March 2014

FACULTY REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY MEETING

March 14, 2014

Attendance: Pam Shockley-Zalabak, David Moon, Mandi Elder, Michele Companion, Monique Dooley, Craig Elder, Tom Zwirlein, Vicki Brownrigg, Peggy Beranek, Morgan Shepherd, Barbara Frye, Monica Yoo, Pam Carter, Rebecca Webb, Valerie Brodar, Suzanne Cook, Lisa Hines, Roger Martinez, Sonja Tanner, Norah Mazel, Anna Kosloski, Christina Martinez, Stephany Spaulding, Minette Church, Jackie Berning
 

Call to Order / Approval of Minutes:

Motion to approve the minutes from February 14, 2014 meeting by Pam Carter
Seconded by Morgan Shepherd
Motion passed unanimously with 0 opposed and 0 abstentions
 

Reports of Visitors:

Pam Shockley-Zalabak, Chancellor:
We will probably get the revenue rewrite of the state budget on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. The Regents are meeting on Friday to set tuition and compensation levels. There is a 3% merit and a 3-1/2% tuition increase requested. If there is a 0% tuition increase, initiatives would not happen. If there is a 2.9% increase, that will be deceptively difficult to argue against. For the state of Colorado, we have a 2-year 6% cap for tuition but with only a 1-year increase in state funding, and the effects will show up in the next budget year. There is a potential bill in the legislature to change the higher ed funding formula in a way that would reduce UCCS' state funding. Funding formula in statute is something new and concerning. It has come through the CCHE previously. It appears that the smaller schools and community colleges would benefit from this; it needs to be negotiated carefully. It is enrollment based rather than outcome based and we would dramatically feel this change. Luckily, we're financially stable and growing and not as dependent on state money. We will top 11,000 applications for Fall this week. We keep attracting increasingly excellent students. Funding for VAPA is progressing well. The City for Champions Sports & Performance Center is moving forward and the Lane Center is open and running. The Men's Basketball team is in the Division II tournament at Metro this weekend. The good news is that we are financially stable and can make it work if we need to.

David Moon, Vice Provost:
The Vice President for Academic Affairs in Research (VPAAR) position will be vacant because Kathleen Bollard is returning to faculty in Denver. A search will be starting soon. Everything was in on time with the Prioritization process. Leadership Team will look at all the results from all 9 teams and they will resolve any discrepancies or issues and be ready to present to the Board of Regents at the end of April. It will be presented to the campus first for discussion at a campus forum on April 21. It will be a positive value in understanding programs across campus. Measures will be refined. The narratives added a lot to the quantitative piece. There was a lot of convergence. A question was asked about whether this information will be used for budget allocation. In the end, there should be more than 1 person looking at requests.
 

Officer Reports:

President's Report
Attended the Colorado Faculty Advisory Committee and more permanent UCCS representation is needed with GT Pathways in ensuring consistent coursework competency in all higher ed - they are working on Math and English now.

Vice-President's Report

Past President's Report
Not present - no report
 

Reports from Standing Committees:

EPUS

Personnel & Benefits

Budget Advisory Committee

Faculty Minority Affairs Committee

Women's Committee:
The Spring workshop is on the morning of April 4.

Non-Tenure Track Faculty

Academic Computing:
Not present - no report

Library:
Not present - no report

Intercollegiate Athletics

Sustainability

PRIDE:
Not present - no report

Misconduct in Research, Scholarship & Creative Activities:
Not present - no report
 

OLD BUSINESS

None

NEW BUSINESS

• Motions:
   
  • Motion 1:
    The Faculty Assembly Executive Committee moves that the following proposed campus standard for Latin Honors be approved:
    
    Proposed campus standard:
    To qualify for Latin Honors, a student must complete a minimum of 60 credit hours at the University of Colorado. Cum laude will be achieved by obtaining a University of Colorado (CU) grade point average (GPA) of 3.50-3.69. Magna cum laude will be achieved by obtaining a CU GPA of 3.70-3.89. Summa cum laude will be achieved by obtaining a CU GPA of 3.90 or higher.
    (Motion to postpone till April FRA meeting by Sonja Tanner; seconded by Roger Martinez; passed with 8 in favor, 0 opposed and 13 abstentions)
  • Motion 2:
    The Educational Policy and University Standards Committee of the Faculty Representative Assembly requests that Faculty Representative Assembly approve the following changes to the adding and dropping of courses:
     
    • Recommend that students can only add courses through the first week of courses without approval. After the first week students need instructor approval and dean at some later time in the semester.
      (Currently students can add courses up through census date without approval. After census date, they need instructor approval and at some time need dean approval.)
    • Recommend that students can drop courses through student portal to the 10th week; no approval for dropping needed. After this, the student would need instructor and dean approval.
      (Currently students can drop courses up through census date without approval. Then through census date and 10th week need instructor approval. After 10th week, need instructor and dean approval.)
    (Motion passed with 15 in favor, 1 opposed and 5 abstentions)
  • Motion 3:
    The Educational Policy and University Standards Committee of the Faculty Representative Assembly requests that Faculty Representative Assembly approve the redistribution of current Student Achievement Assessment Committee responsibilities to the Academic Planning Committee and Graduate Executive Committee. (See Attachment A in blue font)
    (Motion passed with 20 in favor, 0 opposed and 1 abstention)
  • Motion 4:
    The Educational Policy and University Standards Committee of the Faculty Representative Assembly requests that Faculty Representative Assembly approve the addition of new responsibilities and membership for the Academic Planning Committee and Graduate Executive Committee. (See Attachment A in red font)
    (Motion passed with 20 in favor, 0 opposed and 1 abstention)
  • Motion 5:
    The Educational Policy and University Standards Committee of the Faculty Representative Assembly requests that Faculty Representative Assembly approve the dissolution of the Student Achievement Assessment Committee.
    (Motion passed with 20 in favor, 0 opposed and 1 abstention)
     

Adjournment:

Motion to adjourn the Faculty Assembly Meeting by Monique Dooley
Seconded by Pam Carter
Motion passed unanimously
Meeting adjourned at 1:51 p.m.