September 2014

FACULTY REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY MEETING

September 12, 2014
 

Attendance: Mary Coussons-Read, David Moon, Martin Wood, Tom Hutton, Susan Szpyrka, Michele Companion, Joe Postell, Mark Malone, Tom Zwirlein, Rhonda Glazier, Margaret Harris, Peggy Beranek, Bita Rivas, Monica Yoo, Pam Carter, Josh Dunn, Suzanne Cook, Curt Holder, Lisa Hines, Cerian Gibbes, Al Schoffstall, Karen Livesey, Stephanie Spratt, Anna Kosloski, Stephany Spaulding, Norah Mazel, Barbara Prinari
 

Call to Order / Approval of Minutes:

Motion to approve the minutes from May 9, 2014 meeting by Norah Mazel
Seconded by Anna Kosloski
Motion passed unanimously with 17 in favor, 0 opposed and 0 abstentions

Reports of Visitors:

Pam Shockley-Zalabak, Chancellor:
Since the Chancellor was out of the country at the time of the meeting, she pre-recorded a video presentation for members of the Faculty Assembly to update them on current standings of UCCS and advise them of university business which occurred over the summer semester.
 

Martin Wood, Vice Chancellor for University Advancement:
An update was given on the City for Champions initiative, which was passed unanimously by the voters. This will start the process of establishing the Sports Medicine and Performance Center, which was contained in that package and which will be connected to the Lane Center. The role of Advancement has changed and the Foundation employees have been moved to the university. The relationship between the Foundation and the university was explained, whereby the Foundation holds all the money and the university works with the Foundation in order to receive the money. A record $7.4 million was received last year. The Chancellor and Leadership Team set the fundraising goals for the campus and the financial aid needs each year. The fundraisers work with the college deans in trying to attain those goals.
 

Mary Coussons-Read, Provost:
An update on Program Prioritization: at the next Board of Regents meeting at UCCS on November 19 - 20, the Chancellor will report back to the regents on actions we are taking. Any group falling under the Require Further Study category will need to develop an action plan. The Provost will be meeting with those groups to do strategic planning. Although there were some shortcomings in some of the data, the overall process was a good way to look at ourselves. Now we need to determine how we set goals and move forward; examine reallocation of resources within the department; find out what we can do more effectively; and develop strategic plans to meet those goals. The non-tenure track faculty multi-year contract has been through Leadership Team and the plan is to issue a limited number of them. We are also looking at doing Letters of Intent as a way to show support without holding money, which we are not capable of doing now. Be sure to have your non-tenure track faculty review the policy, which is out for review, and submit comments. Personnel & Benefits will also review the policy. The School of Public Affairs received their own independent accreditation recently and we are all very pleased with the hard work of the faculty and staff for that accomplishment. The first Coffee with the Provost will be held on Tuesday, October 7 at 8:00am in UC 302 and we hope many faculty and staff will be able to attend. Undergraduate Research is a topic we want to bring to the forefront of the campus and we are working on a Spring Retreat to detail the mechanics of that topic. There is a Grant Writing Workshop scheduled for Thursday, September 25 from 1pm - 4pm in UC 303 with a guest facilitator who is very accomplished in this process.
 

Susan Szpyrka, Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance:
We have an enrollment of 11,157 students, which is a 5.1% increase over last Fall. The Academic Office Building is now open and the new parking garage with field on top is almost done. The Village at Alpine Valley will open Fall 2015 along with the new dining hall. We are deep into the design phase of the new VAPA building and work should begin in Four Diamonds in the Spring. The Recreation Center expansion should be completed in October/November 2015. Human Resources is fully staffed for the first time in two years. We have 150 student employees in the new Food and Dining Services. The first UBAC meeting of this academic year is scheduled for next Thursday and we will be discussing multi-year budgeting. The HRMS system will be upgraded along with the Finance system. We are examining the capacity for growth with our facilities.

 

David Weiss, Compass Curriculum Director:
A Compass Curriculum update was given and changes reviewed. There are currently no transfer students in Compass Curriculum. The program has been integrated across all colleges. There will be a Faculty Development Workshop on Monday, September 15 from 2pm - 5pm and a second workshop on Sustainability on Friday, October 3 from 8:30am - 1pm. Grants to develop courses are available and the due date is October 15. Navigate and Sustainability courses are needed.
 

Officer Reports:

President's Report

Vice-President's Report
Not present - no report

Past President's Report
Not present - no report
 

Reports from Standing Committees:

EPUS:
Has not met yet

Personnel & Benefits:
Has not met yet

Budget Advisory Committee:
Has not met yet

Faculty Minority Affairs Committee:
No report

Women's Committee:
Has not met yet

Non-Tenure Track Faculty:
Has not met yet

Academic Computing:
Not present - no report

Library:
Not present - no report

Intercollegiate Athletics:
Not present - no report

Sustainability:
Not present - no report

PRIDE:
Not present - no report

Misconduct in Research, Scholarship & Creative Activities:
Not present - no report; members are needed
 

OLD BUSINESS

• 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. (Discussion involved concern for the impact to military students and the feeling that colleges should be able to set their own criteria. Therefore, a wording change was proposed to state: "a student must complete a minimum number of required credit hours as set forth by their college at the...."
  The change in wording motion was passed with 16 in favor, 0 opposed and 2 abstentions. With this change in wording, the motion passed with 16 in favor, 0 opposed and 2 abstentions).
   

NEW BUSINESS
 

• Motion 2:
  The Faculty Assembly Executive Committee moves to approve Barbara Frye to fill Julaine Field's position on the CU System Faculty Council. Julaine Field has been elected to a leadership position with the Faculty Council, and therefore, can no longer serve as a UCCS delegate to the council.
  (Motion passed with 18 in favor, 0 opposed and 1 abstention)
   

Adjournment:

Motion to adjourn the Faculty Assembly Meeting by Pam Carter
Seconded by Anna Kosloski
Motion passed unanimously
Meeting adjourned at 1:58 p.m.