The Metropolitan State University of Denver Faculty Senate concluded its yearlong legislative session May 1 by announcing Teaching Excellence Awards, welcoming new senators and voting on final legislation.
TEA winners
- Lisa Suter, Ph.D., professor of English — tenured award
- Xiaohui (Helen) You, Ph.D., associate professor of Health Professions —tenured award
- Kiyan Shafieizadeh, Ph.D., assistant professor of Hotel Management — tenure-track award
- Taryn Wood, lecturer of Elementary Education and Literacy, School of Education — Cat II award
- Jesse Schulman, adjunct instructor of Computer Science — affiliate award
Leadership changes
- At-large senators (2024-26): Sanaa Riaz, Sociology and Anthropology; and Mohammad Valipour, EAET
- Affiliate senators (2024-25): Andrew Gillespie, Physics; Diane Rodes, Computer Science; Julie Rummel Mancuso, Exercise and Sport Sciences
Additionally, leadership will remain as Liz Goodnick, Ph.D., associate professor of Philosophy; Michele Clark, J.D., associate professor of Management; and Bill Carnes, professor of Management. All were re-elected by acclamation to serve another term as president, vice president and secretary, respectively.
Handbook votes
- The Faculty Diversity Task Force suggested changes to the Faculty Employment Handbook, including sections on evaluating tenured/tenure-track faculty on teaching, scholarship and creative activities and service.
- The body passed changes to office hours for faculty members after 72 senators voted in favor, seven in opposition.
- The Faculty Senate/MSU Denver Faculty Federation suggested changes to the Faculty Employment Handbook regarding the Disciplinary Appeals Committee. Sixty-five senators voted in favor, and one opposed.
Catalog and curriculum votes
Several catalog votes took place during the semester, including:
- Transfer vs. Residency credits in graduate catalog
- Dual Enrollment in graduate catalog
- Priority registration for undergraduate and graduate catalogs
- Minimum passing grade for graduate programs
- Waitlist addendum change
- Residency-requirement changes
- Changes to graduate program non-accredited undergraduate admissions
- Changes to the University’s incomplete policy
Additionally, all the curriculum changes can be found here.
Committee changes
The Faculty Senate also reorganized its standing committees this semester, adjusting the number of senators who can participate in each committee.
- Academic Policy Committee — two at-large vacancies
- Nomination — Jade Luiz, Ph.D., assistant professor of Anthropology
- Curriculum Committee — one at-large vacancy
- General Studies Committee — one at-large vacancy
- Professional Leave Committee — one at-large vacancy
- Nomination — Mallory Brunel, associate professor of Nursing
- Student Affairs Committee — one at-large vacancy
- Nominations: Lee Helldoerfer, Nursing, and Smita Singh, assistant professor in the School of Hospitality.
For more information, visit the Faculty Senate webpage to see all the minutes, agendas and action items from this year.
