2024 New Beginnings Pow Wow Saturday, May 4th (9am - 10pm) | Hamilton Gymnasium
2024 New Beginnings Pow Wow | The Dawn of Resiliency May 4th, 2024 | All Day Hamilton Gym, University of Denver Logistics/Special Inquiry: Stevie Lee, stevie.lee@du.edu, (505) 269-4761 Pow Wows are the Native American people's way of meeting together, to join in dancing, singing, visiting, and making new friendships. This is a time when dance and music honor the resilient cultural history of Native American peoples and traditions.
Join us for the USG Presidential and Vice Presidential debate where candidates will answer questions from students. Afterwards, join us for the first annual candidate mixer to meet your Senate candidates while enjoying light refreshments.
Friday, May 10 (8:15 a.m.-4:30 p.m) | Margery Reed Hall and Joy Burns Center
The Daniels College of Business is hosting its inaugural Sustainable Business Symposium on Friday, May 10. Organized by the Department of Business Ethics and Legal Studies, this full-day event will bring together thought leaders and sustainability experts to discuss the current and future state of sustainable business in Colorado. Learn how leading businesses and sustainability experts in different sectors are proactively confronting challenging issues from a variety of unique perspectives. We encourage all faculty and staff to attend, and invite you to share this information with students. Reach out to Bruce Klaw with questions.
Wednesday, May 8th (11:30 am - 2:00 pm) | Davis Lobby, Sturm Hall
World of Languages is an exciting free event open to all! A collaboration of the LL&C, CWLC, and SLLCS, this event will celebrate language-learning at DU. There will be snowcones and popcorn, live music, fun games, raffle prizes, and faculty and students representing each language that DU offers for credit. Join us on Wednesday, May 8th from 11:30 am - 2:00 pm at the Davis Lobby in Sturm Hall!
Wellness Weekend: 4D Signature Program
Friday, May 10 - Saturday, May 11 OR Saturday, May 11 - Sunday, May 12 | Kennedy Mountain Campus, transportation included
Join us in enjoying the Colorado sunshine at Kennedy Mountain Campus! Escape the hustle and bustle of university life and immerse yourself in a weekend dedicated to mindfulness, fitness, and your overall well-being. Meet at the Ritchie Center to take the bus to Kennedy Mountain Campus for an overnight trip filled with activities like hiking, yoga, and health promotion workshops! You can choose between two trip options:
1. Friday, May 10th 3:30 PM city campus departure - Saturday, May 11th 5:30 PM bus returns
2. Saturday, May 11th 5:00 PM city campus departure - Sunday, May 12th 6:00 PM bus returns
First, we want to thank the Custodial Services division and the collective support of our valued custodial services team. We deeply appreciate DU’s custodial staff; we truly can’t thank them enough for their collective years of hard work and dedication to DU and the faculty, staff, and students that they serve.
And we’re not saying goodbye. From the beginning, a key part of the current transition is continued employment of current custodial staff with Sodexo at comparable compensation and benefits.
We also understand that change can create anxiety within the custodial staff and across our campus. Thank you for your collective support of our valued custodial team. Unfortunately, misinformation has spread regarding the University of Denver’s transition of management and operations of the Custodial Services division to Sodexo.
We hope the following statements offer some clarity about the transition. Question: Is DU laying off custodians? Answer: As part of the negotiated terms, Sodexo will offer employment to all custodial employees currently employed by DU effective July 1, 2024, at compensation and benefits comparable to those paid by DU, including grandfathering the University’s tuition benefit.
Question: Did DU custodians and DU employees receive notice of this change? Answer: DU custodial employees were notified of the change of management and operations of the Custodial Services division to Sodexo via DU email on Friday, April 19, then through letters sent to their listed home addresses early the following week. The notifications were distributed in both English and Spanish. Additionally, the University and Sodexo met in person with the custodial employees in town hall meetings to provide the facts and answer questions on Wednesday, April 24.
The University first shared information about the transition with affected parties: custodial employees, the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), and the former custodial management vendor. Then, a letter from Allan Wilson, the associate vice chancellor for facilities management and planning, was shared in The Bridge to all faculty and staff. The Bridge is a weekly newsletter sent to DU email addresses of all employees who have not previously unsubscribed. If you are an employee, please refer to the April 23 edition of The Bridge.
Question: How will DU support custodial employees through this transition? Answer: In addition to several planned communications, employees have already attended and will continue to attend offered town halls and staff meetings. This will help answer all questions thoughtfully and in a timely manner. DU will also be following up with custodial team members to help care for their well-being during the transition process and moving forward.
Question: Will the union be maintained? Fact: Sodexo has agreed to recognize and negotiate with the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) independently of the University’s negotiation.
US Department of Education Releases New Title IX Sex Discrimination Regulations
On April 19, 2024, the US Department of Education released updated regulations regarding universities’ obligation to prevent and respond to sex discrimination in university settings. DU is committed to upholding this law and promoting a safe and equitable living, learning, and working environment for all members of our campus community. The Office of Equal Opportunity & Title IX (EOIX) is currently reviewing the new regulations, which span over 1,500 pages.
Updates will be posted to the Title IX page, and campus-wide communications will be issued once we have had the opportunity to completely review the new requirements and understand how they will affect our current procedures.
Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month
May
Embrace the vibrancy of Asian Pacific Islander Desi American cultures during this month of celebration. Let’s recognize and appreciate the diverse stories, traditions, and achievements of the APIDA community.
Jewish American Heritage Month
May
Highlighting the profound impact and rich heritage of Jewish Americans. Join us in acknowledging their contributions to shaping the cultural, scientific, and social fabric of our nation.
Beltane
May 1
Beltane is the Celtic celebration of the beginning of summer. Also known as May Day, the Beltane festival is often celebrated with bonfires, maypoles and dancing.
Buddha's Birthday
May 5
Celebrated by Buddhists around the world, and also a public holiday in many Asian countries, Buddha’s Birthday is an important day to commemorate the birth of Prince Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism. This holiday is marked by both reflection and celebration and is observed differently by different sects of Buddhism, but common is the hanging of lanterns, temple offerings and communal meals.