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Strength Through Diversity

“Life is a game of addition, not subtraction. We multiply our impact through collaboration, not by descending into division.”

– President Mark Kennedy

View DEI progress updates here 

 

Featured Content

DEI image
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How leadership in diversity, equity and inclusion is accelerating across the CU system

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President Kennedy Statement on Derek Chauvin Verdict

President Mark Kennedy and First Lady Debbie Kennedy at a panel discussion

Newsletter

 
June 2021

On an Upward Trajectory

CU is in a strong position for the future.
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State of the System Report

CU President Mark R. Kennedy gave the following presentation to CU Faculty Senate on April 22, 2021
April 23, 2021
CU Denver DEI image
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CU Denver Today

University of Colorado Denver Invests $4 Million for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Efforts

Chancellor Michelle Marks announced that CU Denver would invest $4 million to support the university’s work in diversity, equity and inclusion. The money - $1 million of campus funds, $2 million from the CU President’s Office and $1 million from the CU Foundation - will support CU Denver's initiatives to become an equity-serving institution.
April 20, 2021
CU Boulder students

Newsletter

 
April 2021

International Students Enhance our Campuses and our Learning

CU’s more than 4,000 international students are vital members of the university community.
Stop Racism
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Standing with the Asian American Community, Today and Every Day

At CU, we stand in solidarity with the AAPI community.
March 19, 2021
Charles Blackwood
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CU Connections

CU, Mile High Medical Society celebrate new scholarship honoring Blackwood

The CU School of Medicine announced the establishment of the Charles J. Blackwood, M.D., Endowed Memorial Scholarship to support underrepresented medical students who are committed to working in the African American community. The scholarship is supported financially by private donors, the School of Medicine, and CU President Mark Kennedy, who authorized an additional $1 million in university support.
February 25, 2021
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Statement on Recent Executive Orders

We are pleased with decisions that will affect some of our faculty and staff, as well as international students and those in the DACA program, who will be able to continue their educational journeys.
January 21, 2021
Shared governance image of campuses
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CU Connections

Staff Councils play critical role in shared governance at CU

At CU, we recognize our people are our greatest asset. Our faculty and staff are essential to our mission and are critical members of the CU community. As such, it is important that you have input in the governance of this university.
January 14, 2021
Mark Kennedy speaks to the CU Board of Regents about the Capitol riots
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Remarks to the CU Board of Regents Regarding Washington, D.C. Riot

We stand today at one of the most contentious times in our nation’s history. As one of America’s leading universities, CU has a role in bolstering our democracy, so that the American flag continues to inspire those at home and abroad. In recent days I have witnessed members of our community, of all perspectives and viewpoints shedding light that moves us forward together and only generating heat that further divides us.
January 7, 2021
CU In The Media
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Denver Business Journal

Colorado colleges eye high school graduation rates, seek more state funding in 2021

An analysis of media reports and state survey data by national nonprofit Bellwether Education Partners estimates that as many as 3 million marginalized students may have gone "missing" from the public education system since the pandemic was announced in March and many schools went remote. At the University of Colorado system, where nontraditional students and students of color have made up most of its enrollment growth over the past 10 years, President Mark Kennedy is watching those trends.
January 4, 2021
CU In The Media
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The Denver Post

CU to work with state legislature to offer in-state tuition to Indigenous students from outside Colorado

The resolution authorizes CU’s system administration to work on legislation with the Colorado General Assembly “as soon as reasonably practicable within the constraints of the legislative process” to approve in-state tuition status at CU campuses for out-of-state Indigenous people whose tribal nations are tied to Colorado.
November 13, 2020
CU's first systemwide land acknowledgement statement
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CU Connections

CU Develops First Systemwide Lands Acknowledgement Statement

Initiated by the CU Board of Regents, the university has its first systemwide statement acknowledging that the lands where the four campuses are located were originally home to Indigenous peoples.
October 29, 2020
CU Business Deans Diversity Initiative
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CU.edu

CU Business School Deans Introduce CU Diverse Doctorates in Business

The deans of the business schools at the University of Colorado’s Boulder, Denver and Colorado Springs campuses are working on an initiative to increase the diversity of business academics by encouraging more underrepresented undergraduate students at CU to consider pursuing a PhD in a business discipline.
October 15, 2020
Celebrating DEI
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CU Connections

DEI Innovation Fund will augment campuses, system diversity efforts

Through a collaboration with the CU Foundation Board, we've created a $5 million DEI Innovation Fund to support innovative diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives on each campus and at system administration.
October 15, 2020
CRM-tech
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University of Colorado Statement on Sept. 22 Executive Order

The University of Colorado has questions regarding the Executive Order issued on Sept. 22 regarding “Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping” and related guidance from the Office of Management and Budget, which aim to limit certain types of diversity training. The order is directed at “federal contractors” and “grant recipients,” both of which apply to CU.
October 7, 2020
CU Boulder's diverse student population is growing.
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CU Boulder Today

Overall Enrollment Declines, but Historic Gains In Diversity, Graduation Rates Provide Bright Spots

This fall semester, CU Boulder recorded its most diverse and one of its most academically well-prepared classes of new first-year students in university history, even as it navigated the public health, financial and other impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, according to final enrollment data issued today.
September 24, 2020
President Mark Kennedy
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The Gazette

Constitution Day and Keeping the Dream Alive

Recent months have harkened back to the civil unrest of the 1960s and the fight for racial justice. Sadly, more than 150 years after slavery was outlawed – a painfully protracted process that ultimately took a civil war to end – the struggle to remove barriers to equity continue. Recognizing this work is never done, we must also recognize that, in Churchill’s words, the old ways will not do. Our concern must be the future.
September 17, 2020
Power-saw
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CU Connections

CU Alters Relationship with Colorado Correctional Industries

CU will continue to consider CCI as a vendor for its furniture contracts across the four campuses and system administration, but it will no longer use it as an exclusive provider. The decision was based on a recommendation from a working group convened to examine the university’s relationship with CCI in light of concerns about its use of inmate labor and associated issues.
August 20, 2020
Colorado Correctional Industries new arrangement with CU
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CU alters relationship with Colorado Correctional Industries

The University of Colorado announced today it will continue to consider Colorado Correctional Industries (CCI) as a vendor for its furniture contracts, but it will no longer use it as an exclusive provider.
August 17, 2020
The CU Board of Regents receives update on diversity resolution
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CU Connections

Board Given Update on Diversity Resolution

The CU Board of Regents did not vote on a proposed resolution that had been referred to its Governance and University Affairs committees last month, noting that it was up to the committees to bring it to the full board.
August 13, 2020
Diversity, equity and inclusion governance meetnig
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CU's Commitment to Advancing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

I was pleased to engage with the CU Board of Regents about our efforts to address civil rights concerns at the joint meeting of the regents' Governance and University Affairs Committees.
August 4, 2020
Ice decides not to block international students
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CU Connections

Ice decides not to block international students: CU lauds decision

Hours after a letter from CU President Mark Kennedy, the four campus chancellors and many other Colorado higher education leaders was sent asking for the rejection of recent guidance from Immigration and Customs Enforcement regarding international students, federal officials dropped their pursuit of the directive.
July 16, 2020
CU In The Media
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Daily Camera

Trump Administration Rescinds Rule on International Students: CU President Applauds Move

“It will ensure that international students at the University of Colorado will be able to continue their educational journeys,” Kennedy wrote. “We were also pleased to work with our national partner organizations on the effort and coordinate efforts among our colleague institutions in Colorado. This is important to our state and to higher education.”
July 15, 2020
Diversity Semantics Shift Higher Ed Inclusivity Away from Students of Color
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CU’s request to Department of Homeland Security to withdraw July 6 directive on international students

The University of Colorado is joining our national higher education associations, as well as Colorado colleges and universities and peers nationally, to request the Department of Homeland Security to withdraw the July 6 Immigration and Customs Enforcement directive regarding international students.
July 14, 2020
Theodosia Cook
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CU on the Air

African Americans, allies confront racism, health disparities

CU on the Air host Ken McConnellogue discusses these important subjects – and the university’s role in contributing to the solution – with Theodosia Cook, CU’s new chief diversity officer.
June 10, 2020
Theodosia Cook
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Reflecting on race and the times

I have seen our country deny the realities of racism over the voices of suffering people clamoring for structural change.
June 4, 2020
Becoming engaged
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Opportunity for all

My wife Debbie and I were first-generation college students, meaning none of our parents had a college degree. The degrees we earned opened the world for us and fostered opportunities we still realize today.
March 3, 2020
President Mark Kennedy
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CU Connections

Five questions for President Mark Kennedy

Mark Kennedy became the 23rd president of the University of Colorado in July 2019. He came to CU after successful careers in business, government and higher education.
February 27, 2020
Theodosia Cook
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CU names chief diversity officer

The University of Colorado named Theodosia Cook as chief diversity officer for the four-campus university system.
February 13, 2020
Dawn Clinic
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DAWN Clinic expands its impact and partnerships

Volunteers find innovative ways to assist the community
February 11, 2020
Becoming engaged

Newsletter

 
February 2020

Opportunity for all

My wife Debbie and I were first-generation college students, meaning none of our parents had a college degree. The degrees we earned opened the world for us and fostered opportunities we still realize today.
CU President Mark Kennedy commencement speech
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President Kennedy's commencement speech at CU Colorado Springs

President Mark R. Kennedy spoke to the fall 2019 graduates at UCCS on Dec. 20, 2019, about Leaning into the Future and to do well, and also do good.
December 20, 2019
Brenda Allen
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Faculty Council delving into diversity, inclusion with Brenda Allen

Professor emerita kicks off discussion of ‘highly complex concept’
December 12, 2019
CUnity

Newsletter

 
November 2019

Addition, not subtraction

I have long believed that life is a game of addition, not subtraction. And when that addition involves interacting with or surrounding yourself with people with different views, different backgrounds, different experiences, all the better.
Mark Kennedy & Ken McConnellogue - CU On The Air
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CU on the Air

Catching up with CU’s 23rd president – what’s ahead?

CU on The Air talks with new University of Colorado President Mark Kennedy, who was named by the Board of Regents on May 2 to be the 23rd President of the University of Colorado system.
July 24, 2019

Office of the President

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