Dear Colleagues:
As our campuses come alive with the energy of a new fall semester and academic year, I want to begin by thanking each of you for the many ways you advance our academic and research enterprises and make CSU one of the premier land-grant and public research institutions in the nation.
When I look at the year ahead, I see possibility. I see students arriving with questions and aspirations; faculty pursuing ideas that can change what we know and understand; and staff creating the environments in which learning, discovery and belonging can flourish. I see new colleagues bringing fresh perspectives and longtime colleagues continuing to challenge us to think differently. And I see an opportunity for all of us to build on what is strong at CSU while having the courage to imagine what comes next.
Our work begins with our students. It also extends far beyond the classroom to the discoveries that expand human knowledge, the creative work that challenges and inspires us, the partnerships that strengthen our communities, and the research and innovation that help build a better world.
Though we often think of the fall and spring semesters as our academic year, learning and discovery take place year-round at CSU. This summer, 880 CSU faculty members taught more than 8,000 students through Summer Session, helping students stay on track, explore new areas of study and make progress toward their academic aspirations. Summer Session supports our institutional goals of increasing academic access and success and continuing to improve retention and graduation rates. Thank you to everyone who makes Summer Session possible at CSU.
Welcome to our new faculty
One of the great joys of a new academic year is welcoming new colleagues to CSU. This fall, we are pleased to welcome 32 new faculty members to CSU: 8 tenure-track, 1 tenured, and 23 continuing and contract faculty. They bring new expertise, experiences, and perspectives to our classrooms, laboratories, studios, and communities, enriching the intellectual and creative life of our university. We are grateful they have chosen CSU as a place to teach, discover, create, and contribute, and we look forward to the ideas, energy, and partnership they will bring to our community.
We are equally pleased to welcome 19 new adjunct faculty members, whose expertise and experience make important contributions to our students and academic programs. Many bring valuable connections to the professions, communities, and industries we serve, helping students see the relevance and possibilities of what they are learning. We are grateful to have them as part of our CSU community.
Together, we have an opportunity to make the most of all our possibilities. Let’s support each other to:
Teach with courage
Challenge old ideas. Invite hard questions. Create classrooms where students feel safe to think deeply, take intellectual risks, and discover what they are capable of becoming.
Lead with grace
See the whole student. Recognize that every student arrives with a story, challenges and strengths that may not be visible to us. Meet them with patience, care and high expectations, and help them find their path forward.
Grow together
Push our university forward. Question what no longer serves us, and where we can do better. Break down walls between disciplines, units, and perspectives. Build a shared future in which every member of our community has the opportunity to contribute and every voice matters.
And above all, cultivate belonging.
Belonging is not separate from academic excellence or student success; it is a central part of it. When students feel that they are known, valued, and connected to their university and to the people around them, they are better positioned to persist, learn, and thrive. The same is true for you as faculty and staff. We do our best work when we feel that we belong, that our contributions matter and that we are part of something larger than ourselves. You are the heartbeat of our university, essential to our success, and your work is the bright light that makes CSU shine.
Provost Office Hours
As I have pledged to this community, I am committed to listening, advocating, supporting, and engaging with optimism and transparency. Last spring, I began holding Office Hours as a way to hear directly from you, answer questions, and create space for open conversation about your experiences, ideas, and how we can continue to strengthen our university community. I am pleased to continue these informal conversations this fall. I hope you will join me, share what is on your mind, and help shape the work ahead. Please see the graphic below for dates and more information.
Thank you for what you do every day for our students, for one another, and for the future of Colorado State University. I am excited for the year ahead and grateful to be on this journey with you.
With gratitude,
Lise M. Youngblade, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President