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IRC faculty account for almost two-thirds of all faculty positions at CU Denver. Looking at the data, the number of faculty positions has increased from 991 to 1060 between 2011 and 2021, with most growth occurring in the categories of CTT (increasing from 17 to 95) and Lecturers (increasing from 428 to 455). The TT/Tenured (from 367 to 357) and Instructor (from 176 to 144) categories have slightly declined, while Clinical faculty numbers have remained small and stable (8 to 9). The growth in CTT lines has changed the faculty composition, though not dramatically. In 2011, IRC faculty represented 34% of all rostered faculty, increasing to 40% in 2021, and 63% in 2011 and 66% in 2021 when including Lecturers.
 
This increase led to discussions on how to improve the IRC faculty’s working conditions. On the administrative side, empowered by the IRC Task Force Recommendations, CU Denver has begun addressing some IRC concerns, including the expansion of the use of multi-year contracts. On the faculty side, the integration of IRC faculty into shared governance structures has progressed. Still, we have a lot more work to do.
 
Organizations such as the American Association of University Professors and the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges call for the inclusion of all faculty in shared governance structures. Yet IRC faculty continue to face barriers for full inclusion. One reason for the lack of inclusion of IRC faculty in shared governance at the CU system is institutional: Regent Policy 5 on shared governance prioritizes the voice of tenure-track faculty over IRC faculty. There are ways we can address this at the campus level, and we are actively working to do so.
 
In addition to institutional hurdles, higher education research has also identified other barriers to inclusion, such as time constraints, job security concerns, and lack of compensation and recognition (Morrison, 2008). Biases held by tenure-track faculty, such as doubting non-tenure track faculty’s ability to be critical of administration, can also significantly hinder their participation in shared governance (Kezar et al., 2006). Despite these barriers, a significant majority of non-tenure track faculty consistently reported wanting to be more involved in governance (Baldwin and Chronister, 2001).
 
To ensure fairness and uphold the principle of "nothing about us without us," we must include IRC faculty in shared governance structures at the unit, school/college, and library levels, as well as in the Faculty Assembly. Besides ensuring that the IRC faculty has a seat at the table in shaping policies that affect them, this inclusion can make the collective faculty voice stronger.
 
Eliminating barriers that prevent IRC faculty from participating in shared governance should be a top priority. Additionally, we should support UCDALI's efforts in providing a safe space for IRC faculty to come together and have a complementary voice to the Faculty Assembly's work on shared governance. By doing so, we can ensure that the IRC faculty are heard, and their perspectives contribute substantively to our collective vision for CU Denver.
 
 
References
Baldwin, Roger G., and Jay L. Chronister. Teaching without tenure: Policies and practices for a new era. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.
 
Kezar, Adrianna, Jaime Lester, and Gregory Anderson. "Challenging stereotypes that interfere with effective governance." Thought and Action 22, no. 2 (2006): 121-134.
 
Morrison, Joshua D. "Faculty governance and nontenure-track appointments." New Directions for Higher Education 143 (2008): 21-27.
  The Faculty Featurette with Christian Nwachioma
    with the Department of Mechanical Engineering


You have a research background in Mechatronics and Robotics—what originally attracted you to this area of study?

... my non-research-based background was in Physics, a mix of applied and theoretical experiences. So, when it was time for me to do a Ph.D., I preferred not to jettison both the applied and theoretical aspects of my early experience. Besides, since my Physics bachelor’s degree background consisted of electronics and classical and quantum mechanics, and having picked up a few programming skills along the way, it was apparent that a Ph.D. in Robotics and Mechatronic systems would allow me to continue to develop all those skill sets.
Click here to read the rest of this interview
Events & Announcements

                           Congratulations to Our Award Winners!


Faculty Awards included a number of categories expanded to include both tenure/tenure track & IRC faculty category winners.  Of course, UCDALI is honored to select the Provost’s Award for Best Practices Related to Instructional, Research and Clinical Faculty.  This year the award went to ThinqStudio for their array of practices highly inclusive for the participation of IRC faculty.  See all of the award winners & nominees here.

UCDALI & Other Upcoming Events


  • OASIS - ThinqStudio Unconference 2023.  An OASIS is a pleasant or peaceful area in the midst of a difficult place or situation. Let ThinqStudio's 2023 Unconference be YOUR OASIS on Friday April 21.
  • UCDALI - Spring Event at the Learning Commons 3rd Floor on April 25 from 3-5.  Meet, greet & learn from fellow IRC & UCDALI members. 
  • UCDALI - Executive Committee Meetings are open to all campus faculty & our final one for the semester is on May 5, from 11-1 in the Rush Conference Room (Learning Commons 3rd Floor).  Contact UCDALI for a Zoom link.

                          And for our professional interests...


Looking for more information on the faculty fellows and teaching enhancement grants that are now open through TIPS?  Take a tip & check here:
https://www.ucdenver.edu/tips/teaching-innovations

You know the old saying--"Follow the money."  Keep up with CU Denver Phase II Budget planning at:
https://www.ucdenver.edu/achieving2030/phase-2

UCDALI Office Hours 

Thursdays | 02:00 PM – 03:00 PM 
UCDALI Office, 3rd floor, Learning Commons/City Heights Building OR
Zoom

Please drop by or join via Zoom to chat, ask questions, share concerns, make suggestions, etc. Office hours are open to all members of the CU Denver community who would like to discuss issues pertaining to IRC faculty. If you can’t make it at that time, please email Elizabeth Pugliano to schedule an alternative meeting time.

Zoom Link: https://ucdenver.zoom.us/j/96999772819


 

UCDALI Spring Event at the Learning Commons 3rd Floor on April 25 from 3-5.  Meet, greet & learn from fellow IRC & UCDALI members. 

Time Tracking Project: UCDALI is organizing a data collection effort to better understand faculty workloads and work hours. Planned for AY 2023-2024, we’ll be recruiting volunteers to take part in a simple 1-2 week-long time-tracking exercise. All are invited to participate, and we are hoping to get data from all IRC faculty ranks and titles. Please watch your email at the start of the fall semester for a call for participants. Thank you! 

 


 

Heffernan, Troy. 2023. "Abusive Comments in Student Evaluations of Courses and Teaching: The Attacks Women and Marginalised Academics Endure." Higher Education 85 (1): 225-239.


“This paper examines the volume and type of anonymous comments academics receive in student evaluations of courses and teaching (SETs) at the 16,000 higher education institutions that collect this data at the end of each teaching period. Existing research has increasingly pointed to the negative issues of student surveys, but very little research has focused on the volume, type, and impact of anonymous student comments on academics.”  Read more at… 
 

Walker, Rafael. 2023. "Faculty Workloads are Unequal: If Service Isn't made Fairer, People Will Stop Doing it." The Chronicle of Higher Education 69 (12): 64.


"People higher up in the ranks can afford to have their contributions overlooked by people lower down, but the reverse is not true. A recent report by the American Council on Education points the way. The researchers propose “six conditions linked to equitable workloads”: transparency, clarity, credit, norms, context, and accountability."  Read more at… 
For more information about us, visit our website: UCDALI Webpage
or 
Reach out to us at
UCDALI@ucdenver.edu
 
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