The University of Denver announced a plan to consolidate five schools and colleges into two and eliminate five departments, citing budget pressure and market shifts while emphasizing cross-disciplinary “flexible” learning. DU’s provost said the changes will streamline academic structures rather than operate as a pure cost-cutting exercise. The university’s memo includes combining graduate units—education, behavioral and clinical sciences—and merging engineering and computer science with natural sciences and mathematics, alongside kinesiology and sport studies. DU also plans to eliminate religious studies and electrical and computer engineering this year, while additional departments voluntarily opted to shut down. DU expects to roll out the new colleges and associated searches for deans over the next academic year, signaling that private institutions under financial stress are using structural academic changes to protect demand and reposition programs.