As Metropolitan State University of Denver prepares to open its first residence hall, the University is taking a major step to strengthen how students experience campus life, engagement and support.
To meet the needs of an evolving campus environment, including a new residential life program, MSU Denver leaders are reorganizing Student Engagement and Well-being (SEW) — a unit of the Enrollment and Student Affairs branch — to better coordinate services, clarify structure and position the University for the future.
Summit House, a 550-bed student-housing building under construction on the north side of campus, is set to open in fall 2027, ushering in a new era of on-campus living at MSU Denver.
“The addition of a residential life program is a transformative moment for the University and an opportunity to help all students feel more connected, supported and successful,” said Taylor Tackett, dean of students and associate vice president of Student Engagement and Well-being. “This realignment helps us support students in a more coordinated, meaningful way.”
What’s changing
The reorganization focuses on improving how programs and teams work together to serve students more effectively.
Here are the changes that faculty, staff and students will notice most:
- More coordinated and visible campus programming and events.
- Some reporting line changes across key student-facing areas.
- Educational opportunity programs such as TRIO and the Epic Scholars Program will transition to the Classroom to Career Hub, aligning more intentionally with academic and career pathways to create a more integrated experience that connects access, persistence and postgraduate success.
- Campus Engagement efforts within SEW will continue to support identity-based and community-centered programs, including the LGBTQ Student Resource Center, Veteran and Military Student Services, Immigrant Services Program and the Center for Multicultural Engagement and Inclusion (CMEI).
- CMEI will be restructured to align staffing with programming and student needs.
- The Center for Urban Education, a grant-funded K–5 outreach program, will be discontinued due to funding constraints and a renewed focus on services that directly support MSU Denver students.
“What’s not changing is our commitment to student success, access, belonging and well-being,” Tackett said. “Students can expect stronger coordination across support services, more visible campus programming and clearer pathways to academic and career success.”
As part of the reorganization, three positions will be eliminated, while other roles will be redefined or newly created to better align with priorities.
For employees whose positions are eliminated, the University has identified similar roles elsewhere in the University and encouraged them to apply.
Changes associated with the realignment are budget neutral and will be realized through the reallocation of funding across the Enrollment and Student Affairs branch, internal efficiencies and repurposing of vacant positions.
Timeline and next steps
Most changes will take effect July 1, aligning with the start of the fiscal year, with some transitions phased in based on hiring timelines. The Center for Urban Education will close by Aug. 30.
For SEW staff, the new structure is designed to provide clearer leadership, more manageable spans of supervision and stronger support in high-impact areas.
“This is about building a more connected, sustainable and student-centered future,” Tackett said.
