From the Dean’s Desk: January 2026

Dear CAHSS Community,  

As we make our way deeper into yet another new year in which an evolving landscape continues to transform how we connect, learn, work, and create, I write to share a new way that our college will play an essential role in shaping the future of our students.  

This moment requires humanity to grapple with urgent questions about identity, integrity, communication, belonging, and the impact of technology on our lives. Helping students find answers to those questions is inherent in the fields of study and academic programs across the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences.   

Employers are shifting their expectations of the entering workforce, given the skills needed to excel in today’s workplace. CAHSS is dedicated to cultivating the qualities employers now seek, including adaptability, contextual and analytical reasoning, ethical analysis, collaborative leadership, and creative problem solving. Our faculty and curriculum dive deep into meaning and expression in a time when humans must collaborate with technology — and each other — for rapid results at a thrilling pace. We offer learning opportunities that encourage the application of innovative approaches toward solving real-world problems.  

My highest priority is empowering our students to find academic and career paths that follow their individual interests, strengths, values, and goals. We already provide robust student experiences through 25 academic programs that cultivate adaptive responses to the changing world with confidence and creativity. This academic approach aligns with all four dimensions of the DU 4 Dimensional (4D) Experience and is, of course, especially well-aligned with the dimension of “Deepening Intellect.” 

I am thrilled to share that on top of this exciting foundation, CAHSS faculty have launched an exciting new curricular change called 4D Fridays. The college will dedicate Fridays to supporting the broader 4D student experience, beginning with offerings within the majors to support students as they “Design a Career and Life of Purpose” — while also reserving dedicated time in students’ schedules for “Developing Well-Being" and “Discovering Their Character.”

Most departments in CAHSS have already begun by shifting traditional CAHSS course offerings to Monday through Thursday to support 4D Fridays. Departments will also begin offering a menu of one- and two-credit “sprints” and other credit-bearing opportunities for students to engage in their choice of professional development experience on a timeline that works best for them. One major aim of 4D Fridays is to open space in the schedule for students to secure internships, jobs, and research opportunities here in Denver and remotely.  

Our goals are for all students to complete their four-year academic trajectory, have two professional development experiences on their resume, and have mastered the skills needed to design a life of purpose. Each program in CAHSS will tailor offerings to align with its subject matter, as well as provide structured internship courses aimed at securing opportunities and experiences to enrich and refine emerging purpose. 

I’m impressed by how hard our departments are working to deliver credit-bearing professional development courses and provide clear connections to careers. CAHSS 4D Fridays align with an adventurous approach to students’ academic, professional, and personal paths. Like one’s career journey and the journey of life, the journey of a liberal arts education is one of finding our way, acquiring new skills, and adapting to discover new ideas, directions, passions, and possibilities. I’m excited, honored, and grateful to be sharing that journey with all of you throughout the coming year.  

Warm regards and welcome back, 

Sahara Byrne 

Dean, College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences