It’s been a busy start to 2025 for so many, and the University of Colorado is no exception. As we’re likely to continue to experience more change that could challenge our focus, I’ve been reminding members of the CU community that we must “keep our eye on the ball.” Our mission is to serve our students, our state and our nation. We must continue to do so with clarity and conviction.

As we navigate the federal government transition, some people are asking, “Where does CU stand?” Let me be clear: We stand with Colorado. The University of Colorado is, as our name states, Colorado’s university. We are dedicated to all of Colorado’s communities, not just some of them. This is woven into the fabric of our mission and values and has been for nearly 150 years. And there’s room for improvement. That’s why our regents, campuses and all of us in the Office of the President have been rededicating ourselves to this bedrock commitment for the past several years. 

Regent policy helps define this commitment at CU and it articulates a broad definition of the diverse groups we serve. At CU, diversity refers to people with individual differences, such as life experiences, race, ethnicity and class. It also includes differences in culture, political philosophy, geography, religion and other groups as well. Colorado is a wonderful mix of all of this, and we should expect CU – Colorado’s university – to reflect that. We are dedicated to doing better in our work with all groups, not just some of them. And we recognize that as our state changes we should change as well.

In the context of new federal directives, we will adhere to lawful orders from the federal government while not preemptively backing away from existing efforts that help us deliver on our mission. And we will always work to serve all the people of our great state. Our commitment to providing worldclass educational opportunities, groundbreaking research, innovation and creative works, and exceptional healthcare is unwavering. We are also proud to be a critical part of Colorado’s workforce pipeline, and we have countless examples of how we deliver on this mission every day: 

• Our Demystifying Entrepreneurship: Rural Colorado Workshop Series, offered through CU Boulder’s Leeds School of Business, provides small businesses, startups and local governments in rural Colorado with the tools to solve business and organizational challenges using an entrepreneurial mindset. This interactive certificate course is offered in partnership with local communities statewide, and takes a flexible, immersive and scalable approach to entrepreneurship.
   
• UCCS, a recognized leader in cybersecurity education, awards hundreds of degrees each year to the next generation of cyber experts. Now the campus is leading efforts to transform CU ROTC cadets into Army Cyber Rangers. With funding from the Department of Defense’s Virtual Institutes for Cyber and Electromagnetic Spectrum Research and Employ (VICEROY) program, UCCS is collaborating with our Boulder and Denver campuses to train 40 ROTC cadets across the three campuses each year to become elite cyber operators by having them navigate realistic cyberattacks in a virtual environment. 
   
• One of the most valuable and rewarding things an artist can experience is having their work publicly exhibited. Students in CU Denver’s College of Arts & Media don’t have to wait years for such an opportunity thanks to connections to creative spaces and art galleries. Among them, CU Denver’s Experience Gallery is an interactive and immersive gallery in which students can have their work showcased alongside that of professional artists. This enables them to build their resumes and portfolios and gain gallery experience before they graduate, which enhances their education and sets them up for career success. 
   
• Helping students save money on their education and begin their careers sooner are two powerful drivers behind the groundbreaking 3+4 Doctor of Pharmacy program, a partnership between our Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at CU Anschutz and our Colorado Springs and Denver campuses. Students in the program – the first of its kind in the region – complete three years of undergraduate study at UCCS or CU Denver before transitioning to CU Pharmacy for four years. They graduate with a BS in Health Sciences and a Pharm. D. from one of the nation’s best pharmacy programs and the only public Pharm. D. program in the state. Throughout the program they receive specialized support that helps them succeed in the classroom and professionally.

Our love of Colorado is what unites us and we will remain focused on the life-changing and life-saving work happening at CU that makes our state so great. While some days are challenging, I never lose sight of the incredible honor it is to be part of this amazing institution. Our people are extraordinary. From educating more than 66,000 students across our campuses, to striving to be the first to conduct a successful eye transplant, to using quantum technology to invent the world’s most accurate clock, to meaningful study and service that improves the resiliency of those in our communities, to inspiring music and arts education that brings energy and joy to our lives – the work happening at CU is amazing and it’s making our state, nation and world better places.

So let’s keep our eye on the ball. And while we won’t agree on everything every day (after all, CU teaches how to think, not what to think), let’s join together in reaching for and building an even brighter Colorado future.