Chancellor's Reading List
As chancellor, I’ve often discussed the importance of lifelong learning and meeting students wherever they may be, from high school through retirement. That thirst for knowledge and desire to learn new things, coupled with a willingness to continually question the status quo, is also true of myself.
Below are some books, articles, and reports that have refined my perspective as I work to deepen my understanding of the changing landscape of higher education and the evolving role of learning in our society. Some have challenged my thinking, while others affirmed what I hold to be true. Interestingly, many of the foundational elements of our strategic plan, including the refreshed framing we are currently discussing, are well reflected in these pieces.
As they have for me, I hope this reading list sparks ideas, leads you to ask questions, and serves to further our ongoing conversation not only on the future direction of CU Denver, but how we can continue to serve learners at every stage of life.
Current Reading List
All notes presented by Chancellor Christensen
Books
Whatever It Is, I’m Against It
By Brian Rosenberg
A sharp examination from former Macalester College President Brian Rosenberg on his paradoxical journey through higher education. While I don’t agree with every conclusion he reaches, he shows strength in tackling critical issues we continue to face today. I find myself drawn back to a passage in the book’s early pages:
“Why [do] colleges and universities that almost always speak in their mission statement about the transformative power of education find it so difficult to transform themselves; why virtually no fundamental practice within higher education—calendar, tenure processes, pedagogy, grading—has changed in meaningful ways for decades, if not centuries."
Radical Reimagining for Student Success in Higher Education
By Jo Arney, Timothy Dale, Glenn Davis, and Jillian Kinzie
As a data-minded researcher and educator, the chapter on data and analytic strategies struck me most. In it, the authors propose that analytics should lead policy and practice to change the system that produces the risk rather than merely identify those students who may be at risk.
Truth Matters: A Dialogue on Fruitful Disagreement in an Age of Division
By Robert P. George and Cornel West
I was fortunate to attend a keynote discussion earlier this year by both authors. I was inspired by their ability to model civil discourse, despite their differing opinions—a crucial reminder of the importance of honest dialogue and our role, in line with our public service obligation, to support the development of an engaged citizenry.
Articles and Reports
“10 Questions Universities Should be Asking”
By Jay Akridge and David Hummels
Central to nearly every question posed by Akridge and Hummels is how universities define their value proposition amid what they describe as a tsunami reshaping higher education. Each prompt is thought provoking, but one stands out as a question I ask myself daily: What do you know about the strengths and challenges of incoming students and about what employers want from your graduates? As the authors share, “You can’t get improved student outcomes without this kind of information. Importantly, who on your campus know these things (someone likely does) and who doesn’t?”
“Come Sail Away: Riding Out the Shifting Tides in Higher Education”
By David V. Rosowsky
Rosowsky, a senior advisor to Arizona State University President Michael Crow, situates the unease afoot within higher education, arguing that the current moment calls for a new vision for leadership that requires intentionality and rapidity, while making the case that those who wait or hesitate to adapt will be left behind.
“The Coming Higher Ed Shakeout”
By Steven Mintz
Mintz is a history professor at the University of Texas at Austin. In his piece, he argues that higher education is currently undergoing a transformation (whether we acknowledge it or not). In his words, “Institutions that can blend workforce preparation with deep intellectual engagement, offer students real mentorship and community, and find ways to stand out in a competitive landscape will emerge stronger than ever.”
“The Curriculum Gap No One Owns”
By Nicole Poff
This piece makes the case that the curriculum and classroom setting are the core components of the student experience. Poff advocates for a system where curriculum and enrollment data drive curriculum decision making. Her call for evidence-based design is at the heart of our Student Success Transformation Initiative.
“First-Year Application Trends: End of Season Report”
By Common App, Data Analytics and Research
Amid extensive analytical reporting on the forthcoming decline of traditional college-aged students, for now, applicants via the Common App were up in 2024-25. Growth was driven by a 14% increase among those identifying as Latinx and/or Black or African American as well as a 14% increase among first-generation students. This is a mere snapshot, but a reminder nonetheless that our public service obligation is both timely and vital.
“2025 Higher Education Trends: A Look at the Challenges and Opportunities Shaping America's Higher Education Sector”
By Cole Clark, Megan Cluver, Tiffany Fishman, and Danylle Kunkel (Deloitte)
Two findings amid this data-rich report stood out. First, more than one college per week is closing or merging (more than 20 closed in 2024—nearly one college every two weeks). The second is that there is a 25% gap in perceived value of college between those without loans (47%) versus those with loans (22%). Although we are inundated with trend pieces on the perceived value of a college degree, the 22% figure should alarm us all. We must not lose sight of the burdensomeness of debt, a critical barrier to completion, especially amongst our first-generation learners. As we work to expand access to CU Denver, we must do so with both affordability and return on investment at the forefront of our decision making.