President's Report 2010-2011

University of Denver Faculty Senate

President’s Report

Academic Year July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2011

Introduction

The following report summarizes the activities of the Faculty Senate for the academic year ending on June 30, 2011. Overall, it was a good year. In addition to dealing with routine and one-time issues, the Senate adopted four stretch goals. There were no simmering issues left at the end of the year, although as detailed below, there is still work ahead of us. With respect to our four stretch goals, it can be said that we reached “the end of the beginning.” Further work will be accomplished under the Provost’s Academic Strategic Positioning Initiative as it unfolds. Thanks to all who participated in Senate activities in the past year: Senators, committee members and chairs, faculty at large, students, administrators, staff, and members of the Board of Trustees. We look forward to collaborating with all of you in a shared governance environment as DU engages with the interesting times that lie ahead for colleges and universities in the US and around the world.

Stretch Goals

In September, the Senate agreed to focus on four stretch goals. Committees made progress on each goal throughout the academic year and established plans for extending this work in the future, as outlined below.

EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING

Developing a faculty-led continuous improvement process in teaching and learning.  We want to be sure we have high expectations for our students, challenge them, emphasize analytical skills, critical thinking, and communication skills, and have a level of rigor in our classrooms that matches the ever-increasing capabilities of our students.  We made it clear that this is in no way intended to imply that we do not have many excellent teachers now, but simply to say that even the best can get better.  Departments focused on collectively achieving higher levels of performance are more likely to take advantage of the knowledge possessed by high-performing peers, of resources available in other campus units and the Center for Teaching and Learning, of the increasing options offered by educational technology, and of state-of-the-art initiatives at other universities.

The Academic Planning Committee worked on this initiative throughout the year and presented their “Teaching Excellence Initiative” (TEI) report to the Senate on May 27, 2011.  It was moved and seconded that the Senate “commend the Academic Planning Committee for its outstanding work in producing the Teaching Excellence Initiative report identifying several possible avenues for enriching the culture of teaching and consequent student learning on our campus; and that the Academic Planning Committee present the Teaching Excellence Initiative the to the Deans’ Council at their September meeting to initiate collaboration and support for implementation.”  The report is posted on the Senate website.  Support for the TEI was given in the final report of the Academic Strategic Positioning Committee on Faculty Hiring and Development.

We must continue to make progress in the coming year, as this is one of the most important strategic challenges facing the University in the current environment.  The Faculty Senate will support action initiatives that, in turn, support a culture of continuous improvement in teaching and learning, as well as appropriate recognition and rewards for high-performing individuals along the lines of what is currently done for research achievements.

Cosmopolitan Campus

Creating a more cosmopolitan campus was the second goal. The Senate received a report from the Vice Provost for Internationalization that his office had established an Internationalization Council, which will function similarly to the Undergraduate and Graduate Councils. Deans have been notified and are choosing faculty and administration representation from each school/division. One of the responsibilities of the Council will be to nurture the development of a more cosmopolitan campus. The cosmopolitan campus was also one of the goals reported out of the Academic Strategic Positioning Committee on Internationalization. There is, of course, a key role for faculty to play in supporting progress towards this goal.

Open Educational Resources

Increased adoption of Open Access (OA) and Open Educational Resources (OER) was the third goal.  The fall 2010 Provost’s Conference focused on this topic.  The conference was a success and succeeded in raising consciousness of the value of a more widespread acceptance of OA and OER at DU.   At the March 4, 2011 Senate meeting, Senators gave informal support to a suggestion that the Executive Committee draft statements on OA and OER for consideration by the full Senate.  (This action was postponed pending the outcome of recommendations by the Academic Strategic Positioning Committee on Technology.)   The Senate will move forward in the fall with ideas on how faculty can support increased adoption of OA and OER.

Interdisciplinary Scholarship

Increased support for Interdisciplinary Scholarship was the fourth goal.  Considerable progress was made last year on this goal, in particular the awarding of three $60,000 interdisciplinary research PROF grants.  We expect that continuing progress will made on the research side, but faculty must take the lead in encouraging and implementing more interdisciplinary classroom initiatives.

Additional 2010-2011 Issues and Activities 

In addition to promoting stretch goals, the Senate addressed a number of new issues and ongoing activities.

•  The Senate gave formal support to reopening the process by which the final configuration of the Academic Commons would be determined.  The process was reopened and a solution subsequently reached that effectively balanced the library access needs of a sub-set of the faculty with a general desire to accommodate more students in the new space.

• The Senate adopted a motion to re-examine the University’s tuition reimbursement policy to give consideration to providing tuition waivers to children of faculty in the event that a faculty member dies before children are old enough to enroll.

•  The Academic Planning Committee reviewed the process followed for the recent General Education revisions. A verbal report was given to the Senate and the report is posted on the Senate website.

•  The Senate adopted a revision to the Faculty Grievance Policy, which was subsequently approved by the University’s administration and Board of Trustees.

•  The Senate accomplished many important recurring tasks, such as:

o   Review of sabbatical applications

o   Review of nominations for faculty awards

o   Oversight of the administrator evaluation process

o   Participation in the selection of recipients for research awards

o   Participation on various university-wide committees

o   Communication with administration and the Board of Trustees

Reports and Forums 

Throughout the year, the Senate heard reports from others on ongoing activities across the campus.  Some were periodic reports mandated by the Senate Constitution (e.g. Faculty Review Committee, Athletic Director) while others were one-time reports on current issues as they arose.  The Provost reported to the Senate at every meeting.  Summaries of all reports are routinely incorporated in the Senate minutes.  For example, reports were presented by:

           

AAUP Chapter President

Associate Provost for Academic Programs

Associate Provost for Research

Athletic Director

Chairs, Academic Strategic Positioning Committees

Chair, Career Services Task Force

Chair, Distance Learning Council

Chair, Faculty Review Committee

Director, Bookstore

Director, Center for Teaching and Learning

Director, Human Resources

Director, Office of Assessment

Interim Associate Provost, Center for Multicultural Excellence

Vice Provost for Internationalization

The Senate also sponsored separate quarterly open forums with the Chancellor and Provost.  These have not been well attended.  The format needs to be evaluated to determine if there are better ways of assuring faculty access to senior administrators. 

Pending Business for 2011-2012

In the upcoming year, the Senate will continue to investigate and act on the following issues:

• Revision of the APT document
• Implementation of high-priority Academic Strategic Positioning Initiatives     
• Faculty action on adoption of OA and OER
• Modification of the tuition waiver policy
• Adoption of a “Supplier Code of Conduct”

Respectfully submitted,

Donald J. McCubbrey

Faculty Senate President 2010-2012