November 2016
November 2016
FACULTY REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY MEETING
November 11, 2016
Attendance: Pam Shockley-Zalabak, David Moon, Susan Szpyrka, Jennifer George, Steve Johnson, Barbara Prinari, Maja Krakowiak, Monique French, Norah Mazel, Andrea Hutchins, Tom Zwirlein, Rhonda Glazier, Jay Dawes, Kerry Peterson, Jill Bradley-Geist, Matt Metzger, Joe Wehrman, Lori Notestine, Jugal Kalita, Michelle Dorne, Suzanne Cook, Ann Amicucci, Stephen Carter, David Havlick, Leilani Feliciano, Kacey Ross, Christi Piper, Michael Landon-Murray, Sue Byerley, Monica Yoo, Kimbra Smith, Christine Robinson, Dave Anderson, Jackie Berning
Call to Order / Approval of Minutes:
Motion to approve the minutes from October 14, 2016 meeting by Stephen Carter
Seconded by Christi Piper
Motion passed with 18 in favor, 0 opposed and 1 abstention
Reports of Visitors:
Pam Shockley-Zalabak, Chancellor:
Unfortunately, there seems to have been some inappropriate behaviors occurring on campus lately, e.g., exclusionary language with others who have opposing views, and it seems to be more directed from, towards and with the students. Please be responsive and supportive to our individual students and remind them that different perspectives deserve equal and fair opportunity of tolerant expression. The CIO and Provost searches are coming to conclusion and we wanted to make an announcement before the arrival of the HLC site visit team, however, that would result in additional paperwork needing to be filed prior to their visit, so we're holding off on that news until after their departure. The additional syllabi review done by the faculty is appreciated. The HLC site team is looking for learning objectives and they might ask if we are really doing what we're saying we do with online and hybrid courses. They are also planning to review faculty credentials to ensure that we are checking them. We do know that all faculty are appropriately credentialed. The HLC site visit team comes in on Sunday and will be on campus Monday, 11/14 and Tuesday, 11/15. Some of their sessions have been moved, so be sure to check Communique for any updates. Communique will be the official schedule keeper of the HLC visit, so before you go to any sessions, remember to check on the time of each session to see if it has been changed or moved. We have another distinguished professor on campus - Zbigniew Celinski. There are only 87 CU distinguished professors of all time on all CU campuses and we have six of them - one in SPA, one in Anthropology, one in Business, one in Psychology and two in Physics. We are having a HLC exit party to celebrate everyone's hard preparation work for the site visit on Wednesday, 11/16 at 5pm at Clyde's. We did meet with the non-tenure track faculty concerning the compression issues and we will start those processes after the HLC visit.
David Moon, Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Education & Academic Planning:
Terry Schwartz is representing the campus and attending the Colorado OutReach Exchange (C.O.R.E.) Interagency Conference for the National Guard today and was unable to be here for the meeting. As the Chancellor has stated, be sure to check the HLC site visit schedule in Communique. There are three open meetings: 1) Monday, 11/14, 2:30pm - 3:30pm, UC 302, Faculty session, 2) Tuesday, 11/15, 9am - 10am, UC 302, Open session for criteria 1 & 2, and 3) Tuesday, 11/15, 10am - 11am, Open session for criteria 3 & 4. There is also an open forum for criterion 5 from 11am - 12pm, in UC 302 on Tuesday, 11/15. Please be sure you know what the criteria are and have reviewed them before you go, because the reviewers will ask questions and some may be open-ended.
Susan Szpyrka, Senior Vice Chancellor for Administration & Finance:
On 11/28/16, the men's basketball game will be played at home starting at 7:30pm, and there will be a First Responders recognition ceremony prior to the game in honor of Officer Garret Swasey, who was killed in the line of duty last year. There will be a Mountain Lion candlelight vigil held before the game and we would like to have a good showing, so please try to attend. In regards to the fiscal year '18 budget, the governor has released his recommendation for a 2.5% increase for classified staff (last year this recommendation went to -0-). We do try to compensate for this occurrence at CU, so we give the same percentage amount to all employees. The state revenues are there, but we do have to give it back to the taxpayers. We really don't know how this will all turn out. The tuition increase pays for the compensation increases if we don't get state support. There is also a benefits pool increase still to come in December. The system has approved a new position (Vice President of Diversity) and the salary for that position will be paid by all CU campuses. There is a taskforce reporting to the president on a pilot study regarding the intercampus employee tuition benefit, which is limited to $2400 per year (undergrad only) and which is recommended for a Fall 2017 rollout. The new ENT Center for the Arts will have a new centralized box office for campus events.
Jennifer George, Associate University Counsel:
Jennifer gave a presentation entitled: "Impact of Faculty Syllabus and Course Materials on Students with Disabilities" and answered any questions following the presentation.
Steve Johnson, Clinical Professor, Health Sciences:
Steve gave a presentation on the planning of the Sports Medicine and Performance Center, which will be located by the Lane Center and is projected to open December 2019.
Officer Reports:
Vice-President's Report
No report
Past President's Report
No report
Reports from Standing Committees:
Faculty Advisory Committee on the Budget
Faculty Minority Affairs Committee
Teaching with Technology
Also investigating new learning management system called Canvas - demos available 11/16/16; Blackboard Ultra demos being scheduled for 12/13/16
PRIDE:
Not present - no report
Misconduct in Research, Scholarship & Creative Activities:
Not present - no report
Reports from Representatives:
Conversation at Clyde's:
Wednesday, December 7, 3:00pm - 5:00pm; Norah Mazel and Monique French are the coordinators. A suggested topic might be to discuss support for students and faculty in difficult times.
Other items:
Some Regent laws are also being reviewed and you can go to their website to see which ones are under review.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None
NEW BUSINESS
Motion 1:
The Faculty Assembly Executive Committee moves that the revisions to Section II.D.1. of the Bylaws of the Faculty Assembly be approved as indicated in red type on the attached document.
(Motion passed with 22 in favor, 0 opposed and 1 abstention)
Background for Motions 2 and 3: Federal law previously allowed employees to make in-service withdrawals from 401(a) accounts (that is, withdrawals before retiring) starting at age 59 ½. As of January 1, 2017, the age of eligibility will increase to 62. As one method of dealing with the logistical issues that will be created by this change, the CU System is considering eliminating the option for employees to make these in-service withdrawals.
Motion 2:
The Faculty Assembly Executive Committee recommends that the Faculty Assembly consider and approve the following motion: "The UCCS Faculty Assembly recommends that the University of Colorado continues to allow in-service withdrawals from 401(a) accounts per federal laws governing this practice."
(Motion passed unanimously with 17 in favor, 0 opposed and 0 abstentions)
Motion 3:
The Faculty Assembly Executive Committee recommends that the Faculty Assembly consider and approve the following motion: "The UCCS Faculty Assembly recommends that the CU system Personnel and Benefits Committee develop an appropriate method to account for and determine allowable in-service withdrawals of 401(a) funds accrued pre and post January 1, 2017."
(Motion passed with 16 in favor, 1 opposed and 0 abstentions)
Adjournment:
Motion to adjourn the Faculty Assembly Meeting by Monique French
Seconded by Monica Yoo
Motion passed unanimously
Meeting adjourned at 2:10 p.m.