Published: Sept. 27, 2021

Provost Russell Moore is encouraging CU Boulder faculty to review the campus’s revised Professional Rights and Responsibilities of Faculty Members document, approved last year by the Boulder Faculty Assembly and accepted by Moore.

The document now serves as “a marvelous foundation for supporting a positive and respectful faculty work culture,” according to an Aug. 2 faculty letter from Moore. 

The PRR document creates what Moore termed in the letter “expectations of cooperation and respectful relationships, a commitment to professionalism and ongoing training, and a dedication to equity.” 

Provost Russell Moore

Provost Russell Moore

“The PRR is a faculty governance document, crafted by and for faculty, and provides a foundation for supporting a positive and respectful faculty work culture,” said Suzanne Soled, assistant vice provost for faculty development and support and director of faculty relations in the Office of Faculty Affairs.

The PRR incorporates updates to regent laws, regent policies and university policies, with expanded citations. Together with the BFA, Moore’s office is working on revising additional university policies related to the titles, appointment and reappointment processes for non-tenure track faculty in instructional and librarian roles, as well as faculty grievance and appeals processes. When those policies are formally adopted this fall, part four of the PRR will be revised to reflect those updates and will apply to all faculty who are not employees-at-will.

Moore said he hopes that “all faculty will read, understand and incorporate the PRR document into the fabric of their work in research, scholarship, creative work, teaching, librarianship and service.” 

Training in understanding and using the PRR is available through Skillsoft

Anyone who wants to know more about protecting academic freedom and the collegiate enterprise is welcome to take the training, and it is mandatory for academic leaders—deans, associate deans, chairs, associate chairs, institute and program directors, faculty directors and center directors. 

Faculty can request a presentation by Soled and her team “to better understand the PRR’s intent to protect academic freedom and to create a collegial enterprise,” Soled said. She said several departments and colleges have already had the presentation and found it valuable in helping them to create a more positive and supportive culture. 

“Our goal is to put the PRR document at the center of our work in transforming and revitalizing the faculty workplace,” Moore said.