The productive relationship between the Provost’s Office and shared governance was at the heart of Provost Russ Moore’s final address to the Boulder Faculty Assembly (BFA) during its last meeting of the academic year.

While the partners in that relationship may not always see eye-to-eye, Moore added, “I think it’s really important that we can continue to talk.”

Provost Russ Moore addresses the assembly on May 1

Specifically, Moore reminisced about the role the BFA has played over the years in protecting CU Boulder’s curricula and academic freedom on campus.

“I think we have a very comprehensive and robust academic freedom statement that is now firmly codified in regent law and policy, and it was the Boulder Faculty Assembly that had a significant fingerprint on that,” Moore commented.

In addition, Moore mentioned the work BFA did on Academic Futures and getting every school or college involved in the shared governance process, and the roles that working together and arguing played in delivering the campus to its present moment.

“We don’t have to agree, but we just need to be able to have a conversation, and I think this moves us forward. I think about the many, many accomplishments that I haven’t articulated here that have come about from this relationship, so, when my successor shows up, please give that person the grace that you’ve given me and let’s try to keep this relationship alive,” Moore said, adding, “It’s been an honor.”

In other BFA action 

Support for other CU statements

The BFA voted unanimously to suspend the 30-day requirement in the bylaws to vote on a resolution endorsing three CU statements (PDF) related to federal impacts on higher education. These include: 

• The CU Denver Faculty Assembly’s resolution reaffirming the rights of free expression, academic freedom, open inquiry and discourse, and the right to work and learn in an environment free from hate and discrimination
• The UCCS Faculty Assembly’s resolution reaffirming the right to free expression, academic freedom in teaching and research, free inquiry and discourse, and freedom from discrimination
• The CU Faculty Council’s rejection and condemnation of all expressions of hate directed at CU system community members

Additionally, faculty representatives volunteered to work over the summer to form a faculty coalition of higher education institutions to allow for a more unified response from faculty senates across the country. 

Buff Undergraduate Success update

This past year saw a great number of accomplishments related to student success, many of which were thanks to the Buff Undergraduate Success (BUS) effort.

This group, started in October 2021 and updated in January 2024, develops and implements policies, procedures and actions to improve and support the experiences of CU Boulder’s undergraduate students. These efforts are measured for their effectiveness in promoting academic success and retention year over year, allowing the team to make improvements or enhancements.

“We’ve had really good improvement lately in student retention. We’re talking here, today, about mostly first-year student retentions, so students that come as brand new students in the fall, but I’ll preface this by saying that we’re seeing improvements for all cohorts, so students that are in their second year, third year, we’re also seeing improvement,” said Katherine Eggert, vice chancellor and senior vice provost for academic planning and assessment.

Erika Randall, interim dean and vice provost of undergraduate education, explained that the group is far from done, though, with many new initiatives on the horizon. These include: 

• Coordinated efforts between BUS, the Office of Undergraduate Education, student life, enrollment management, and health and wellness
• A standardized reporting approach to student retention outreach
• In-person orientation for new students starting in summer 2025
• LEAD alliance partnerships and shared resources
• Improving residential learning communities (such as current residential academic programs and living learning communities) to encompass all first-year students
• Student support coordination through peer mentors/coaches, tutoring, etc.

Lynne Howard, Vicki Grove and Shelly Miller

“This is the big message of the day: Thank you,” Eggert said. “BFA has been a big supporter of BUS, and you as individual faculty and all of your colleagues have been wonderful in supporting course alerts, early grading and all of the work through the Center for Teaching and Learning surrounding teaching and learning better on this campus.”

“The academic future of our students is in the faculty’s hands,” Eggert added. “It's been wonderful to have this support across campus and be thinking together about our undergraduates.”

Other business

• Alastair Norcross has been elected as the new chair of the BFA, effective July 1, 2025. This follows outgoing BFA Chair Shelly Miller’s retirement. David Paradis was elected as the new chair-elect; Bobby Benim was elected as the new parliamentarian and bylaws and elections chair; and Andy Cowell was named the new shared faculty governance advisor for the BFA.
• Long-time BFA Program Manager Lynne Howard and BFA Secretary Vicki Grove are also retiring and were recognized.
• The Climate Science and Education Committee recognized Heidi VanGenderen, who is also retiring. She’s currently the chief sustainability officer and has served as a campus and administration liaison to the committee for the past eight years.
• Updated charges were approved for the Budget and Planning Committee and the Teaching Faculty Affairs Committee. The Faculty Affairs Committee introduced a new charge for consideration that will be voted on during the September meeting.
• During her final meeting as chair, Miller also outlined what she sees as accomplishments this past year. These include the BFA priorities and actions survey and joining the chancellor's task force on faculty salaries, among others.

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