Expanded tuition waiver benefit could be in place summer 2012

University of Colorado leadership continues to develop a plan to expand the tuition waiver benefit throughout the system, with a target of summer 2012 for implementing the revised policy.

E. Jill Pollock, senior associate vice president and chief human resources officer, presented an update on the matter at Faculty Council’s Aug. 25 meeting at 1800 Grant St. in Denver.

Pollock said the plan is to expand the benefit to include eligible dependents of faculty and staff, which is the recommendation the Faculty Council passed in a motion in March. The idea of expanding the benefit from nine credits to 12 or more had been discussed, but the ongoing down economy is limiting further expansion at this time, she said.

“When the economy gets a little better, then we can talk about some of your other ideas,” Pollock told the council. “But we think this is a good first effort.”

In other business at the meeting:

• Risa Heywood, system health program manager, presented a preview of the university’s new wellness program, which will be rolled out this fall and winter. She said she hopes for participation of 30 percent to 50 percent of faculty and staff in the upcoming health assessment.
• Melinda Piket-May, chair of the new communication committee, updated the council on meetings over the summer with members of University Relations, and progress in improvements to CU Connections, formerly the Faculty and Staff Newsletter. Ken McConnellogue, Jay Dedrick and Cathy Beuten of University Relations also spoke and presented changes and improvements to the website.
• Faculty Council Administrator Tricia Strating presented the recently redesigned website for the council. Faculty Council Chair Mark Malone noted that a new addition lists all current vacancies for committee positions, and encouraged campus representatives to participate.
• Malone announced the schedule for meetings with campus assemblies for the purpose of discussing the university’s policy regarding severance pay for dismissed faculty: University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Sept. 9; University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Sept. 27; University of Colorado Denver, Oct. 4; University of Colorado Boulder, Oct. 6. Malone said he aims to have the final faculty recommendation ready to present by November; the Board of Regents set a deadline in advance of its January 2012 meeting, when it plans to hear the matter.
• Malone also noted that the council’s annual retreat is set for Sept. 8 at Maggiano’s Little Italy in Greenwood Village.
• R L Widmann said the Educational Policy and University Standards (EPUS) Committee plans to take up discussion of a possible systemwide Administrative Policy Statement regarding use of social media.
• Jerry Peterson, chair of the Boulder Faculty Assembly, said he has invited the heads of faculty government at CU-Boulder’s new sister institutions in the Pac-12 to meet in Boulder on Oct. 15 to discuss best practices.