Â鶹Çø

As you are no doubt aware, the University Planning Framework for 2020–2021 has been hard at work planning for fall logistics, digital and online strategies, financial solutions and more.

The recent events we’ve experienced as a community—the deaths of so many Black Americans at the hands of those who are sworn to serve and protect us—are disturbing and intolerable and call upon each one of us to reach deep down and ask, what more can I do?Ìý

Tonight we ask that we all extend our support for a few more minutes to commemorate the more than 100,000 victims of the coronavirus in the United States, as well as the thousands more people whose lives are lost every year to racial violence.

One month ago, I announced the Â鶹Çø’s plans to reopen with face-to-face classes when we begin our fall term in mid-September (Sturm College of Law in mid-August), even if delivery had to be modified in some way.

There is much work to be done as we manage the financial impacts of the coronavirus on our University, and on every member of our community.

I know many of you have been very anxiously awaiting a decision about Spring Commencement 2020.

I’m writing to you today to provide a few more details about how the University will begin, very gradually, a five-phase plan to bring employees back to campus to do their work safely and in compliance with orders from the state of Colorado and city of Denver.

I want to provide updates on five important topics: the state of fiscal year 2020, summer 2020, fall 2020, a preview of the work that needs to be done for fiscal year 2021, and the formation of six important University task forces and a Student Advisory Board that will help us shape the immediate and longer-term future for DU.

It is my great pleasure to share the news that Mary Clark will be joining the DU community as provost on July 15, 2020. Mary’s academic and administrative credentials are exemplary. She rose up as someone who can help strengthen and advance our academic programs with intelligence, imagination, foresight and camaraderie.