Staff Council answers call for feedback on Speaker of the House’s proposal

After compiling comments from University of Colorado Staff Council (UCSC) and individual campus council members, UCSC council chair Ryan Untisz late last month delivered the feedback to Colorado Speaker of the House KC Becker, who is considering legislation that would change the way members of the university’s Board of Regents are elected.

Untisz reviewed the comments he provided to Becker with UCSC members during their March 19 meeting.

Becker had requested the feedback so that she could determine how the potential legislation would affect university staff members. The draft bill would establish an advisory council to recommend candidates for open regent seats. A joint legislative committee would then review the council’s recommendations and select two candidates for each vacancy. The General Assembly would then elect one candidate to hold the seat on the board.

Currently, regents are elected by voters.

Untisz said the comments he sent to Becker include:

• Concerns that the legislation might change the relationship that had been built between UCSC and the regents.
• A suggestion that language be added to the legislation that would prohibit consideration of political affiliation.

Given that initial discussion of the bill took place before the COVID-19 crisis, it is unclear if it will remain an issue, particularly with the Legislature’s altered schedule.

In other business, the council agreed that future meetings would be conducted via video to comply with social distancing as prescribed by the university and state officials.

Members also discussed the rescheduled Professional Development Day and Recognition Lunch. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the event has been moved to Sept. 25, instead of the original April date. One of the highlights of the event is recognizing recipients of Staff Excellence Awards. Nominations already received will be scored using a rubric developed by UCSC; council members also discussed whether it would be appropriate to accept more nominations prior to the event.