Transformation at Naropa isn’t a destination—it’s a daily practice. It unfolds in the classroom where contemplative learning takes place, in community conversations that challenge and inspire us, and in the courage we cultivate to meet each opportunity and obstacle. This unwavering commitment to growth and transformation forms the bedrock of how we support our students, faculty, staff, and the broader community we serve.
This past year, Naropa has moved in some bold new directions. These shifts haven’t always been comfortable, yet each has been anchored in an unwavering vision: building a university that will last for generations.
Meaningful change often carries complexity, and the full spectrum of emotions emerge when growth requires letting go of what we’ve known. Still, these steps are essential. They reflect our commitment to sustainability, equity, and the enduring vitality of our community.
Here’s how this season of transformation has been unfolding:
Measuring What Matters: Student Retention Rates Rise
One of the most meaningful indicators of Naropa’s growth is student retention—whether students feel supported, engaged, and motivated to continue their educational journey here. Over the last three years, Naropa’s graduate programs have achieved an average one-year retention rate of 85%—the highest for any three-year period in the last decade. Even more notably, BIPOC graduate students have exceeded that figure, averaging a 90% one-year retention rate during the same timeframe.
Short-term data tells a similarly encouraging story. The spring-to-fall retention rate for graduate students has increased from 84% in 2016 to 93% in 2024, a sign of deepened support and belonging.
Undergraduate retention has also experienced long-term growth. Since 2019, the one-year retention rate has risen by 16 percentage points—from 54% to 70%. Even through the disruptions of the pandemic, students have demonstrated remarkable resilience, and Naropa’s staff and faculty have found new ways to deepen student support. Nationally, the retention and 6-year graduation average is 64%.
BIPOC undergraduate students are showing signs of a stronger connection and feeling more supported, with an average one-year retention rate of 70% over the last two years, outpacing the overall average of 66%.
Expanding Access to a Naropa Education
In 2024, the university launched a Direct Admissions initiative to simplify the enrollment process and expand access to contemplative education. This program offers automatic admission to talented high school seniors who have a 3.0 GPA or higher. By working directly with high school counselors and educational advocates, Naropa is opening doors for students who are inspired by our mission but may face systemic barriers in traditional admissions pathways. We’ve also increased the number of accepted transfer credits from regionally accredited institutions to 90 credits, matching national standards and helping transfer students complete their degrees more efficiently. Details about transfer policies can be found here.
In the spirit of educational solidarity, Naropa also welcomed a few students from Goddard College after the school’s announced closure, offering a transfer pathway to help them continue their studies in a like-minded, mission-aligned environment. Learn more about that initiative here.
Recognizing that economic barriers often limit access to creative education, we’re also offering 50% tuition support for select seats in The Jack Kerouac School Low-Residency Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing this fall for educators. This initiative empowers educators to integrate contemplative practices into their teaching and creative work and amplifies our mission.
Together, these efforts reflect our commitment to widening the circle—making Naropa’s unique approach to education more accessible to a broader and more diverse community of learners.
Evolving Academic Offerings
Naropa continues to develop academic programs that are both innovative and grounded in contemplative pedagogy. This year, the university introduced a new undergraduate minor in Psychedelic Studies, equipping students with knowledge and skills to navigate this emerging field while fostering critical thinking and ethical awareness. As part of this launch, Naropa received a $1.5 million grant over two years from Unlikely Collaborators to support student scholarships—expanding access to this emerging area of study. Read more here.
At the graduate level, our programs are also evolving to better serve students and the field. We’ve enhanced our Clinical Mental Health Counseling program by adding courses that meet licensure standards in 10 additional states, significantly expanding where our graduates can practice. Due to strong demand, we’re also launching a low-residency option for the Somatic Counseling concentration beginning in Summer 2026, making this specialized training more accessible to working professionals.
These evolving academic offerings ensure our students graduate well-prepared not only for successful careers but for lives of purpose and service.
Preparing for the Future: Campus Transition and Reinvestment
In one of the most significant changes this year, Naropa’s Board of Trustees—following the recommendation of the President and Vice Presidents—made the decision to sell the Arapahoe campus—a choice rooted in long-term sustainability and the evolving educational landscape. This decision was not taken lightly. We understand the deep connections many feel to this space, and the decision was made with careful consideration of both our community’s emotional ties and our institutional future. You can read more here.
The sale is a proactive step that enables Naropa to invest directly in its mission—redirecting resources toward faculty development, student scholarships, academic innovation, and enhanced learning environments.
It also reflects a deeper truth about who we are becoming. Since the pandemic, nearly half of our students have chosen hybrid, low-residency, and online programs, showing that meaningful contemplative education transcends physical boundaries. Our on-campus needs have changed, and we are adapting in order to better serve our students—wherever they are. While not easy, we are embracing growth and recommitting to our values in new and relevant ways through strategic reinvestment while still maintaining our commitment to residential programs through our Nalanda Campus.
A Campus Transition Committee of faculty, staff, and students is guiding this process, ensuring the transition reflects our community’s needs and priorities.
Strengthening Student Support Services
At Naropa, we emphasize educating the whole person, which includes support for mental and emotional well-being. In 2024, the university expanded its health and wellness services through TimelyCare, a 24/7 telehealth platform offering counseling, health coaching, and self-guided wellness tools.
In addition, Naropa invested in Bodhi, an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot communication tool that identifies at-risk students, supports them with addressing questions they may have, and connects them with resources within our Naropa community. Bodhi proactively texts students on a regular basis to check in about challenges and barriers and supports connection with human helpers when needed. This platform has assisted the University with retention efforts by identifying student concerns early and has been particularly helpful for supporting our online student community.
Supporting students has also meant welcoming them back when they’re ready to return. From Fall 2024 to Summer 2025, we brought back 68 students from leave of absence or withdrawal—42 undergraduates and 26 graduate students—working closely with Academic Advisors to ensure smooth transitions.
These services reflect our commitment to ensuring every student has access to the care they need to flourish, whether they’re learning on campus or remotely.
Looking Ahead: Naropa’s Commitment to Mission
Progress is rarely linear, and Naropa’s journey is no exception. We acknowledge the challenges that have come with recent changes and honor the voices within our community that have expressed concern or grief, particularly with our Arapahoe campus transition. We plan to honor the space through ritual and ceremony in the years we have remaining on that campus. At the same time, we affirm the intention behind these changes: to nurture a stronger, more sustainable university that can serve future generations with depth and integrity.
Naropa’s work has always extended beyond academic achievement into cultivating resilience, compassion, and the capacity for transformation—within ourselves and in the world we serve. This mission guides us through uncertainty and change.
As part of our commitment to these values, Naropa recently joined a national coalition of colleges and universities protecting academic freedom and resisting government overreach in higher education. By endorsing the AAC&U Statement of Principles, we reaffirm our dedication to intellectual exploration, institutional autonomy, and higher education’s essential role in a democratic society.
The commitment to our mission also continues as we prepare for new presidential leadership. After President Chuck Lief’s devoted 13 years of presidential service—and a remarkable 50 years of dedication to Naropa in total—we are excited to welcome Dr. Paul Burkhardt as our next president. Dr. Burkhardt brings significant experience in higher education leadership, including his roles as Provost at the University of Olivet and Executive Vice President and Provost at Prescott College, where he championed inclusive group processes that reinforce the power of shared governance and introduced innovations in experiential learning and sustainable practices. His deep understanding of transformative education align perfectly with Naropa’s mission. As we transition to this next chapter of Naropa’s legacy, we do so with gratitude for President Lief’s leadership and excitement for the fresh perspectives Dr. Burkhardt will bring. See the announcement here.
As we move forward together, may we continue to grow with open hearts, steady vision, and a shared commitment to the values that unite us.
