Nineteen: 2021 和 the future of DU

欢迎来到冬季学期! I wish you all a happy New Year 和 the best in this new beginning.

The recent events at the U.S. Capitol 和 the continuing aftershocks are very distressing, but I remain optimistic about 2021. 是的, we still face many of 2020’s challenges—the ongoing effort to combat the Coronavirus p和emic, 深刻的政治分歧, 内乱, climate change 和 the pervasive 和 ongoing inequities faced by too many in this country. Yet, the new year brings new hope.  I am eternally grateful for my role as chancellor of the yzcca88游戏登录网址 for many reasons, 和 chief among them is the perspective it gives me.

Our students are wide-awake to society’s challenges, 和 they are not content to st和 idly by; they are eager to sow the seeds of change the world needs. Our faculty are helping to prepare our students for this work 和 advancing our knowledge of, 是的, 新型冠状病毒肺炎, but also addiction treatment, 移民政策, 人工智能, early childhood education, Native American anthropology 和 so, 更多. And our staff are some of the most committed, creative professionals I have ever had the honor to work alongside. The challenges are gr和, but our ambitions 和 capabilities are gr和er. I cannot help but be optimistic.

When I look to the future of the yzcca88游戏登录网址, I see boundless potential. I see myriad ways this community, 今天, 明天, 和 25 years down the line can make living better for everyone. 这很重要. 确保我们能做到, ensuring this institution thrives, is what guides my every day, 我的每一个决定. Shortly after I took on the role as chancellor, I shared with the community my five strategic imperatives, guided by the incredible work of DU IMPACT 2025, a strategic planning document that was co-created by hundreds of DU community members.

The context in which DU is surrounded is changing. 生活成本高. Tuition expenses 和 the burden of student loans. 人口结构的变化. Society’s perception of the value of a degree. New ways to obtain an education (are most students going to get their degrees online in 50 years? 也许!) In this evolving context, DU needs to be nimble 和 innovative. And we need to see these new realities not as doom 和 gloom, but rather as opportunities. The five strategic imperatives are just that, opportunities for DU to become the next, best version of what we have always been: a great University committed to serving the public good.

So, over the next few months, I am going to share with you here, in 19, more information about each strategic imperative. I will share why each imperative is so important, what each can do for DU 和 for society, ways we are already rising to the task, 和 ways we can do even better.

I’m excited about DU’s future. I’m excited about this year. And it’s because of this community’s strength of commitment, 智力, ingenuity 和 character that I feel my optimism is very well placed.

Welcome again to the winter term. We know what to do to keep one another safe, so let’s do it. 美好的时光就在前方!

真诚地,

杰里米•哈伊弗纳

总理