Chancellor Transition

Be heard. For your herd.

Be a part of the new chancellor transition process.

The fall 2024 semester will kick off with a new chancellor at CU Boulder. As we enter the next stage of the process, all students are invited to attend an open forum on April 4 and enjoy free pizza!

How to Get Involved

Attend a chancellor finalist open forum

  • Student forum: April 4, 5–6 p.m., UMC Aspen Rooms
    • While forums are generally targeted to specific constituent groups, all forums are open to the public and to all members of the CU Boulder community.
  • Pizza, sodas and dessert for those attending in-person
  • Livestream option

Share your opinions in the chancellor finalist survey

  • Check your email! Survey opens on Thursday, April 4 at 8 a.m. and closes on Tuesday, April 9 at 5 p.m.
  • Takes 2-5 minutes to complete
  • Open to all students, faculty, staff and community members

Understand the role of a chancellor 

  • Learn why your participation in the new chancellor transition matters.
  • Be prepared to share your opinions by understanding how a university functions.
  • Share this understanding with your fellow Buffs.

Top Reasons to Get Involved 

Buffs have an opportunity to help shape the future of our university. 

 

Share your input on the next chancellor, who will make decisions that impact you and future students.

 

Let the chancellor finalist know what makes CU Boulder special, from a student's perspective.

 

Make your voice heard on topics like tuition, academics, research, campus safety, free speech, climate action, athletics and more.

Chancellor Transition Timeline

  1. January

    Chancellor applications closed.

  2. February

    Chancellor search committee selected top candidates.

  3. April/May

    Chancellor search committee selected top candidates.

  4. July-September

    New chancellor starts.

Roles of University Leadership at CU Boulder

The university has two main divisions that work interdependently: academic and administrative.

 

Chancellor

The chancellor oversees both divisions of the university and works with other university leaders to ensure the campus operates smoothly.

Academic  

The academic sector provides students with the academic experience: curriculum, courses and hands-on learning opportunities that enable students to earn a degree.

The provost leads the university's academic mission, overseeing all elements of research, teaching, and the student and faculty academic experience at the university.

Deans work within the academic sector and report to the provost. Deans are responsible for their academic units, including educational, budgetary and administrative needs. 

Administrative 

The administrative sector provides the campus experience: housing and dining; involvement; wellness; financial management; safety; infrastructure and facilities; communications; emergency operations; and more.

The chief operating officer leads the university's operational and business units, ensuring the institution's administrative functions and goals are met. 

Vice chancellors are the administrative leaders within a university and are responsible for maintaining the administrative, day-to-day needs of the campus. 

CU Boulder’s Current Top Leadership

Chancellor

Philip P. DiStefano

Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Russell L. Moore

Executive Vice Chancellor and & Chief Operating Officer

Patrick O’Rourke

What Does a Chancellor Do?

CU Boulder’s chancellor oversees everything related to the campus, while also providing a vision for the university’s future. The chancellor:

 

Is the top academic leader of the university

 

Provides oversight of all academic, fiscal and administrative duties

 

Establishes and executes an overarching vision for the campus

 

Raises philanthropic support and acts as the university’s public face

 

Reports to the CU system president and works with other CU chancellors on system strategic goals

 

Collaborates with shared governance organizations on campus, including CU Student Government and the Graduate and Professional Student Government