Faculty Senate formally adopts changes to constitution

Faculty Senate has officially approved proposed changes to the Faculty Senate Constitution.

During Faculty Council’s Nov. 21 meeting, held via Zoom, Faculty Council Chair Alastair Norcross called the response from Faculty Senate members a healthy one, with over 1,000 votes for approval received. Generally, CU faculty with an appointment of 0.5 FTE or greater are voting members of the Faculty Senate; eligibility is detailed in the current Faculty Senate Constitution.

The changes will take effect in January.

A significant change to the Constitution is the revision of the Faculty Council’s current officer structure. Along with the current positions of chair and past chair, the governance group is adding the position of chair-elect, who succeeds the chair at the conclusion of the chair’s term.

Faculty Council also began looking ahead to its next in-person retreat, which is being planned for the spring. Norcross said one topic worth discussing is the council’s current committee structure, and whether consolidation might improve committee member recruitment and retention. The council currently has seven committees.

Faculty Council also voted in favor of a motion calling for Norcross to add his name and signature, on behalf of the council, to a joint letter from faculty leaders at institutions across the state to the Colorado Department of Higher Education. The draft letter – which faculty governance leaders from CU Boulder, UCCS and CU Denver had previously signed on to – expresses concerns about reduced-credit bachelor’s degree programs potentially being allowed under state law.

The next Faculty Council meeting is scheduled for noon-3 p.m. Jan. 30.