Senate President Liz Goodnick, Ph.D., associate professor of Philosophy, convened the Metropolitan State University of Denver Faculty Senate for its final meeting of the semester Dec. 6. 

Goodnick praised the incredible work of the Faculty Senate and thanked all senators for their participation. 

Liz Goodnick

“Thank you to everyone who served on the Faculty Senate this semester, especially those who served on committees and/or served as a chairperson of an executive committee,” said Goodnick. “Those (committees) are a heavy lift and where most of the real work gets done.” 

Receiving shoutouts for their efforts in working through many laborious proposals this semester were the Faculty Senate Curriculum Committee, the Ethnic Studies and Social Justice Committee and the General Studies Committee.  

The Staff Senate, the Faculty Leadership Team, the Office of Faculty Affairs and Provost Ad Interim Marie Mora, Ph.D., were also recognized for their ongoing support and efforts to increase collaboration, transparency and communication with the Faculty Senate. 

The Faculty Senate will return to its regularly scheduled meeting cadence Jan. 17.  

Provost update

Stepping in for Mora, Cath Kleier, Ph.D., associate vice president of Faculty Affairs, shared updates from the Office of Academic Affairs. Highlights included: 

  • Faculty workload – The deans have submitted their initial proposals for three-year differentiated faculty-workload implementation plans, which include budget implications. These proposals will be reviewed by the Faculty Workload Oversight and Implementation Advisory Committee this month.  
  • Enhancing shared governance – Academic Affairs budget hearings have been scheduled to receive feedback/input from stakeholders on fiscal 2025 budget requests before the list is narrowed by the Provost’s Office and sent to the Budget Office for review by the University Planning and Budget Advisory Committee.  
  • Professional development for deans – There have been discussions with President Janine Davidson, Ph.D., and Kleier about providing more professional and leadership development and support for department chairs. More to come about what’s in store for the 2024 Year of the Chair.  
  • Energage Survey – Deans and vice presidents are meeting with Human Resources to discuss the recent Energage Survey results and will develop action plans to address survey-result focus areas. Updates will be shared as plans are developed.  

Announcements

  • More than $40,000 was raised for Rowdy’s Corner through Roadrunner Tuesday. Thank you to all the senators who participated, and congratulations to the Staff Senate for winning the first-ever Faculty Senate/Staff Senate Rowdy’s Corner Challenge. 
  • The constitution changes regarding proxy voting that the Faculty Senate voted for went to a full-faculty vote and were approved. The motion has passed, and the Faculty Senate constitution will be changed to allow for proxy voting.  
  • For next semester, Rosemarie Allen, associate professor of Early Childhood Education, will step into the interim parliamentarian role and Bill Carnes, professor of Management, will be the interim Rules Committee chair. These roles have been split up for the interim positions only. If interested in the parliamentarian and Rules Committee chair position(s), email Goodnick. 
  • The Welfare Committee and its Affiliate Subcommittee have put together the new Affiliate Faculty resources website. Please share this information with your affiliate faculty members.  
  • The Workplace Equity Summit 2024 is scheduled for Feb. 8 at the Tivoli Student Union. Every year, the Classroom to Career Hub invites Auraria Campus students, faculty members, staff members and employer or community partners for a one-day opportunity to connect on topics related to workplace diversity, equity and inclusion. 
  • Reminder: The Plaza Building is scheduled to receive the planned Wi-Fi upgrade Saturday through Dec. 19. Faculty members with offices in Plaza should plan accordingly. The Student Health Center will be prioritized and will reopen Dec. 18. The rest of the building will not have a reliable network until Dec. 20. See more about the Plaza network upgrade, including what’s open and when.   
  • Next semester, there will be several proposed Handbook changes. These will be a priority for the spring semester. See the proposed Handbook changes, which are currently in draft form.

Quorum and minutes approval

Minutes from the Nov. 15 meeting were approved with 77 in favor, two in opposition and four abstaining.   

 

Curriculum Committee update

Curriculum Committee Chair Kim Klimek provided an overview of the proposals that the committee reviewed this semester, sharing information about proposals that were approved, rejected and approved without designation and service-learning courses. See the full list of proposals. 

Bylaws changes – Conduct of Senate Meetings – first read

The proposed technical changes will better align language with how Faculty Senate meetings are conducted.  

Second reads and votes  

The Senate reviewed five second-read proposals from the Academic Policy Committee and the Curriculum Committee and voted to approve four and oppose one. 

Approved:

Opposed:

Opposed: 

The rejected proposal will move to the Provost’s Office and then to the Board of Trustees for final approval.  

Up next  

View the Dec. 6 Faculty Senate recording.  

The next Faculty Senate meeting will be Jan. 17.