DU Achieves R-1 Status; Invests in Teaching and Research
Dear DU Community,
We are delighted to share with you the wonderful recognition that the University of Denver received shortly before the winter break – and that is recognition as a Doctoral/Very High Research university (or “R1”) by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. DU was one of only nine universities recognized as a new R1 at this time, joining the ranks of 137 universities currently recognized as engaging in highest research activity.
As you may know, R1 recognition is based on a number of factors, including research volume, number of PhDs graduated annually, and number of post-docs. The University of Denver was able to achieve this R1 recognition our way – through a commitment to the teacher-scholar ideal. By valuing all faculty research, scholarship, and creative activity, and by valuing funded, unfunded, and community-engaged research conducted by faculty of all lines across the university, we truly achieved R1 Our Way.
New Investments in Teaching and Research
To continue to support our teacher-scholars across the university and across all lines, we are pleased to announce the following new multi-year investments in teaching and research:
New teaching investments
- Support for academic leadership, including Department Chairs and Program Directors, to mentor teaching, clinical, and professional line faculty using the TPF faculty mentoring model developed by the TPF MOARS symposium group;
- Support for the Workload Equity Cohort- Department Equity Action Planning Teams (DEAPs), Workload Equity Task Force, and their recommendations;
- Creation of Teaching Excellence Department Action Teams and supporting the work of the Teaching Excellence Committee and its recommendations;
- Professional development opportunities for adjunct faculty; and
- A second administration of the COACHE survey in 2023 to measure ongoing questions of faculty satisfaction with their experiences at DU.
Taken together these initiatives serve four priorities: Valuing the Teacher/Scholar/Practitioner Model & Teaching Excellence; Supporting Leadership & Mentoring for All Faculty Lines; Addressing Workload & Burnout; and Enhancing Student Experience, Learning, and Engagement.
New research investments
- Creation of a pre-award unit specializing in serving faculty for prospecting, proposal preparation, and training of new PIs and division grant managers. Staffing for multi-disciplinary large proposal writing and coordination will also be included.
- Expanded support for our Principal Investigators to focus on their research by streamlining the accounting and management of awards;
- Expanded support for post-docs to work with our faculty researchers;
- Expanded fee waiver for graduate applicants;
- Increasing the PROF funds from $20k per award to $30k per award; and
- Investment in research facilities and space to support research growth.
We are pleased to offer these additional commitments to our teacher-scholar ideal so that we can continue to pursue our faculty work consistent with our longstanding commitment to academic excellence and the public good.
Finally, we would like to take this moment to celebrate Senior Vice Provost Dr. Corinne Lengsfeld for her vision, leadership, and passion in supporting the research, scholarship, and creative work of our University’s teacher-scholars. Corinne believed in each of us and encouraged us to pursue our passions, collectively for the common good, to build and support our vibrant community of scholars. The R1 designation is an institutional recognition, but we know that Corinne provided the leadership, guidance and inspiration. For that, the University of Denver is forever grateful and indebted.
In closing, thank you for all that you have done to support our students, community, and one another over the last two COVID years. We are truly a community of care, achieving R1 recognition by pursuing what we value most.
With warm regards,
Jeremy Haefner
Chancellor
Mary Clark
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor