There's been a lot of remarkable work done this year to create visions for the future of our university, but I especially want to call out and celebrate the Lecturer, Instructional, Research, and Clinical Faculty Task Force and it's CLAS members: Joan Bihun, Vivian Shyu, Megan Jorgensen, and Karen Fennell. Over 60% of CU Denver’s faculty are lecturers, instructional, research, and clinical faculty, and these people are essential to the success of our students and growth of this university. A little over one year ago, an IRC Faculty Task Force was formed by Provost Nakuma and leadership to address inequities and broadly improve the working conditions of these essential faculty members.
For their excellent work that taskforce just received this year’s Faculty Assembly Shared Governance Award. This award recognizes the outstanding dedication that was put into constructing a 2022–2025 Roadmap for moving forward with addressing lecturer, instructional, research, and clinical faculty concerns. Those interested in diving into the taskforce's work and methods can do so on the general Taskforce Information website or dedicated Taskforce Roadmap website. The Provost has stressed Five Takeaways from the IRC Faculty Task Force Roadmap that he wants to make sure everyone is aware of:
1. CU Denver leadership acknowledges the concerns lecturers, instructional, research, and clinical faculty have expressed, and has pledged to work toward a more equitable and supportive academic environment.
2. With faculty input, CU Denver academic and administrative leaders developed a roadmap for moving forward.
3. An inclusive process, committed to shared governance, will continue to drive the implementation of the roadmap.
4. Ensuring a culture of belonging for all faculty is not only a strategic imperative: it’s the right thing to do.
5. Communication will come at regular intervals from Turan Kayaoglu, Associate Vice Chancellor for Faculty Affairs, who has committed to providing clear and consistent communication on this issue moving forward.
I hope all of you will join me in congratulating Joan, Vivian, Megan, and Karen for their award, and for doing such outstanding work on behalf of our IRC faculty.
