Dear colleagues,

When people I meet learn that I work for CU Denver, I often get a question about whether I work through the summer. “Yes,” I tell them. “It’s the busiest time of year in my division.”

The Finance and Administration Division includes Human Resources, Facilities Management and Planning, the Office of Information Technology (OIT), the Budget Office, Financial Services, Emergency Management and Security Services, and Organizational Effectiveness. These teams provide critical services to our campus community, and they use the summer months to prepare for the new academic year. Below is a look at some of their important work.

Facilities

In support of our students, our Facilities Management and Planning team completed a total furniture refresh in the North Classroom Atrium and the public spaces in Student Commons. The refresh is aimed at functionality as well as creating a warm and inviting environment for students to study and find community.

This team also helped the University Honors and Leadership (UHL) program relocate to the ninth floor of the Lawrence Street Center. Our Space Management and Facilities teams were delighted to partner in identifying UHL's unique space needs, developing possible solutions, and coordinating the move across campus. The new location offers an inviting community-oriented space for our UHL program participants and fosters the cohort-based experience UHL is known for.

The Capital Planning team provided our partners at the Auraria Higher Education Center (AHEC) with information for its website on new campus buildings. If you wonder why there's a construction fence, or what is happening in a particular area on the Auraria Campus, you can get a range of information on all the construction projects in progress. Currently, there are 10 projects underway.

Information Technology

OIT teams were everywhere this summer, implementing several upgrades and changes to improve our student and employee experience. Thirty classrooms across Student Commons, the Business School, the CU Denver Building, and North Classroom got updated audio visual (AV) equipment. The new technology is expected to improve reliability, enhance teaching capabilities, and support hybrid learning environments. Labs in North Classroom and Student Commons were also refreshed, with a focus on making the spaces more inclusive and accessible for all students.

OIT teams also worked to improve wireless connections across the Auraria Campus as part of a two-year joint state funding request that CU Denver applied for with our colleagues at Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU), Community College of Denver, and AHEC.

Also relating to technology, if you’ve wondered what that colorful Copilot icon is in your Microsoft Office applications, you aren’t alone. Last spring, OIT launched Copilot training resources to help our employees better understand how to use this AI tool. Personally, I wanted to get an overview that would help me put AI concepts into context, so I went into the CU Portal, clicked on the Learning tile, and asked LinkedIn Learning to create a learning plan for me. I am now working through my learning plan, titled “Strategic AI Integration for Educational Leaders.” Check out any of the LinkedIn Learning, SkillSoft Percipio, and the CU on Coursera tiles to explore your next learning opportunity on AI or another topic of interest.

In other news, Doug Sicker, who served as our chief technology officer since 2021, retired on Aug. 13. We will be looking at an internal transitional assignment as we evaluate our longer-term OIT needs. For now, please continue to work with your local OIT teams or go to this website.

Human Resources

In early June, teri engelke, CU Denver's inaugural assistant vice chancellor for Human Resources, returned to her home state of Wisconsin. I am grateful that CU Boulder agreed to share Kenny Nelson as our interim assistant vice chancellor for Human Resources. A search committee was formed over the summer and has begun its initial review of qualified applicants. I hope you will participate in the campus visits, which are anticipated in mid- to late-September.  

Budget and Financial Services

My messages often contain updates on CU Denver's budget and financial forecast. The plans, approved by the Board of Regents in June, anticipated a balanced budget for the year ahead. Our student census is on Sept. 3, and then we will have the detailed information to assess the budget plan versus our actual revenues. To address the impact of the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act on state revenues, the governor requested a special legislative session, which began on Aug. 21 and ended on Aug. 26. Our CU System colleagues are monitoring any proposed state funding changes. Barring other federal changes or disruptions to the economy, we are proceeding with the planned parallel budget year in which we evaluate the recommendations from the Budget Allocation Review Committee (BARC).

I will communicate with you again later this semester as the budget picture clarifies. Until then, I encourage you to RSVP and attend the Chancellor Forum on Sept. 16 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Student Commons, room 2600, or via Zoom webinar. Chancellor Kenneth T. Christensen will lead the forum, which is an opportunity to come together as a community and learn about the 2025-26 campus priorities, our Strategic Plan, and our continuing focus on student success.

I look forward to seeing everyone there.

Ann Sherman 
Executive Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration