About the Office
Mission
The mission of the Office of Government Relations and Community Affairs is to support the University’s strategic goals by fostering and maximizing connectivity to federal, state and local elected officials and agencies, to internal and external community stakeholders, and to legislation, policies, regulations and rules that impact the University’s interests.
Vision
The vision of the Office of Government Relations and Community Affairs is to use the office’s subject matter expertise and university resources to further build and maintain relationships inside of government structures and within DU’s internal and external communities. We aspire to have DU recognized as the nation’s top private university dedicated to the public good.
Explore
Government Relations
Learn how we work with municipal, state and federal governments to strengthen our educational capacities, advance research and innovation, provide students with financial resources and opportunities, and support our students and work force.
Community Affairs
Find resources for students, neighbors and visitors, keep up with the latest University news and discover ways to engage with DU for networking, entertainment, recreation and professional development through our Community Affairs pages.
Scope
We assist the University Chancellor, administrators, faculty, staff and students to navigate government environments that influence practices and considerations that present themselves at DU and at other higher education institutions ranging from fiscal viability to research and civic engagement. We monitor legislation that may impact student financial aid, research, immigration, health care and higher education reauthorization. We take steps to support or contest legislation that will affect DU’s interests.
We are the designated point of contact for government officials and are trusted to coordinate a government relations program that ensures compliance with federal, state, and local lobbying laws. The office works with various higher education associations like the American Council on Education (ACE), the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) and the Colorado Department of Higher Education to advocate DU’s interests.
We are the University’s liaison to resident neighbors, area businesses, and community leaders and partners. As the liaison, the office maintains relationships with registered neighborhood organizations and their members by maintaining open lines of communication about university actions that impact the greater DU community. We foster goodwill by welcoming, facilitating and participating in events, roundtables and advisory groups that are established to further the University’s success and its mission to support the public good.
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We are a resource to campus community members including affinity groups and student government and are available to assist with considerations that have a community dynamic attached to them.