Annie Konegni Baccary

The committee welcomed a new member and discussed ongoing communications projects, including the Faculty Voices series and the Committee Corner. The redesign of the Faculty Council website was reviewed, with plans to incorporate rotating updates. A discussion was held regarding the Faculty Handbook's web traffic and potential policy navigation improvements. The committee also planned the development of a semesterly newsletter and established a subcommittee to revise the committee's charge with a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

The committee discussed the launch of Faculty Voices in CU Connections, a new initiative to feature faculty-written op-ed articles. Key details covered included project logistics such as funding, article length, compensation, and frequency of publication. Guidelines for the editorial process were reviewed, emphasizing the need for well-researched, original, and timely topics relevant to higher education. Action items were assigned regarding presentations to campus faculty assemblies and the drafting of project guidelines and statements of intent.

The committee discussed the finalization of a Committee Corner article, including the development of a faculty guide survey, selection of polls, and coordination of headshots. The group also reviewed feedback on a Faculty Voice article and provided updates regarding the Faculty Guide links, focusing on ongoing resource development and anticipating next steps based on faculty survey results.

The committee discussed updates from various university campuses regarding DEI initiatives, including anti-racism training, the creation of a Center for African and African American Studies, faculty diversity action plans, and DEI fund allocation. The meeting covered the search for the VP of Communication and website redesign projects. Members approved a revision to the committee's charge. Additionally, the group reviewed alignment with the Divest2Invest movement. Discussions with the Chief Diversity Officer addressed concerns regarding racial bias in software, system-wide exit interviews, the review of DEI policies, the need for more affirmative action officers, and upcoming surveys. Finally, the committee explored the creation of a system-wide DEI working group.

The meeting covered the progress of Committee Corner articles, discussed the development and value of a new communications guide based on survey results, and analyzed outreach strategies to ensure diverse representation across all campuses. The committee also planned for a report of findings from web searches and the survey, outlined recruitment strategies for Faculty Voices, and addressed the need for nominees for committee officer positions including Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary.