March

Board of Trustees discuss issues important to you

Civic engagement, a Faculty Senate resolution, and turning up the HEaT were all topics at the recent meeting of University leaders.

By Cory Phare

March 14, 2017

The MSU Denver Board of Trustees met on Thursday, March 9, and Friday, March 10, in the Student Success Building. Board committee meetings were on Thursday, and an executive session followed by the standard business meeting took place Friday.

Mark Potter, Ph.D., associate vice president for Undergraduate Studies, detailed the successful civic and community engagement undertaken by the University. Potter outlined the demonstrable outcomes of efforts like service learning and supplementing survey data with narratives of both individual and community impact.

MSU Denver President Stephen Jordan then invited Steve Kriedler, vice president of Administration, Finance and Facilities; Vicki Golich, provost and vice president of Academic and Student Affairs; and John Burtness, vice president of University Advancement and president and chief executive officer of the MSU Denver Foundation to outline the financial and academic plans for creating the Hospitality, Event and Tourism (HEaT) school at MSU Denver, which is proposed to be housed within the College of Professional Studies.

• Golich and Jordan detailed the history of the initiative, along with the difference between schools and colleges at MSU Denver.
• Kriedler and Burtness outlined the financial situation and logistics necessary to continue advancing the plan.
• Carol Krugman, chair of the Department of Hospitality, Tourism and Events, also addressed the board about the phased evolution plan from one major to four and eventual department establishment.

The board will discuss specifics in-depth in upcoming committee meetings and will consider the proposal at the May meeting.

Jordan then delivered the President’s Report, highlighting:

• The Regency Athletic Complex’s inclusion in a tourism hall of fame award from Visit Denver
• The One World One Water Center for Urban Water Education and Stewardship’s receipt of a $200,000 grant from the Sprout Foundation
• Trustee and MSU Denver faculty member Kenn Bisio’s project of showcasing student artwork in the fourth floor SSB hallway

Jordan also discussed legislative efforts, including meeting with a Department of Higher Education representative, an upcoming visit to Washington, D.C., with MSU Denver contingents to advocate on behalf of the University, and the MSU Denver Champions program.

Trustee Elaine Gantz Berman detailed:

• Academic and Student Affairs Committee efforts, including faculty emeritus and sabbatical recommendations
• Phase one review processes for non-degree clusters of music programs
• Graduate programs in cyber security and clinical behavioral health care (with an addiction concentration)
• The discontinuation of the biology major/medical technology concentration and modern languages’ German concentration

All proposals were passed unanimously.

Matt Makley, Faculty Senate president and History Department faculty member, thanked the board members for their recent attendance during senate proceedings. The board reciprocated the appreciation and advocated for continued connection. Makley briefly updated the group on initiatives such as:

• The summative review process
• Enacting a general studies moratorium
• Examination of summer pay procedures

Makley also elaborated on the Faculty Senate’s resolution affirming support to all students, specifically noting commitment to vulnerable populations, including undocumented students, and acknowledging alignment with the University’s public statements on the topic. Jordan and other board members expressed their appreciation for the faculty’s advocacy for the entire student population.