November 2025

UCCS Faculty Representative Assembly Meeting

Friday November 14, 2025

 

Attendance:  David Havlick (chair), Joel Tonyan (past chair), Emily Mooney (incoming chair), Kylie Rogalla (secretary), David Moon, Laura Austin-Eurich, Suzanne Cook, Dylan Harris, Robert Mitchell, Carole Woodall, Evan Taparata, Emily Skop, Jennifer Kling, Mikayla Saxon, Markus Moeder-Chandler, Roxy Rosenthal, David Anderson, Natasha Smith-Holmquist, Jennifer Zohn, Karin Larkin, Birgitta de Pree, Rhonda Glazier, Julie Torres, Joseph Lee, Douglas Risser, Jian Ma, Suzanne Cook, Catherine Simmons, Rebecca Wood, Rosely Conz, Emily Mooney, Suman Lakkakula, Marina, Gordon Stringer, Paul Yankey, Dylan Harris, Jena McCollum, Darshika G. Perera, David Weiss, Cerian Gibbes, Angela Bender, Carole Woodall, Evan Taparata, Jeff Montez de Oca,

 

Call to Order / Approval of Minutes

Motion to approve October 2025 Minutes

            Moved by: Emily Mooney

            Seconded by: Dylan Harris

            Motion passes 

 

Reports of Visitors:

Lynn Vidler, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs 

  • Emphasized importance of CWC survey participation, especially for Faculty Leadership Development Academy alumni. 

  • Discussed multi-year contracts:  

    • Intended for associate teaching professors and above with demonstrated excellence. 

    • Requires college-level policy and process; recommended by chair, approved by Dean, signed by Provost. 

    • Provides job security but carries financial obligations; cautious implementation amid budget planning. 

    • One-year contracts considered as an option for stability in programs with enrollment uncertainty. 

    Clarified interaction between Faculty Responsibility Statements (FRS) and differentiated workload policy. 

    Explained administrative replacement process: All hires go through RTF (Request to Fill) and Position Review Committee; faculty lines also follow this process. 

    Academic Freedom Update:  

    • Addressed national cases and state-level legislation concerns. 

    • Campus plans to create an academic freedom resource page with reporting mechanisms.  

    • Encouraged faculty to report harassment or challenges through proper channels. 

    • Task force exploring educational workshops and role-playing scenarios. Expect more programming for spring 2026 

    Discussed tension between DEI criteria and federal compliance:  

    • No removal of DEI-related activities; focus on avoiding preference based on protected class status. 

    • Compliance review driven by federal funding requirements. 

 

Jennifer Sobanet, Chancellor

  • Urged completion of CWC survey; highlighted food insecurity concerns and Clyde’s Good Fight initiative.
  • Board of Regents Update:  
    • Tuition tables approved; legislative process underway for implementation in Fall 2026.
  • Major Announcements:  
    • Guaranteed admission for Colorado students with GPA ≥ 2.75.
    • Expanded concurrent enrollment opportunities; matching community college rates.
    • Launch of Air Force ROTC Detachment 105A in August 2026.
  • Promoted Differentiator survey and upcoming campus events (athletics, theater, arts).
  • Enrollment Management VC search: Two candidates interviewed; decision expected in December.
  • Shape
  • Announced TRIO Grant from U.S. Department of Education:  
    • Supports first-generation, low-income, and students with disabilities.
    • Five-year grant; staffing includes director, program managers, graduate assistants.
    • Recruitment of student participants underway; program launch planned for Spring 2026. 

 

Robin Parent, Vice Chancellor of Strategic Initiatives & Chief of Staff 

  • National Mental Health Awareness Week: An email was sent out earlier this week with resources available to everyone.
  • Federal Update: The government is till shut down and layoffs are starting to happen. Military checks will not be going out next week which will have a major affect on colleagues and students. Please keep that in mind.
  • Differentiator Project: We have had over 150 individuals join us in our focus groups. We are still going through that data so that we can make an analysis. There is also a survey that was created for those that were not able to join one of the focus groups. This survey is built off of the same questions from the focus group. This survey will close on Oct. 15th. We will then take that information and polish it into something by mid-December.
  • Faculty Listserv Policy: The Faculty-l policy hasn't been updated since 2017. There are three different list-servs and both the student and staff polies have been updated. This happened over the summer and we wanted to make sure that the policy for faculty-l was done when faculty were here so it was delayed until this semester. Greg Williams is leading the work on the policy to get it reviewed and updated. One of the major things that will be reviewed is what the best way to post things is going to be. For example, the staff have decided that Jenna Press will be reviewing submissions and deciding if it would be better posted somewhere else. At this point, we are looking at who want to be on the committee to review that policy and help make sure that it is in line with APS and that there are appropriate rules to have on the listserv. Greg will be reaching out to get that committee together.
  • Military Students Stop Gap: This is a fund of money from financial aid to help support our military students if they have an interruption in benefits or pay. It is a 0% interest load that will be required to be paid back 2 months after pay/benefits are resumed. You can reach out to Jevita with any questions on this opportunity. 

 

Emily Skop, Interim Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs

  • Shared background and transition into interim role; emphasized collaborative vision-setting for the new Office of Faculty Affairs.
  • Key Responsibilities:  
    • Establishing the Office: Co-created vision, governance, and transparent processes.
    • Compliance: Overseeing reappointment, promotion, tenure, IRC and PTF processes; ensuring alignment with PRR and grievance policies.
    • Faculty Development: Focus on research, teaching, service, and leadership; supporting department chairs and mentoring initiatives.
    • Academic Policy & Administration: Serving as delegate for policy creation and revisions; engaging with Faculty Assembly committees and campus groups.
    • Professional Rights & Responsibilities: Implementing PRR, managing grievances, and supporting comprehensive dean reviews.
  • Announced hiring of Faculty Director for Office of Faculty Affairs – Jennifer Poe; plans for IRC Fellow position in January.
  • Discussed survey results (qualitative data) and next steps for focus groups and coding themes.
  • Funding for the office comes from CU President’s Office; role is compliance-driven for risk management.
  • Invited faculty to engage and provide input; emphasized commitment to transparency and collaboration.  

Reports of Officers:

Report of the Chair – David Havlick

  • Raised concerns about declining campus food services and impact on student life; discussions with Auxiliary Services ongoing.
  • Additional UBAC meeting scheduled in December for budget discussions.
  • Faculty communications committee forming; seeking volunteers.
  • Proposed changes to meeting record retention: Teams recordings kept for one month, then deleted; minutes distilled for public posting. 

 

Report of the Chair-Elect – Emily Mooney

  • Nothing New to Report

 

Report of the Past-Chair – Joel Tonyan

  • Nothing New to Report

 

Committee Reports

Representative Reports

  • No New Reports

 

Unfinished Business

PRR document awaiting Chancellor and legal sign-off; grievance policy contingent on PRR approval vote. 

 

New Business

  1. Faculty Experience Survey Update (Angela Bender):  
    1. Completion rate increased to 77%; goal is near 100%.
    2. Data will inform faculty pay ranges and compensation recommendations.
  2. Resolutions:  
    1. Mutual Defense Resolution: Faculty Assembly voted to support statement that an attack on one Colorado campus is considered an attack on all; commitment to solidarity and potential resource sharing.
    2. Compact for Higher Education Resolution: Faculty Assembly voted to urge CU leadership not to sign federal compact agreements perceived as loyalty oaths.
  3. Presenter: Jeff Montez de Oca
    1. Explained longstanding gap in UCCS policy for addressing faculty grievances not covered by OIE, research misconduct, or academic freedom policies.
    2. Proposed policy establishes grievance rights and a clear process for redress:  
      1. Informal Resolution at unit level.
      2. College-Level Process if unresolved.
      3. Formal Grievance filed with Faculty Assembly Grievance Committee.
      4. FAGC Recommendation to Provost after review and deliberation.
      5. Appeal Option if grievance remains unsatisfied.
    3. Emphasized faculty-centered approach and alignment with Professional Rights and Responsibilities (PRR).
    4. Noted connection to PRR: faculty sanctioned under PRR can appeal.
    5. Vote on policy deferred until PRR receives final approval. 

Motion to Adjourn

Carole Woodall motioned to end the meeting; Laura Austin-Eurich seconded; passed.  

Next meeting: Friday, December 12, 2025, 12:00-2:00 pm in Hyflex Format; TBD or MS Teams