March

Faculty Senate update

Advancement collaboration, emergency preparedness and instructional qualifications among topics at March 14 meeting.

By Cory Phare

March 19, 2018

MSU Denver’s Faculty Senate met March 14, with registrar James Tisdale announcing a proposed reduction to the number of days a student has to add a class without an instructor’s approval. Presently MSU Denver allows 13 days, while the new policy would change that to six days.

Tisdale said the change was to ensure that students are set up for success; they can still register beyond this time frame with instructor approval, however.

Dino Hernandez, vice president of University Advancement and executive director of the MSU Denver Foundation, was another guest of the Senate who detailed a “very busy first six months on the job.”

Hernandez outlined the department’s reorganization and substantial growth to cap off 2017, which he attributed to a donor-centric approach of relationship-building. By expanding teams, focusing on philanthropic opportunities from public-private partnership and taking development on the road with school-focused training, he highlighted the team’s early successes: Cash and pledges are at 70 percent of their goal, with alumni donor growth at 78 percent and engaged alumni at 99 percent.

“All ships rise with the tide,” Hernandez said. “We’re here to serve you; the successes we’re seeing wouldn’t be possible without a strong faculty.”

Matt Makley, professor of history and Faculty Senate president, echoed those sentiments.

“These are the symptoms of a growing University,” he said. “We’re definitely on the rise.”

Building on the emergency-preparedness conversations from the Spring Update and recent President’s Cabinet meeting, Brian Bagwell, associate professor of human services, detailed how the University is looking for more faculty training to deal with campus incidents. Those interested in learning more about efforts such as community emergency response teams or CPR trainings should email Bagwell.

“First-responders won’t be there right away,” he said. “It’ll be folks like us stepping up where we can – that’s where the basic education pays off in case something happens.”

Other items included:

• David Kottenstette, professor of speech communications, invited faculty to apply to the Faculty Advisory Committee to the Auraria Board. The nonvoting member of the tri-institutional group provides insight into such efforts as forming architectural standards and receives a free parking pass; those interested should email Kottenstette.
• Jo Bailey, associate professor of social work and Faculty Senate vice president, led the second reading of the amendment to clarify Americans with Disabilities Act accommodation requests in conjunction with the MSU Denver Access Center.
• Jean-Francois Duclos, assistant professor of French and chair of the Curriculum Committee, noted the modification of two courses: EDU 4011 (altering a senior experience course) and CJC 4700 (removing Banner enforcement restrictions).
• Jessica Weiss, assistant professor in the Department of Art and chair of the Academic Policies Committee, detailed her work with Chad Harris, associate vice president for curriculum and academic effectiveness, to define instructional qualification policies; Makley added, “We’ve got a friend in (Harris’ office) – it’s not a compliance issue but aimed at helping improve the student experience with us as experts.” The second reading of the policies will take place at the next Faculty Senate meeting April 4.