Thursday, Oct. 30, Chancellor Jeremy Haefner delivered the 2025 State of University the Address, outlining how the University of Denver plans to face what he described as unprecedented challenges in higher education while leveraging its distinct advantages.
The event began with Provost Elizabeth Loboa introducing DU Forward, the university’s strategic roadmap, stating that the address should serve as “the beginning of a conversation, not the end of one.”
Haefner opened by acknowledging the university’s strengths before addressing what he described as an “inflection point” in American higher education. He highlighted three major challenges: a fundamental reshaping of the relationship between the federal government and education, a demographic cliff as the number of high school graduates is set to decline over the coming decades and a crisis of confidence in the value of a college degree.
“The challenges we face are not just rhetorical,” Haefner said. “The demographic cliff is real, so is AI’s transformation of the job market. The changes we make must be substantive and build on what makes DU great today.”
His speech was centered on five major pillars that set DU apart from other universities during this time of uncertainty.
First, he emphasized that DU’s teacher-scholars and faculty foster personal relationships in which students feel like more than just a number. He read excerpts from student letters nominating faculty members for their compassion and ability to form connections.
Then, he highlighted DU’s status as one of the only private R1 research institutions in the Rocky Mountains, noting that the university attracts millions of dollars in research funding despite not having a medical school.
However, the university has faced significant federal funding cuts this year. According to Senior Vice Provost for Research and Graduate Education Corinne Lengsfeld, DU lost $6.6 million in federal research funding after 21 grants were terminated. Six of those grants were later reinstated following revisions to meet new federal standards that restrict topics related to green energy; social justice; and diversity, equity and inclusion.
The cuts raise concerns about DU’s R1 status, which requires $50 million in annual research spending.
Haefner also spoke about the 4D Experience and how faculty and staff members have helped instill the four dimensions: deepening intellect, designing careers and lives of purpose, developing well-being and discovering character.
Later in the address, he highlighted 19 DU Forward faculty and staff-led proposals that were selected for first-year funding. The proposals address three tiers: enrollment, student and faculty success and student experience.
He briefly noted the dual advantages of DU’s urban Denver campus and the Kennedy Mountain Campus (KMC) as strategic assets for student learning and hands-on experience.
His last point devoted substantial attention to balancing free expression with inclusivity, which he called “core to who we are as a community.”
“The work of fostering and encouraging free expression and civil discourse on campus is inseparable from our scholarly mission,” he said. “Higher education is simply impossible in an environment where everyone agrees and thinks the same way, or one where people feel inhibited or restricted from disagreeing with each other.”
He also mentioned the soon-to-launch John and Sandy Miller National Academy for Pluralism and Freedom of Expression, and the Debate Across the Curriculum (DAC) led by Dr. Darrin Hicks.
The Academy, funded by several partners but most notably DU Board of Trustees Chair John Miller, is expected to open by spring 2026. It is intended to serve as a hub for free expression initiatives, a think tank on related issues and a bridge to K-12 education.
Haefner addressed recent changes to inclusivity at DU, including the DEI training cuts and the transition from what was once known as The Cultural Center, to the Community Support and Engagement division.
The DEI training cuts were announced publicly by Haefner in September, even though the university has not been contacted by the Trump administration.
“We have had to make changes to our approach, and they have been difficult for me and many of us,” he said.
The chancellor emphasized that despite the changes and the concerns that followed, the university’s commitment to celebrating diversity and supporting underrepresented students “has not diminished.”
Closing with an excerpt from Tennyson’s “Ulysses,” an emotional Haefner called for collective action with an “owner’s mentality” in advancing DU’s strategy. He emphasized his own focus on culture, enrollment and reputation along with measurable criteria — such as the 19 DU Forward proposals — to evaluate performance.
He also hinted at upcoming news that has since been announced: DU has accepted an invitation into the West Coast Conference for athletics, a move he said will help with “elevating our profile and cementing our reputation.”
The speech was received by a standing ovation, followed by closing remarks from Loboa and an ice cream social.
Looking ahead, Haefner appears confident in DU’s ability to rise above these unprecedented challenges, stating that DU is capable of rising above.
“The environment is challenging and I cannot guarantee the changes will be easy,” he said. “At the same time, we are more than up to the task.”
