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I know many of you have been very anxiously awaiting a decision about Spring Commencement 2020.

I’m writing to you today to provide a few more details about how the University will begin, very gradually, a five-phase plan to bring employees back to campus to do their work safely and in compliance with orders from the state of Colorado and city of Denver.

I want to provide updates on five important topics: the state of fiscal year 2020, summer 2020, fall 2020, a preview of the work that needs to be done for fiscal year 2021, and the formation of six important University task forces and a Student Advisory Board that will help us shape the immediate and longer-term future for DU.

It is my great pleasure to share the news that Mary Clark will be joining the DU community as provost on July 15, 2020. Mary’s academic and administrative credentials are exemplary. She rose up as someone who can help strengthen and advance our academic programs with intelligence, imagination, foresight and camaraderie.

In this critical time for higher education and the economy, I am writing to let you know that we have been working closely with the government officials who are entrusted with deciding how to allocate COVID-19 emergency resources that could potentially benefit higher education institutions, including the 91¶ÌÊÓƵ.

I invite students, faculty, staff, alumni and parents to join me and other community members for a digital conversation about how physical distance has impacted teaching, learning, wellbeing and our sense of community at DU.

During these extraordinary times, when each day brings another unforeseen challenge, it is critical to stay focused on our mission, our visionÌýandÌýour principles. Today the issue is a modified Pass/Fail option for our students and the principle is equity.

As we focus considerable energy on the here and now—course work, health and safety, and staying socially connected through digital means—we also are looking at the longer-term implications of COVID-19 on University programs.

Our work to support diversity, equity and inclusion is especially important now, as crises typically put a disproportionate amount of pressure on marginalized populations.