The University of Denver’s chancellor is pushing for staff cuts and a restructuring of the school’s colleges, citing declining enrollment as the reason the institution can’t hold its current shape.
The announcement, reported Wednesday, June 11, marks a notable shift for DU — one of Colorado’s largest private universities — as it confronts the same demographic headwinds squeezing campuses across the country. The chancellor framed the moves as necessary, not optional.
Background
Enrollment pressure has been building at private universities for years. Smaller incoming classes mean less tuition revenue, and for institutions that run on those dollars, the math eventually forces hard decisions about staffing levels and which academic programs can sustain themselves.
DU hasn’t been immune. The restructuring call suggests the administration believes the problem isn’t short-term — that waiting it out isn’t the plan.
What specific colleges face consolidation, how many staff positions are on the line, and what timeline the chancellor has in mind weren’t detailed in initial reports. Those answers are likely to matter most to the faculty, staff, and students who will feel the changes directly.
DU hasn’t publicly released a full restructuring plan as of June 11.
CBS News reported on the University of Denver chancellor's announcement on June 11, 2026. Read the original report.
