Key takeaways:
- A newly updated Human Resources report shows improving employee retention, strong internal hiring and steady workforce demographics at MSU Denver.
- Professional and classified staff turnover fell to 9.1%, below the University’s 10% goal, while faculty turnover remains low, and MSU Denver outperforms national benchmarks.
- Employees continue to build their careers at MSU Denver, with internal candidates filling 38% of competitive positions in fiscal 2026.
More Metropolitan State University of Denver employees are choosing to stay and build their careers at the University, continuing a positive three-year trend in workforce stability.
The latest Human Resources data show consistently low faculty turnover and declining turnover among professional and classified employees. Both now meet University goals and outperform national benchmarks. Meanwhile, internal hiring remains strong, with current employees filling 38% of competitive positions.
“Employees stay where they feel valued, supported, connected to a larger purpose, and they experience belonging,” said Stacy Dvergsdal, chief Human Resources officer. “We’re encouraged to see more members of our community choosing to build long-term careers at MSU Denver, and we remain focused on creating opportunities for every employee to learn, grow and succeed in our community. Our 2030 Strategic Plan, Pillar V, Goal 1 is becoming a reality: Be Colorado’s most desired place of employment.”
Three-year trends show declining turnover
Faculty voluntary turnover has remained consistently below MSU Denver’s goal of 3% for the past three years: 2.88%, 2.99% and 2.86%, respectively.
Professional and classified staff turnover has declined steadily over the same period, falling from 12% to 11.3% and now 9.1% — below the University’s goal of 10%.
MSU Denver also compares favorably with national benchmarks:
- Tenure/tenure-track faculty: 1.6% turnover at MSU Denver compared with a 2.6% voluntary turnover benchmark from the College and University Professional Association
- Non-tenure-track faculty: 7.2% compared with CUPA’s 10.3%
- Professional/classified voluntary turnover: 9.1% compared with 9.4% for CUPA and 12% for the Society for Human Resource Management
Employees are finding opportunities within MSU Denver
Employees continue to move into new roles at the University. Of 138 competitive positions filled in fiscal 2026, 38% went to internal candidates, up slightly from 37% last year.
Human Resources continues to complement those career opportunities with leadership and professional development programs available across the University, including the GROW, LAUNCH and LEAD programs.
Employee demographics remain steady
MSU Denver’s workforce demographics have remained relatively consistent over the past three years.
At a glance:
- Average tenure: Nine years
- Median age: 45
- Sex: 59% female; 41% male
- Veterans: 9% self-identified
- Race/ethnicity: 61% white; 14% Hispanic or Latino; 8% Asian; 5% Black or African American; 3% two or more races; 1% American Indian or Alaska Native
- Disability: 0.53% self-identified
An additional 6% of employees chose not to identify their race or ethnicity, while 3% are categorized as unknown.
Why HR tracks workforce trends
HR monitors retention, hiring and workforce demographics to help MSU Denver make informed decisions about recruiting and retaining talented faculty and staff, developing future leaders and maintaining operational excellence.
