Regents roundup

A CU-Boulder proposal to change Women and Gender Studies from a program to a department was approved by the CU Board of Regents at its Tuesday meeting by a vote
of 7-1.

Regent Sue Sharkey voted against the change, saying it could set a precedent for other programs to request department status. Regent Stephen Ludwig did not attend the meeting.

The move from a program to a department is – and will remain – cost neutral, Provost Russell Moore told the board. The board had previously discussed the proposal at its April meeting.

In other business at Tuesday’s meeting at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus:

• By acclamation, the board re-elected Regent Kyle Hybl, R-Colorado Springs, as chair and Regent Irene Griego, D-Lakewood, as vice chair, for the coming year.
• The board approved appointments to the University of Colorado Hospital Board – Don Biester and Steve Meyer – and to the University of Colorado Health Board of Directors – Richard Monfort, Tim Travis, Mary Rhinehart and Ray Baker.  These are the first terms for Biester and Meyer, whose approvals will require the advice and consent of the state Senate. Monfort, Travis and Rhinehart have served on the board since July 2012; Baker has served since January 2015.  The four were appointed by the UCHA Board of Directors.
• Kris Gutierrez – professor of Educational Psychology and Learning Sciences (EPSY) and Literacy in the School of Education at CU-Boulder – was recognized by the board as one of CU’s Distinguished Professors for 2014. Illness prevented her from attending the meeting, where her achievements were praised by Regent Sue Sharkey and CU-Boulder Chancellor Phil DiStefano.
• The board passed resolutions of appreciation for two outgoing governance group leaders: Faculty Council Chair Laura Borgelt and Intercampus Student Forum Chair Scott Cao. The board also recognized and thanked interim Staff council Chair Tricia Strating. Click here to see photos of them from the meeting. The board also was introduced to the incoming governance group leaders: Faculty Council Chair John McDowell, Staff Council Chair Denise Thomas and Intercampus Student Forum Chair Chelsea Mitchell.
• Academic leaders at two campuses presented proposals for three new degrees: master of science in athletic training (UCCS), bachelor of arts in inclusive elementary education (UCCS) and master of arts in Russian studies (CU-Boulder). The board is expected to vote on them at an upcoming meeting.

– Cathy Beuten and Jay Dedrick