Lecturer, Instructional, Research, and Clinical Faculty Task Force

Dear Colleagues,    

I am pleased to announce that the IRC Task Force presented our IRC Task Force report to Chancellor Marks and Provost Nakuma on Friday, May 6, 2022. We encourage all community members to read the final report which is linked here and below.  

The IRC Faculty Task Force was formed in September 2021 at the behest of Provost Nakuma to investigate the policies and practices that impact the working conditions of CU Denver’s Lecturers, Instructors and Clinical Teaching (aka IRC) faculty, and develop an actionable plan to improve those conditions. 

Over the fall 2021 semester, our taskforce collected data and gained insights into the policies and practices that impact the well-being and working conditions of our IRC colleagues. Throughout the spring 2022 semester we analyzed data, reviewed policies and practices, and considered information our IRC faculty provided in the faculty experience survey we conducted. We submitted our final report to Provost Nakuma on April 1.  

Sincerely,  

Joann Brennan 

Chair, IRC Task Force 

Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Faculty Affairs 

Professor of Photography, CAM 

Task Force Members  

Thirteen faculty and staff participated in the task force.  Representation includes all schools, colleges and the library, Instructors, Clinical Teaching Track faculty, Faculty Assembly, UCDALI, HR professionals, Finance and Administration professionals, and the Center for Faculty Development and Advancement. As the Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Faculty Affairs, I guided and facilitated the work of the task force team.  

School/College Representatives: 

• Stephanie Kelly, Assistant Dean of Finance and Administration, College of Architecture and Planning 
• Maryam Darbeheshti, Assistant Professor Clinical Teaching Track, College of Engineering, Design, and Computing 
• Wendy Bolyard, Clinical Assistant Professor and Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration Faculty Program Director, School of Public Affairs 
• Elizabeth Pugliano, Instructor, College of Arts and Media 
• Jim LoPresti, Instructor, Business School 
• Joan Bihun, Associate Professor, Clinical Teaching Track, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 
• Lori Elliot, Associate Professor Clinical Teaching Track, School of Education and Human Development 

At-large Members 

• Lee Potter, Business Services Coordinator, Office of Faculty Affairs 
• Vivian Shyu, UCDALI Representative, Associate Professor Clinical Teaching Track, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 
• Eric Baker, Faculty Assembly Representative, Senior Instructor, Library 
• Megan Jorgensen, Human Resources Director, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 
• Karen Ludington, Assistant Dean Business and Operations, College of Arts and Media 
• Karen Sobel, Director Center for Faculty Development and Advancement, Associate Professor, Library 
• Karen Fennell, Lecturers Liaison and Dean’s Office Manager, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences   

Collaborations  

The task force was grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with central service partners such as OIRE, Benefits, and Finance and Administration, and our schools, colleges, and library.