April 2015
April 2015
FACULTY REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY MEETING
April 10, 2015
Attendance: Pam Shockley-Zalabak, Mary Coussons-Read, Susan Szpyrka, Monique French, Joe Postell, Mandi Elder, Mark Malone, Rhonda Glazier, Margaret Harris, Susan Finke, Peggy Beranek, Morgan Shepherd, Bita Rivas, Monica Yoo, Pam Carter, Rebecca Webb, Curt Holder, Lisa Hines, Cerian Gibbes, Karen Livesey, Stephanie Spratt, Stephany Spaulding, Norah Mazel, Minette Church, Dave Anderson, Emilie Vrbancic
Call to Order / Approval of Minutes:
Motion to approve the minutes from March 13, 2015 meeting by Joe Postell
Seconded by Norah Mazel
Motion passed with 20 in favor, 0 opposed and 2 abstentions
Reports of Visitors:
Pam Shockley-Zalabak, Chancellor:
Legislative update - the Long Bill is close to being closed out in a couple of weeks. There has been somewhat of a power struggle with the stakeholders to get the last $20 million into the bill for the higher ed budget, but it did pass after much deliberation. At this point, we should be getting about a $2 million increase, but we will need to give $1.5 million back next year, so we will do one-time needed projects. Our tuition package is set at 3.5%, which is the lowest in the state. This is good for the students, but not so good for a growing campus. The Board of Regents approved a 3% compensation pool and we will have more flexibility than in the past with our internal budget process. The Regents are also working on trying to compensate the classified staff. Overall the budget status is encouraging.
Mary Coussons-Read, Provost:
Kraemer Family Library Faculty Advisory Committee is hosting a Happy Hour Mixer with newer faculty on Friday, April 17, 3pm - 4:30pm in the 3rd Floor Apse to get their feedback on the library's success-ability in meeting their classroom and research needs. The Board of Regents will be meeting next week to approve the new Master of Science in Accounting degree and possibly the new Bachelor of Science in Engineering Education degree. The Master of Science in Athletic Training degree and the BA in Early Childhood Education degree will be advanced for the regents' approval next time. The new University Studies program is a collaboration between Academic Affairs and Student Success and will start in the Fall. We are using existing courses and have been meeting with the colleges to inform them about this program. Online Education is moving forward. Current resources are not being diverted to online; there will be money directed to online. There have been three Dean searches initiated this academic year. We have a new COE Dean in place, a final candidate determined for the SPA Dean, and the Library Dean search is underway. We are working on establishing course offerings at the South Denver campus that will make sense. Finally, a reminder about Commencement on Friday, May 15 at the Broadmoor World Arena; I hope that most of our faculty will be attending.
Susan Szpyrka, Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance:
We are finalizing the fiscal year 2015-16 budget. The student fees and program/course fees were approved. The Board of Regents are looking very closely at fees and they will be more challenging to pass. There will be a campus-based audit as well as an internal system audit of fees to see what's being spent and what it is being spent on. Housing rates are going up no more than 4%. There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony in August for Alpine Valley, which will open 292 beds in the Fall. New classrooms will be coming on line in the Fall - another suite of rooms similar to Breckenridge. We will try to do an upgrade of Breckenridge maybe in 2016. We are searching for a Recreation Center Director and University Center Director. Megan Bell is being promoted and changing positions to one which will focus on the merge of student life and academic life, and also bridge the Family Development Center. Digital Measures is still in process and going well. It should be ready for use after May 2015. The HR system is changing and should be ready to roll out in November 2015. The JobsatCU program will experience the biggest impact of this change.
Officer Reports:
Vice-President's Report
Elections completed
Past President's Report
No report; please help fill the open committee positions
Reports from Standing Committees:
Personnel & Benefits:
No report
Faculty Minority Affairs Committee
Women's Committee
Spring workshop is scheduled for 4/24, 9:30am - 11:30am at Heller
Library:
Not present - no report
Intercollegiate Athletics:
Not present - no report
Sustainability:
Not present - no report
PRIDE:
Not met yet this month; there will be a system-wide GLBT symposium at UCCS in November
Misconduct in Research, Scholarship & Creative Activities:
Not present - no report
OLD BUSINESS
None
NEW BUSINESS
- Representatives' Reports - none
Adjournment:
Motion to adjourn the Faculty Assembly Meeting by Pam Carter
Seconded by Mandi Elder
Motion passed unanimously
Meeting adjourned at 1:05 p.m.