University Of Colorado, Denver: 5 Takeaways From February Faculty And Staff Town Hall

Press release from the University of Colorado, Denver :

Alex DeWind

February 10, 2022

On Feb. 4, Chancellor Michelle Marks and other CU Denver leaders convened for a virtual town hall to provide a comprehensive update on the university’s equity and inclusion work, progress on the 2030 Strategic Plan, COVID-19 response, and more.  

Marks kicked off the virtual webinar with enthusiasm as she welcomed faculty and staff back to campus for the spring semester. After beginning the first two weeks in remote status due to the pandemic, the Lynx community returned on Jan. 31. “Keeping our campus safe needs to be a team sport, and I’m truly grateful for your continued support,” Marks said. “Based on the latest models, I am very hopeful about the future.”

Below are five key takeaways from the latest virtual town hall. Faculty and staff are encouraged to watch the recording to listen to the live Q&A.

On-Campus Safety Protocols Remain in Place 

On-Campus Safety Protocols Remain in Place 

Campus leaders foresee in-person teaching, learning, and working for the remainder of the spring semester. For further decision making, they will track three key areas: Denver’s positivity rates and hospital bed availability, the potential absenteeism of employees and students, and public health guidance. On-campus safety protocols will remain in place until further notice. Those include a booster shot requirement and face coverings (with KN95 masks strongly encouraged). CU Denver has increased availability of rapid testing, and PCR tests continue to be offered at the Fifth Street garage for Lynx and community members.

Strategic Enrollment Management Planning Process Underway

Strategic Enrollment Management Planning Process Underway

CU Denver’s spring enrollment is down 2.4%, or 336 students, as of Jan. 31, Marks said. The university is slightly up in new freshmen, especially international freshmen returning, but is seeing challenges in its returning undergraduates due to a smaller fall 2020 incoming class and challenges that the pandemic and related issues have posed to students.

To focus on this critical area, Senior Vice Chancellor for Strategic Enrollment and Student Success Monique Snowden is leading a strategic enrollment management planning process that involves every school in college as well as representation from staff units across the university. “This plan, which will be completed this spring, is going to result in us having a better understanding of where we need to grow and how we need to support our students,” Marks said.

Key Initiatives for Strategic Plan Goals Make Progress

Key Initiatives for Strategic Plan Goals Make Progress

CU Denver is in the process of implementing initiatives that support its five Strategic Plan goals.

Goal 1 (become the nation’s first equity-serving institution): Made up of students, faculty, and staff, an HSI Operational Team and AANAPISI Operational Team are developing action plans to better support all students, faculty, and staff through a culturally responsive approach. More information on these teams will be shared in an upcoming edition of CU Denver News. 

CU Denver News

Goal 2 (become known as a university for life): CU Denver’s Interdisciplinary Computing Task Force and Digital Strategy Task Force are producing reports and recommendations that will be ready later this semester. Findings will be used to enhance the ways that the university delivers education in hybrid and in-person formats and ensure students are graduating with core digital competencies.

Goal 3 (be internationally known for research and creative work): The university’s main focus is to identify the first two grand challenges it will help solve. Twelve teams with representation from across all schools and colleges have submitted materials. Leadership anticipates funding two grand challenge proposals at about $200,000 to $300,000 for 18 months with additional support in grant writing and project management.

Goal 4 (serve as the anchor institution for Denver’s open innovation district): The Chancellor’s Innovation Council is identifying and leveraging partnership efforts that are happening across schools and colleges. The university is also in the final phase of selecting a design firm for a new engineering, design, and computing building that will break ground in late 2022 and complete in academic year 2024-2025. The building will be the anchor of the innovation district and serve as a future-focused hub for cutting-edge research and technology.

Goal 5 (be known as a people-centered best place to work): More than 4,100 students, faculty, and staff completed the Fall 2021 Campus & Workplace Culture Survey. Full results, which are expected to be shared with the campus community in early April, will guide how CU Denver will pursue change in key areas in employee support. 

Professional Development Opportunities and Compensation Are Critical Investment Areas

Professional Development Opportunities and Compensation Are Critical Investment Areas

Last week, CU Denver welcomed Teri Engelke, a seasoned professional with more than 15 years of human resources experience, as its first Denver-specific AVC of Human Resources. Engelke will focus solely on CU Denver’s needs as outlined in the 2030 Strategic Plan. In addition, the IRC Task Force, formed to investigate and analyze policies and practices that affect lecturers, instructors, and clinical teaching faculty, is making significant process on recommendations. 

The university is also taking additional steps to support and reward its employees, including ensuring equitable hiring processes, providing professional development growth opportunities, and offering personalized benefits, such as the ability to enroll in graduate courses at an earlier time than previous years.

More information on compensation and employee support will be shared in the next Todd Talks, featuring CFO Todd Haggerty, on Feb. 18 at 10 a.m. Click here to register. 

In Closing 

In Closing 

Throughout the town hall, campus leaders emphasized their commitment to faculty and staff success and to the progress of the 2030 Strategic Plan. Despite immense hardships brought on by the pandemic, CU Denver is taking action-oriented steps to ensure support for all. 

“I want to reiterate how grateful I am for all of you and how proud I am of all of your efforts,” Marks said. “You’ve stepped up to support this community and others who are struggling, and I know that it hasn’t been easy, but we continue to rely on our collective resilience, compassion, grace, and humanity, while at the same time pressing forward to do our strategic work.”

This press release was produced by the University of Colorado, Denver. The views expressed here are the author’s own.