Since my last Deans’ Notes message two weeks ago the world has gotten increasingly turbulent. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has caused widespread suffering in the region and spiked stress-levels across the globe. As our hearts go out to all people affected by this situation, this act of international aggression is unsettling to witness even from a world-away and I encourage our community to lean on our campus mental health resources.
On a more positive note, I’m sure you have already seen through various channels that today is the first ever CU Denver Dedicated Giving Day. This will grow to become an annual activity, raising funds for various student success programs across campus. We are celebrating contributions at every level, so everyone can easily participate. Funds that are being highlighted with this initiative include:
- The Mental Health and Wellness Fund - providing support for mental health and wellness initiatives to the CU Denver community.
- The Food Pantry Fund – which provides accessible, non-perishable food to students in need.
- The Patrick Browne Memorial Fund – providing scholarship support for veteran and military connected students.
- The First Generation Student Success Fund – providing support for programs and initiatives that drive success for first-generation students.
I also want to highlight a new initiative from Chancellor Marks for all CU Denver employees – Community Conversations will be a series of 50-minute interactive sessions to build connection over relevant workplace topics. Grounded in what our campus community has experienced over the past two years, these sessions are being designed to stimulate curiosity, learn from one another, and enjoy being together. To maximize accessibility, the series will offer a mix of in-person and Zoom sessions. The first of the series will take place next week Wednesday, March 9th, at 11:00 am, in the Terrace Room at the Lawrence Street Center, and will highlight psychological safety in the workplace. Making It Work: Candid Conversations to Support Employees and Supervisors in the Workplace will solicit your views about what psychological safety is, what happens when it does and doesn’t exist in the workplace, and any shifts we can make to enhance psychological safety for our campus community. The second will be the next day, March 10th, held virtually (register here) from 10:00 – 11:00 am, and will be Equity-Serving Institution Updates, featuring Vice Chancellor Antonio Farias and key CU Denver ESI operational leads conducting an interactive check-in. Come prepared to participate, listen, and interact with your colleagues. More Information can be found at this website.
