A New Chapter for STEM at DU

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University of Denver

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NSM is preparing for a significant milestone in the University's Academic Transformation. Following a year of study and a recent vote by the Board of Trustees, NSM will join the Daniel Felix Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science and the Kinesiology and Sport Studies program to form a new, integrated college that strengthens collaboration across science, engineering, computing, and health-related disciplines.

The goal is simple: many of today's most complex challenges exist at the intersection of fields rather than within a single discipline. The new structure is designed to help faculty collaborate more naturally and students develop broader perspectives while preserving the strengths that define each program.

What isn't changing matters just as much. No degree programs are being eliminated, and current students, including those entering this fall, will complete their degrees exactly as planned. Academic rigor, the teacher-scholar model, and NSM's research strengths remain central to how the college operates.

As part of this transition, DU will launch an internal search for the college's founding dean this fall. The new college will officially begin operating in January 2027, with academic and operational integration continuing through the 2028-2029 academic year.

University leadership remains committed to keeping students, faculty, staff, alumni, and supporters informed as each step of the transition unfolds. 

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