Weekly Letter from the Provost—Jan. 23 Edition
Dear colleagues,
As we wrap up week three on campus, 91ɫ is in one of the most critical phases of student recruitment for the fall 2026 cycle. I am always grateful to amplify the many accomplishments of our 91ɫ community in this newsletter, and I want to open this edition by acknowledging the hard work that has led to the tremendous growth in applications we are seeing at both the undergraduate (~30%) and graduate (~6%) levels this year. Now, it’s time for the entire campus to focus on yield. These are challenging, but encouraging times, and I want to thank you all for your continued support and commitment.
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. We are grateful for your interest and support.
If you have suggestions for what we should include in future communications, please . 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.
Today’s update falls into four categories:
As we wrap up week three on campus, 91ɫ is in one of the most critical phases of student recruitment for the fall 2026 cycle. I am always grateful to amplify the many accomplishments of our 91ɫ community in this newsletter, and I want to open this edition by acknowledging the hard work that has led to the tremendous growth in applications we are seeing at both the undergraduate (~30%) and graduate (~6%) levels this year. Now, it’s time for the entire campus to focus on yield. These are challenging, but encouraging times, and I want to thank you all for your continued support and commitment.
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. We are grateful for your interest and support.
If you have suggestions for what we should include in future communications, please . 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.
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 with the Enrollment Unit
My listening and learning sessions continued this week on Wednesday, Jan. 21 in a meeting with 91ɫ’s Enrollment Unit. My thanks to Todd Rinehart, vice chancellor for enrollment, and the team for hosting this meeting and for sharing their perspectives. I would like to commend this team for their incredible efforts to recruit our fall 2026 undergraduate class. I will share more information on their successes in next week’s newsletter, but wish to congratulate them on their 30% yearly application growth between the fall 2025 and fall 2026 first-time, first-year classes, and for exceeding 22,000 applications in record time!
My listening and learning sessions will conclude over the next few weeks, and I look forward to sharing key learnings throughout the winter and spring quarters.As I mentioned in the introduction, let's shift our institutional focus to yield.
My listening and learning sessions will conclude over the next few weeks, and I look forward to sharing key learnings throughout the winter and spring quarters.As I mentioned in the introduction, let's shift our institutional focus to yield.
Provost All-Staff Meeting
On Thursday, I hosted my second provost’s all-staff meeting. My thanks to the faculty and staff who were able to attend. In the meeting, I provided an update on 2026-2027 applications (undergraduate and graduate), a recap of December’s daylong budget retreat, a review of my office’s three goals for academic affairs, and I concluded with a discussion about the benefits and opportunities associated with 91ɫ’s recent bid to purchase the Cable Center.
91ɫ’s Annual Faculty and Staff Awards Celebration
highlighted this year’s recipients of 91ɫ’s annual Faculty and Staff Awards. This year’s awardees represent the best of 91ɫ, and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to extend heartfelt congratulations to each of them.
A reader submitted an interesting data point through our online request form that I wanted to pass along. Morgridge College of Education alumni and current students were featured prominently among this year’s recipients:
A reader submitted an interesting data point through our online request form that I wanted to pass along. Morgridge College of Education alumni and current students were featured prominently among this year’s recipients:
- Michael LaFarr (MA 1998) – Outstanding Service Award
- Stacey Stevens (MA 2014) – Staff Innovator Award
- Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities (SRR) – Quality Department Award. Note: SRR currently employs three HED students: Kristine McCaslin (EdD), Michele Bilotta (MA), and Frank Winchester (EdD)
- Allyson Garcia (EdD 2019) – Ruth Murray Underhill Teaching Award
These recognitions speak volumes about the multiple ways 91ɫ higher education impacts the broader community through leadership, innovation, and service. While these contributions often fall outside traditional metrics, they are a powerful testament to the value that higher education students and alumni bring to 91ɫ!
Goal 1: Shape Enrollment and Improve Retention and Graduation Rates
Updates from the Goal 1 Committee
The Goal 1 committee has established three subcommittees, with subcommittee co-chairs, which will inform their efforts: you can review the revised committee and subcommittee assignments on the .
I offer my appreciation to committee chairs Todd Rinehart, Corinne Lengsfeld, and the entire Goal 1 committee for their efforts.
I offer my appreciation to committee chairs Todd Rinehart, Corinne Lengsfeld, and the entire Goal 1 committee for their efforts.
91ɫ’s Bachelor of Professional Studies Receives Approval from the Higher Learning Commission
Last week, we received exciting news from the Higher Learning Commission that the College of Professional Studies’ (PSC) reduced credit Bachelor of Professional Studies in Information Technology has received formal approval for launch in fall 2026. This new degree will open up new pathways to provide the 91ɫ experience to a broader range of students, and contributes directly to the goals of the Goal 1 committee. Congratulations to Dean Bobbie Kite and the entire PSC team on this significant accomplishment!
Call for Nominations: Student Employment Awards
National Student Employee Week will take place in April. Celebrate your student employee (undergraduate or graduate) or student employee supervisor by nominating them for a ! Awardees will have the chance to win a $500 prize and will also receive local recognition throughout National Student Employee Week. In addition, student employees who win 91ɫ awards will be advanced for a chance to be recognized by the National Student Employment Association!
Goal 2: Improve Career Outcomes and Better Prepare Our Students to Succeed and Lead in an AI-transformed Workforce
Updates from the Goal 2 Committee
The Goal 2 committee has established three subcommittees, with subcommittee co-chairs, which will inform their efforts: you can review the revised committee and subcommittee assignments on the .
My continued thanks to committee chairs Liz Lierman, Lorenzo Patelli, and the entire Goal 2 committee for their efforts.
My continued thanks to committee chairs Liz Lierman, Lorenzo Patelli, and the entire Goal 2 committee for their efforts.
Daniels College of Business (DCB) Alum Lands Dream Job, Gives Back to Current Students
Less than two years after graduation, Kara Sears is now a human resources business partner at Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, a Denver-based holding company that owns teams like the Los Angeles Rams, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, and Arsenal Football Club. The job came from an internship she held as a student at 91ɫ.
Sears found career guidance in a DCB class called “Leading Self” (MGMT 4202) with Professor Andrew Schnackenberg. The course combines deep introspection with mentoring to help students lead themselves toward their personal and professional goals strategically. Through the course’s mentoring process, she realized that she could use her expertise in social work to excel in a core business role: human resources.
In addition to her coursework, Sears found community with 91ɫ’s Society of Human Resources Management Club. She attended conferences, worked with Daniels’ Career Services, and connected with mentors like Professor Bud Bilanich, in the Department of Management. Last spring, Sears accepted Bilanich’s invitation to visit a meeting of current Management Club students to .
Sears found career guidance in a DCB class called “Leading Self” (MGMT 4202) with Professor Andrew Schnackenberg. The course combines deep introspection with mentoring to help students lead themselves toward their personal and professional goals strategically. Through the course’s mentoring process, she realized that she could use her expertise in social work to excel in a core business role: human resources.
In addition to her coursework, Sears found community with 91ɫ’s Society of Human Resources Management Club. She attended conferences, worked with Daniels’ Career Services, and connected with mentors like Professor Bud Bilanich, in the Department of Management. Last spring, Sears accepted Bilanich’s invitation to visit a meeting of current Management Club students to .
Two DCB Faculty Members Establish a National Voice in Artificial Intelligence
Congratulations to Corey Ciocchetti, professor of business ethics and legal studies, for having his paper “AI and Student Flourishing: Chasing What Matters in Life” published in the Journal of Legal Studies Education.
Congratulations as well to Stefani Langehennig, assistant professor of the practice in the Department of Business Information and Analytics, who is using grant funding from the American Political Science Association to help build a dashboard that tracks the legislation states are imposing on AI. The dashboard will be hosted on a public-facing site and housed at the .
Congratulations as well to Stefani Langehennig, assistant professor of the practice in the Department of Business Information and Analytics, who is using grant funding from the American Political Science Association to help build a dashboard that tracks the legislation states are imposing on AI. The dashboard will be hosted on a public-facing site and housed at the .
Goal 3: Strengthen Academic Excellence
Updates from the Goal 3 Committee
As a reminder, the Goal 3 committee has established three subcommittees, with subcommittee co-chairs, which will inform their efforts: you can review the revised committee and subcommittee assignments on the .
I offer continued thanks to committee chairs Leslie Hasche, Jennifer Karas, and the entire Goal 3 committee for their efforts.
I offer continued thanks to committee chairs Leslie Hasche, Jennifer Karas, and the entire Goal 3 committee for their efforts.
91ɫ Receives $1M Appropriation Through January 2026 Minibus
Congress recently passed a major minibus funding package for fiscal year 2026, combining several appropriations bills to fund key government functions and avert a shutdown. Last week, we received confirmation that the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics faculty member, Mark Siemens, department chair and professor of physics and astronomy, and Barry Zink, professor of physics and astronomy, would receive $1M in funding appropriations through the minibus. My thanks to Corinne Lengsfeld, senior vice provost for research and graduate education, and our government relations partners from Lewis-Burke for identifying this funding opportunity.
Reminder: Request for Proposals: Public Good Fund for Faculty
The 2026 Public Good Fund is currently accepting proposals! This year, Public Good Grants of up to $25k are available to support projects that create public impact through community-engaged research or creative work, developed in the context of mutually beneficial and reciprocal community partnerships.
The deadline to submit proposals is March 2 at noon. Visit the Center for Community Engagement's (CCESL) faculty & staff page to read the full . Please reach out to CCESL with any questions.
The deadline to submit proposals is March 2 at noon. Visit the Center for Community Engagement's (CCESL) faculty & staff page to read the full . Please reach out to CCESL with any questions.
Reminder: Faculty Signature Work Ambassadors and the Call for PinS Signature Work Grant Proposals
Faculty Signature Work Ambassadors are a new group of faculty who have come together across campus to advance . Ambassadors include Melissa Akaka (DCB), Sean Friar (CAHSS), Edward Garrido (CAHSS), Rachel Horenstein (RSECS), and Alex Huffman (NSM). The ambassadors are working closely with Barb Hurtt (NSM), the faculty director of signature work, to identify and promote work undertaken by colleagues in the colleges and programs.
Among the resources available for signature work at 91ɫ are PinS Signature Work Grants. Undergraduate students are invited to submit proposals for original faculty-mentored projects, including for research, by Feb. 2. To learn more, you can read the . In addition, faculty and undergraduate students are invited to bring any questions they have to signaturework@du.edu .
We wish you all a wonderful week, and I greatly appreciate your contributions to our campus community!
Sincerely,
Elizabeth G. Loboa
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor
Among the resources available for signature work at 91ɫ are PinS Signature Work Grants. Undergraduate students are invited to submit proposals for original faculty-mentored projects, including for research, by Feb. 2. To learn more, you can read the . In addition, faculty and undergraduate students are invited to bring any questions they have to signaturework@du.edu .
We wish you all a wonderful week, and I greatly appreciate your contributions to our campus community!
Sincerely,
Elizabeth G. Loboa
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor