CU Boulder's new chancellor puts focus on diversity
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Justin Schwartz, chancellor of CU Boulder. Photo: Courtesy of Mason Marino at the University of Colorado
The new chancellor at the University of Colorado Boulder is making diversity, equity and inclusion his top focus, despite the political pitfalls.
State of play: Monday marks the start of chancellor Justin Schwartz's first semester on campus, succeeding Phil DiStefano, who retired after 15 years in the role.
- Even though he says he's still in the listening phase, he's not shy about his commitment to making the university more diverse.
What he's saying: "There's a fundamental responsibility as a state university to represent the diversity of the state. We are the University of Colorado," he said in an interview with our education reporting partners at Chalkbeat.
- "That means that we should be representative of the state. That should be a clear obligation."
By the numbers: Based on 2023 enrollment numbers, 68% of students are white, compared with 66% of the state's population, according to Chalkbeat.
- The largest gap is the Latino population, which makes up about 22% of the state but just 13% of the school's students.
- 2.8% of CU students are Black, compared with 4% statewide.
The intrigue: The key, Schwartz said, is making students feel comfortable on campus.
- "If you have cultural success and academic success, whether it's student, faculty, or research success, you have to begin with belonging," he said in the interview. "And if you don't feel safe, what do you do? You want to retreat back to your home. So if you don't feel safe, you don't have belonging."
Between the lines: Schwartz, a nuclear engineer who left his job as provost at Penn State University to take the Colorado job, credits his upbringing for his focus on diversity.
- He attended desegregated public schools in Evanston, Illinois, in the late 60s and later worked at historically Black college Florida A&M University.
- "The diversity of experiences I had, the diversity of relationships I had, I certainly believe contributed strongly to my success," he said. "There is no shortage of social science that shows that diverse groups are more successful, right?"
The big picture: His focus goes against the tide in higher education, where colleges are shutting down their DEI offices under political pressure, often from state lawmakers who control the purse strings.
- Though Democrats control the Colorado Statehouse, conservatives who oppose DEI efforts still play a role in writing the budget.
The bottom line: Schwartz makes clear he's committed to DEI efforts within the current legal landscape. "I think that should go without saying, but in today's climate, that needs to be said," he said.