Meeting Students Where They Are

When CU Denver embarked on its Strategic Plan, Goal One outlined a bold aspiration to become the nation’s first equity-serving institution in support of its mission to make education work for all. Five years later, Goal One has brought into focus a dedication to access, community, inclusivity, and belonging—which are ethos that guide everything we do at CU Denver. 

A collective effort across the university, Goal One has been exemplified in not only the milestones we’ve reached but also the way we’ve reached them. From cross-representative committees and groups focused on inclusivity and access to designations that help provide resources to our diverse student populations, our campus community has continuously looked for ways to serve students so we can meet them where they are.  

This important work is a pride point for Antonio Farias, vice chancellor for Access and Campus Engagement. “Over the past four years I’ve had the privilege of working alongside a wide variety of students, staff, and faculty committed to doing the hard work it takes to create a campus learning and work community where individuals are seen, heard, and valued for the multiplicity of ways they’ve lived and experienced the world—all in the service of getting closer and closer to fulfilling our mission of making education work for all,” he said. “The challenge I set for myself every single day is one that I invite all my beloved colleagues and students to consider adopting: Do better, be better, love better.”   

For Samuel Kim, associate vice chancellor for Access and Campus Engagement, one way to do better was to join a Multilingual Strategy Group and help implement a language translation software to make CU Denver’s website more accessible to bilingual learners and their families. The software launched in June 2024. “It offers a language translation tool on our website that allows the university to make key information—such as admissions, financial aid, scholarships, billing, and support services—more accessible to a broader audience,” Kim said. “Also, by addressing the language barrier for family members, this allows them to stay informed and support their student, especially when important issues or decisions arise.” 

For student Israa Alazzawi, the university’s focus on inclusivity and access has made all the difference for her experiences in and out of the classroom. “CU Denver doesn’t expect everyone to have the same story, but they will meet you where you are at,” Alazzawi said. “CU Denver feels like home to me.”