Universities must change how they foster inclusiveness, DU has a plan to help everyone belong (Opinion)

There is no shortage of change taking place nationally in American education. We are witnessing shifts at universities and colleges across the nation in the efforts intended to help all students feel like they belong and are prepared to thrive. Perceptions that the work fostering inclusiveness at the University of Denver has been swept aside are far from reality. As DU’s vice chancellor for the Division of Community Support and Engagement, with years of experience driving inclusiveness at multiple institutions, I am leading our efforts around how we show up to support everyone in our community. My engagements and connections in the national higher education sector allow me to confidently say that colleges and universities are not working in silos as we navigate these challenging times. We are inspired by numerous efforts to continue promoting inclusiveness in higher education, across Colorado and the U.S., and we hope DU will serve as an innovative example. At DU, we are leaning into our long-standing and sustained value of inclusiveness while thinking about and approaching it in new ways. To guide the work and provide thoughtful engagement, the new Division of Community Support and Engagement (DCSE) has offered its vision of a DU where every individual feels a deep sense of belonging, support, and connection. We continue to provide engagements that allow us to hear from the community, and we are moving forward by offering support through the three sub-units of the division and their work. The mission of the Division of Community Support and Engagement is to cultivate an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of the DU community. We are doing so by developing a framework where we foster social and intellectual connections that provide opportunities for everyone to feel they belong. Research shows belonging is the basis for thriving – whether that is student degree completion or employee retention. We aim to be a hub to foster the many ways members of our community might build connection, noting that connection is the foundation of belonging and paves the road for individual and community thriving. At the University of Denver, we initiated conversations in 2024 about how to thoughtfully evolve in response to broader shifts in American higher education. Since then, we’ve engaged in a collaborative and holistic process ensuring that student, faculty, and staff voices shape our path forward. We’ve created opportunities for community members to meet with our team to help define belonging and thriving, share new ideas for support, and explore how we can more intentionally welcome people into our space. Indeed, we recently hosted an impressively attended open house filled with opportunities for interactive engagement around these questions while informing the community about the sustained work of the division. Related Articles Denver-based Ownli looking to reprogram home purchasing by using AI University of Denver lists 1.73-acre multifamily property for $11 million Shame on DU and the cowardly leaders who cut diversity and inclusion efforts (Letters) Renck: DU to West Coast Conference is ideal fit, represents huge win for Pioneers University of Denver moving to West Coast Conference in 2026 The Division of Community Support and Engagement includes Community Connections, Academic Community Engagement, and the Ombuds. These teams support students, staff, and faculty through leadership programs, professional development, teaching support, and conflict resolution. For example, we are continuing longstanding student leadership programs like our Excelling Leaders Institute (ELI), sustaining support of community-initiated affinity groups serving students, faculty, and staff, while bridging the work of our Ombuds through restorative practices and conflict management, and building new connections between graduate student support and faculty development. The work of fostering inclusion at colleges and universities has never been more complex or more vital than it is currently.  While the changes we have made at DU have not been easy, we are dedicated to continuing to partner with members of our community as the division thoughtfully forges a new path forward for inclusiveness for every student, faculty, and staff member. Courage is vital in the face of uncertainty. We are encouraged as our students share their perspectives with us through the shifts, as faculty continue to educate with academic freedom, care and concern, and as staff continue to make way for thoughtful connections. Our work championing inclusiveness continues, and we welcome individuals across DU’s extended community to join us in the journey forward. Christopher Whitt is the Vice Chancellor of Community Support and Engagement at the University of Denver. Sign up for Sound Off to get a weekly roundup of our columns, editorials and more. To send a letter to the editor about this article, submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail.