Introduction

The BFA is the representative body of faculty on the Boulder Campus, which is empowered by the Regents to set academic policy and advise administration on other policy for the University of Colorado at Boulder.

The BFA is comprised of:

1. A plenary group of 49 faculty representing every college and school on the Boulder Campus.
2. A series of committees and subcommittees comprised of a combination of BFA members and members of the regular faculty.
3. An Executive Committee comprised of 4 officers and 2 at-large representatives who are regular BFA members, plus the chairs of each of the BFA committees.

The official avenue by which the BFA expresses itself to the University is via motions and resolutions. In general, motions originate in BFA committees, are passed through the Executive Committee, and are then presented to the BFA plenary group for a vote. In general, by the time a motion appears on a BFA agenda it has been subject to multiple reviews by the originating committee and by the Executive Committee. Another avenue by which the BFA expresses itself is through consultation and discussion with various administrators who attend BFA meetings and speak on matters of concern to the campus. These discussions, as well as BFA motions, are recorded in the minutes of Executive Committee meetings and the minutes of meetings of the full BFA.

When motions are approved by the BFA they are forwarded to the appropriate CU administrators, depending on their subject matter. For instance, a motion addressing faculty salaries would be forwarded to a list of people that includes the Chief Financial Officer. A motion addressing the CU Libraries would be forwarded to a list that includes the Dean of Libraries. A motion that would impact all four campuses would be forwarded to a list that includes the Faculty Council, the faculty governance group at the system level.

The committees are empowered to investigate, examine, and propose changes or endorsements to matters of concern to faculty, and to call upon the expertise and assistance of any campus office in examining those matters.

The Executive Committee also serves as the primary consultative faculty body to the Chancellor.

Each BFA member is expected to:

1. Attend every meeting of the BFA, held on the first Thursday of each month in the spring and fall semesters from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. to participate in discussion, review of motions, and voting.
2. Be a member of and participate in at least one BFA committee.
3. Keep faculty in their departments apprised of issues that are being addressed by the BFA.

Other important work conducted by the BFA includes the awarding of up twelve $3000 awards annually for faculty excellence on the Boulder Campus.