Last May, I commissioned a committee of CU-Boulder faculty and communications professionals to take on the issue of how the administration and the faculty can communicate more effectively with one another, and to look at the current state of communication with faculty regarding basic university business.
The committee was chaired by Assistant Vice Chancellor for Strategic Media Relations Bronson Hilliard and included faculty members Cindy White of Communication, Phoebe Young of History, then-BFA Chair Paul Chinowsky, Vicki Grove of Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures, Karen Ramirez of the Sewall Academic Program, and CU communicators Malinda Miller-Huey (Media Relations), Erin Frazier (Campus Communications) and Clint Talbott (College of Arts & Sciences). In October, I accepted the committee’s report (linked here) which I invite the faculty across the campus to review.
The report contains some clear language to me and the CU-Boulder administration on desired changes in tone, substance and method of communication. Faculty want to know at all intervals what direction the campus is moving in, how they can provide input to that direction, and what the long-term horizon looks like for funding, programs, enrollment and the other lifeblood issues that affect the campus.
I have asked the committee to stay formed and to continue work this academic year to develop the communication channels outlined in the report, and to serve as a sounding board for collecting ideas and strategies as we engage in further campus dialogue about faculty affinity and successful communication on campus. As that dialogue continues, I ask you to read the report and send me your input at vcaa@colorado.edu, or to the committee directly via the Office of Strategic Relations at strategic@colorado.edu.
The times demand that we improve the flow and dissemination of information to faculty and, equally important, facilitate large-scale faculty, staff and student input to the administration. We want to do this to improve shared governance, but just as important, to elevate shared values and to continue to live up to our pledges of openness and transparency in leadership.
Thank you,
Russell L. Moore, Provost
University of Colorado Boulder
