What is faculty senate?

Faculty senate is an elected group of full time faculty that meet to discuss issues that affect the full time faculty at RRCC.  From the faculty senate bylaws, senate is responsible for:

1. Serving as the faculty group in the shared governance structure
2. Serving as a channel of communication between the faculty and the administration
3. Communicating with the faculty on matters of interest or concern
4. Communicating with the adiminstration regarding the needs, desires, and concerns of the faculty
5. Working with the administration in the development, revision, and implementation of policies and procedures affecting the faculty
6. Serving as the voice of the faculty in communication with all college governing groups (such as Collaboration Council)

Senate meets roughly every other week during fall and spring semesters on Tuesdays 3:45-4:45pm (see meeting calendar in the navigation at left).  Each department or collection of departments has a representative on senate, elected in April for a 2 year term, according to the bylaws.  Meetings are open for any full time faculty to attend.

Senate also manages election of the Faculty of the Year, the Rank/Tenure and Emeritus status of faculty, and approves of most faculty committee memberships.

Senate Officers

Senate has three elected officers: President, Vice President, and Secretary.  Their roles are outlined in the bylaws, but of note: the faculty senate president is the faculty representative on Collaboration Council and meets regularly with campus administration about faculty business.

Current Senate Members

Below is a list of the current faculty senators and the prefixes they represent.

• Toni Nicholas (President)
• Amy Buckingham (Vice President) – COM, CRJ, POS, PSY, SOC, SWK, ANT
• Shane Spivey – AST, CHE, ENV, GEY, PHY, SCI,
• Diane Rhodes – CSC, CIS, CWB, CNG, EGT, EGG
• Carol Martin – ECE, ECO, EDU
• Paige Casabona – MAT, DAT
• Nora Hebert – Arvada campus
• Tracy Gray – BIO
• Jeremy Cox – ART, NUA, FIW, THE, MGD, PHO, FVM, JOU
• Paul Gallagher – CCR, ENG, LIT
• Jonas Mabey – GEO, HIS, SPA, HUM, PHI
• Julio Suarez Pesquera – BUS, HVA, EIC, ACC, MAN, MAR, REE, SBM, CAR, PLY
• Scott Witfall – EMP, EMS, FST, LEA, OUT

Standing Committees

Academic Standards Committee
Current Members: Paige Casabona, Jeremy Cox, Jonas Mabey, Julio Suarez-Pesquera

Assessment Council
Current Memebers: Jenning Prevatte, Teresa Bieker, Paige Casabona, Carol Martin, Toni Nicholas

Campus Safety Advisory Committee
Current Members: Kyle Kelly

Collaboration Council
Current Members: Toni Nicholas, Ellie Camann

Curriculum Committee
Current Members: Lynnette Hoerner, Carlos Medina, Paul Weinrauch, Lou Hren, Diane Rhodes, Martha Rivero, Jared Rodriguez (inactive for fall 2024) Ashley Tracey, Matthew Watts

Faculty Senate
Current President: Toni Nicholas
Meeting Times: Every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month, 3:30-4:30pm

Instructional Technology Advisory Committee (ITAC)
Committee Chair: Adam Forland

Online Learning Advisory Committee
Committee Chair: Matthew Watts

Open Education Resources Committee (OER)
Current Members: Matthew Watts, Martha Stevens, Kelly Jo Eldredge

Peer Review Committee:
Current Members: TBD

State Faculty Curriculum Committee (SFCC)
Lynnette Hoerner, Academic SFCC rep; Paul Weinrauch CTE STCC rep