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In response to university concerns surrounding the changing federal administration, Provost Russell Moore announced the formation of a federal transition response team during his update to the final Boulder Faculty Assembly (BFA) meeting of the year.

The federal transition response team is a group of university leaders that will triage to experts around campus any concerns about anticipated changes in federal policy with the new administration. Patterned on a similar team last used during the COVID-19 pandemic, the team will help the university swiftly address anticipated or planned governmental actions that could negatively affect the university and its mission.

The university administration will continue to monitor the evolving situation on both the state and the federal levels, Moore said, including, for example, recent legislation passed in Utah and Florida that dissolved entire departments and programs.

“You have our commitment that we’ll do our level best to make sure not only that people maintain their jobs, but that we can continue to conduct very meaningful and impactful scholarship,” Moore said.

During the meeting, Moore reinforced his commitment to compensation increases for not just faculty but also staff and graduate students, so that CU Boulder is on par with peer institutions. He said major strides have been made the last few years in a way that many peers haven’t been able to make, but he’s hoping for more.

Raising salaries “remains a high priority. It’s been my highest priority,” Moore said.

Finally, Moore addressed recent personnel changes, including the appointment of Erika Randall, professor of theater and dance, as the interim dean and vice provost of undergraduate education; the return of Vice Chancellor for Academic Resource Management Ann Schmiesing from the University of Colorado Denver, where she is serving as the interim chancellor; and the recent announcement of a sole finalist for the School of Education dean position. He also addressed the recently announced changes in Strategic Resources and Support, including the move of Enrollment Management, led by Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief Enrollment Officer Amy Hutton, to Academic Affairs.

“I’d like to encourage all of us to stick together, to continue to work together in collaboration, and really focus on our mission, which is student success and knowledge discovery and dissemination,” Moore said. “We conduct our business (on campus) mostly with compassion and concern, and I think that’s particularly important as we’re going through not only leadership changes but possible changes at the federal and regulatory levels.”

In other BFA action

Creating an academic policy on micro-credentials

Micro-credentials are often used to recognize innovative teaching, learning, research or creative work that doesn’t fit neatly within a degree or certificate program. Despite being a fixture on campus since 2020 with 50 micro-credentials approved to date, there hasn’t been a policy for them established yet, but that’s about to change.

Academic Affairs is now soliciting feedback on the final draft of a new micro-credentials policy. The policy will provide curricular guidance and direction for how micro-credentials differ from other credentials such as certificates and will formalize the process for approval and periodic review of micro-credentials.

The BFA Academic Affairs committee has been working with Academic Affairs on the policy drafts since last spring. The committee submitted a BFA resolution that recommends endorsing the policy, and the resolution and draft policy will now be open for BFA review and comment until February, when representatives will vote on the resolution.

“We know there’s so much learning happening around the university that’s not traditionally captured on a transcript,” said Kristi Wold-McCormick, associate vice provost and university registrar. “There’s a lot of opportunity to not replace what we’re doing but to enhance and complement what we’re doing for our students and the university.”

From the BFA Grievance Advisory Committee

The BFA Grievance Advisory Committee is soliciting feedback about what is—and isn’t—working in the Professional Rights and Responsibilities of Faculty Members (PRR), CU Boulder’s policy and procedural document that outlines the privileges and responsibilities, as well as the standards of professional conduct, for both faculty and academic leaders. Feedback may be sent to bfa@colorado.edu.

In closing

• BFA heard updates about revisions to officer titles and roles, including the proposed structural changes brought forth during last month’s meeting.
• BFA Chair Shelly Miller provided brief updates on the , the reimagining of the BFA Budget and Planning Committee, climate change efforts on campus, and the 2025 BFA Excellence Awards, which are now open for nominations.

The next meeting will be Feb. 6, 2025.

Learn more about the BFA and previous actions on the BFA website.