The Metropolitan State University of Denver Faculty Senate has been asked to endorse a measure that would establish a council responsible for determining when University issues rise to the level of shared governance — processes in which faculty and staff members across campus participate jointly in policy development and decision-making.
The University formed a Shared Governance Enaction Working Group last semester to examine and streamline decision-making at MSU Denver and enhance communication between decision-makers and shared-governance bodies.
Jenny Allert, DNP, associate professor of Nursing and co-chair of the working group, presented the measure to the Faculty Senate during a Jan. 17 meeting. Allert recommended that the body approve language changes to an existing shared-governance policy that was approved by the Board of Trustees in 2019. But that document uses the words “policy” and “statement” interchangeably.
The proposed changes would clarify the language to make clear it is an official policy and would also establish the shared-governance council.
The Faculty Senate is expected to vote on the proposal Wednesday. The policy will head to the University Policy Advisory Committee for feedback and voting from University constituents in late February regardless of whether the Faculty Senate votes to endorse it.
Additional information
- Sen. Kim Klimek, Ph.D., associate professor of History, updated the body on a short curriculum report.
- EDU 3111 and EDU 3200 have been archived/deleted.
- Emily Ragan, Ph.D., associate professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, presented on Open Educational Resources and how faculty members can receive stipends for participating in workshops.
- Rosemarie Allen, Ed.D., associate professor of Early Childhood Education, has replaced Kelly Evans, Ph.D., associate professor of Sport Management, as the Faculty Senate parliamentarian.
- As part of the compensation-equity study, Garry Striker from Salary.com presented the possibility of a new compensation-benchmarking peer cohort to replace or enhance College and University Professional Association and adding a cost-of-labor/geographical-differential adjustment. Senators had the chance to provide feedback on the criteria and a list of peer institutions before the recommendations are finalized.
Up next
The Faculty Senate convenes again Wednesday at 3:20 p.m.