A Refreshed 2030 Strategic Plan

In January 2021, CU Denver embarked on a strategic planning process with the ambitious goal to reposition CU Denver as a public urban research university that supports learners from all backgrounds and at all stages of life. The result was CU Denver 2030: Make Education Work for All.

Since then, the global economy has transformed significantly—and continues to evolve rapidly. Higher education has changed immensely, too. To meet this new moment, Chancellor Kenneth T. Christensen, PhD, called on CU Denver’s deep well of ingenuity and expertise to reenvision the university’s strategic plan, launching a strategic plan feedback process that ran from September through December 2025. During those four months, more than 1,000 pieces of feedback were collected across more than 50 university-wide and unit-level gatherings.

In February 2026, the 2030 Strategic Plan Refresh was formalized with the unveiling of the four core principles that emerged from that process: Learner Success, Discovery and Impact, Organizational Excellence and Innovation, and Belonging and Meaningful Work.

Using the term refresh is intentional. While the 2030 Strategic Plan Refresh is structured differently, it preserves the foundational design that has guided CU Denver for the past five years. Looking forward to 2030, CU Denver will continue to uphold its public service obligation for its learners, the communities it serves, and all Coloradans.