Leaders from the University of Colorado’s faculty and administration are considering adding faculty representation to the university’s systemwide Sustainability Steering Committee. This committee is responsible for identifying and pursuing opportunities for sustainability collaboration across all CU campuses.
Earlier in the year, the Faculty Council discussed forming an ad hoc committee focused on sustainability. During its remote meeting on August 28, Chair Jorge Chavez suggested that campus faculty assemblies might instead provide representatives to serve on the existing administration committee.
“I think that this makes a lot of sense, at least for a trial period,” said council member David Paradis, who previously co-chaired the CU Boulder Faculty Assembly’s Climate Science and Education Committee. “Then we’ll see if there’s a need for a separate Faculty Council committee.”
The August 28 meeting was both the first of the academic year and Chavez’s first as Faculty Council chair. One topic addressed was support for academic freedom in teaching and research roles.
“Given the current climate, it’s understandable that there are concerns about academic freedom across our campuses,” said Chavez, who noted he’d recently discussed the topic with President Todd Saliman. “I will continue to advocate on our behalf. As you see things happen on your campuses, please raise them to me so I can raise them to the president.”
The next Faculty Council meeting is set for September 25. Chavez indicated it may be held in person with a hybrid option available, marking a potential change from meetings conducted remotely since 2020 due to the pandemic.
