The University of Colorado Boulder has temporarily paused a hiring program aimed to develop a more diverse faculty across all academic units on campus.

The Critical Needs Hiring Program brings in faculty members who demonstrate perspectives, life experiences and expertise that are not represented or underrepresented in an academic unit on campus. According to CU Boulder’s website, the process should focus on an applicant’s demonstrated actions, not beliefs or identities. The program has been paused for a third-party legal review to ensure it remains compliant with state, federal and regent law.

CU Boulder spokesperson Nicole Mueksch said the pause and review of the program were not prompted by any anti-diversity mandates or expressions from the Trump administration.

“The university has paused the program to conduct a third-party review out of an abundance of caution and a desire to ensure there are no ongoing gaps between university policy and the program’s process,” Mueksch wrote in an email. “We are always looking to improve our processes.”

In the next three years, funding for the Critical Needs Hiring Program is planned to provide about $1 million in salary and benefits to be allocated across 32 centrally funded faculty positions, or up to $100,000 in salary plus benefits per position. During the same time frame, the schools and colleges within the university are required to fund 48 critical needs faculty positions, pooled across all units, to be completed by fiscal year 2027.

The approved hiring cycle for this academic year remains underway. Chancellor Justin Schwartz paused any future hiring to conduct the third-party review that will be completed before the 2025 to 2026 hiring cycle begins.

The program website said that a diverse faculty is inherent to the overall excellence of the university.

“CU Boulder has a mission to serve all Coloradans, and the current student, faculty and staff population does not reflect the demographics of our state,” Mueksch wrote. “These programs were designed with our mission in mind. The CU System also has a goal for all campuses to diversify their faculty to better represent the student population.”

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