24: Fall Friends of Advising Meeting Ìý
- Wednesday, Oct. 1: Appointed faculty’s sabbatical applications for the 2026–2027 academic year are due.Ìý
- Friday, Oct. 3: 4D Fall Kick-off Expo, 10 a.m.-noon, Community Commons room 1700. .
As we embark on this year together, I am inspired by the intellectual generosity and care that define our community. Thank you for your commitment to student success and for the scholarship, teaching, and service so integral to our university. I continue to be impressed by the ways you support our students and each other. I look forward to our continued work on behalf of DU’s mission.
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Join Me for Lunch!
In closing, I would be delighted to meet you and hope you will join me in the Faculty Lounge, Community Commons, room 2800, on the first and third Monday of every month from noon-1 p.m. beginning in October. Bring your lunch, questions, and ideas!
With appreciation,Ìý
Elizabeth
With appreciation,Ìý
Elizabeth
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