Committees

LAS Committees

Committees within LAS

Admissions Committee
Members
  • Ed Hoang (SS) 2026
  • Colin McAllister (H/A) 2026
  • James Kovacks (NS) 2027
  • Amy Klocko (at-large) 2025
  • ** Justin Filla (Admissions Office)

** Chair of Committee

Committee Description

The Admissions Committee serves as an advisory body to the Faculty of the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences (LAS). The duties of the Admissions committee are to review student applications (Freshmen and transfer students) to LAS whose qualifications do not meet the criteria for guaranteed admission, to decide on admission on a weekly basis in cooperation with the Office of Admissions and Records, and to determine conditional admission requirements for individual students or groups of students.

Budget & Planning Committee
Members
  • ** Kevin Tvrdy (NS) 2025
  • David Weiss (NS) 2027
  • Shannon Michaux (NS) 2026    
  • John Harner (SS) 2025    
  • David Havlick (SS) 2026
  • VACANT (SS) 
  • Stephen Carter (H/A) 2026
  • Christina Jimenez (H/A) 2027
  • Samantha Christiansen (H/A) 2026
  • Andrea Williams (classified staff)
  • Rose Johnson (classified staff)
  • Eugenia Olesnicky (ex officio)
  • Sherry McDonnell (LAS recording secretary/finance rep)

** Chair of the Committee

Committee Description

The Budget and Planning Committee will advise the Dean on matters concerning budgeting priorities, and also on matters relating to long term planning (growth projections, FTE distribution, etc.). The committee will review and discuss the annual budget proposal before submission to the VCAA. The committee would act as the principal advisory board to the Dean in any situations of fiscal crisis, including potential financial exigency.

Committee on Academic Progress (CAP)

Structures & Procedures 

Members
  • ** Carole Woodall (H/A) 2026    
  • Helen Davies (H/A) 2027        
  • Curt Holder (NS) 2025
  • Kristi McCann (NS) 2027    
  • Larry Eubanks (SS) 2025
  • Steven Pittz (SS) fall 2025            
  • Capt. Ricky Buchanan (MS)  
  • George Rus (ex officio)            
  • B. Mann. S. Garland, J. Woods (Academic Advising)
  • TBD (LAS Student Rep)    
  • Erin Klein (LAS recording secretary)

** Chair of the Committee

CAP Meeting Schedule

Currently via Microsoft Teams; 8:15-9:30 am Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month.

Committee Description

The Committee on Academic Progress is a review board that handles student petitions for exceptions to the academic policies and requirements of the College. The committee is made up of faculty of the College, and makes recommendations to the Dean.

Curriculum & Requirements Committee (C&R)
Members
  • Janice Thorpe (SS) 2026
  • Kimbra Smith (SS) 2027
  • **Crystal Vanden Zander (NS) 2026
  • David Weiss (NS) 2027
  • Phillip Haisley (H/A) 2025
  • **Barb Headle (at-large) 2027
  • Aaron Corcoran (at-large) (temp fall ’24)
  • Eugenia Olesnicky (ex officio)
  • Carolyn Daley (ex officio)
  • Larry Eames (library ex officio)
  • Lily Cosgrave (LAS recording secretary)
  • VACANT (LAS student rep)

**Co-Chairs of Committee

Meeting Schedule, Fall 2024, 8-9:30 am via Microsoft Teams:

  • Aug. 28th
  • Sept. 18th
  • Oct. 16th
  • Nov. 20th
  • Dec. 11th
Committee Description

Curriculum and Requirements committee (C&R) reviews all new LAS courses at the undergraduate and graduate level and provides advice and guidelines with respect to new academic programs and LAS degree requirements. Recommendations of C&R are submitted to the faculty for final approval as specified in LAS Policies and Procedures.

Dean’s Instructor Review Committee (DIRC)

Structure and Membership

Members
  • ** Robert Gist (NS) 2027
  • Lisa Durrenberger (NS) 2027
  • Kacey Ross (H/A) 2027
  • Suzanne Cook (H/A) 2026
  • Laura Austin-Eurich (SS) 2025    
  • Janice Thorpe (SS) 2025
  • Christy Lofton (at-large) 2025
  • Deann Barrett (ex officio)
  • George Rus (ex officio
     

** Chair of the Committee

Committee Description

The Dean’s Instructors Review Committee (DIRC) is a standing committee of the College of LAS which assists and advises the Dean of LAS in:

  • the review of dossiers submitted for consideration in the promotion of Instructors to Senior Instructor, including the recommendation for or against promotion, and
  • the numerical scoring of Instructors/Senior Instructors’ performance as part of the annual merit/salary review process.
  • The DIRC may have other responsibilities as requested by the Dean of LAS and is expected to act as a resource to the Dean in Non Tenure Track Faculty (NTTF) issues.
Dean's Review Committee
Members (DRC for RPT)
  • ** Farida Khan (SS) 2025
  • Michele Companion (SS) 2026 {Rex Welshon sub 24-25}    
  • David Weiss (NS) 2025    
  • Ron Ruminski (NS) 2027
  • Katherine Mack (H/A) 2026 {Lesley Ginsberg sub 24-25}
  • VACANT (H/A) 
  • Fred Coolidge (at-large) 2026
  • Deann Barrett (ex officio)
Members (DRC for AMR)
  • Curt Holder (SS) 2026
  • Connie Staley (SS) 2027
  • VACANT (NS)
  • Bob Camley (NS) 2026
  • Paul Harvey (H/A) 2027
  • Ann Amicucci (H/A) 2027
  • Kay Yoon (at-large) fall 2026 
  • Deann Barrett (ex officio)
Committee Description

The Dean’s Review Committee is composed of tenured associate and full professors from the college, department chair and primary unit evaluation committee chair, its job is to assist and advise the Dean in personnel matters. Every candidate must have a primary unit evaluation committee consisting of at least five members of the candidate’s department or related departments if the department is too small. Units may specify a smaller number of members of the Primary Unit Committee in their approved unit criteria, but in no case can this committee have fewer than three members. The chair of the primary department is responsible for providing candidates with a copy of the primary unit’s “statement of criteria, standards, and evidence” during the first semester of appointment.

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) Council
Members
  • ** Jen Kling (H/A) 2027
  • Evan Taparata (H/A) 2026
  • Al Schoffstall (NS) 2026
  • David Weiss (NS) 2027
  • Leilani Feliciano (SS) 2027
  • Farida Khan (SS) 2026
  • George Bayuga (at-large) 2027
  • Eugenia Olesnicky (ex officio)
  • AJ Vafiades (LAS recording secretary)
  • Brenda Cruz (LAS Student Rep)

** Chair of the Committee

LAS DEI Council Mission Statement

The LAS DEI Council is committed to making the UCCS College of Letters, Arts & Sciences an inclusive, equitable, and collaborative space to learn, teach, work, discover, and thrive. We seek to foster a college climate in which all members of the LAS community feel respected, valued, and empowered to engage in the life of the college. Through putting forward various policies and procedures, supporting hiring and retention initiatives, collaborating with other committees and offices regarding DEI issues, and measuring the College’s progress toward its DEI goals, the LAS DEI Council serves as a powerful ally to colleagues affected by all forms of bias, racism, and structural inequality.

Fee Advisory Committee

Student Fee Template - Academic and Mandatory   

Members
  • ** Tara Cepon Robins (SS) 2025
  • Samantha Christiansen (H/A) 2027
  • Rebecca Laroche (at-large) 2026
  • Janel Owens (NS) 2025
  • George Rus (ex officio)
  • Jeremy Click (LAS recording secretary/finance rep)
  • Samrawit Kopessa (LAS Student Rep)
  • Jaylee Hepner (LAS Student Rep)
  • Amanda Espinel (LAS Student Rep)

** Chair of Committee

Committee Description

The Fee Advisory Committee reviews department proposals to request new mandatory student fees or to increase, decrease, discontinue or change the original intent of an existing fee. The committee will make recommendations to the UCCS Board of Regents for its final review and approval.

Online Fee Committee
Members
  • ** Dave Anderson (NS) 2026
  • Suman Lakkakula (NS) 2027
  • VACANT (H/A)
  • Ann Amicucci (H/A) 2025
  • Janice Thorpe (at-large) 2025
  • Maja Krakowiak (SS) 2026
  • Laith Al-Shawaf (SS) fall 2026
  • George Rus (ex-officio)
  • Lily Cosgrave (LAS recording secretary) 

** Chair of the Committee

Committee Description

The Online Fee Committee is advisory to the Dean on matters concerning disbursement of both the College’s and the Departments’ portions of online fee funds. The Committee will create guidelines for the distribution of these fee monies, and establish an LAS Online Incentives Program with defined categories of requests for expenditures of these funds. Some requests require only approval of the LAS Faculty Program Planning Specialist and the Department Chair, others may require additional approval of the Dean, and some may require approval of the Committee. The Committee will act as the principal advisory board to the Dean on these matters.

Policies and Procedures Committee
Members
  • Samantha Christiansen (H/A) 2025
  • Carole Woodall (H/A) temp fall ‘24
  • Andy Klocko (NS) 2027
  • VACANT (NS) 
  • James Baginski (SS) 2027
  • VACANT (SS)
  • Tara Cepon Robins (at-large) 2025 
  • Eugenia Olesnicky (ex officio)
  • Erin Klein (LAS recording secretary)

** Co-chairs of the Committee

Research Committee
Members
  • Amanda Morgenstern (NS) 2025
  • Christine Biermann (NS) 2026
  • ** Paul Harvey (H/A) 2026
  • Evan Taparata (H/A) 2027
  • Steve Bistricky (SS) 2025
  • Tara Cepon Robins (SS) 2027
  • Minette Church (Interim ex officio)
  • Margie Oldham (LAS recording secretary)

** Chair of the Committee

Committee Description

The Research Committee’s primary purpose is to maintain, and where possible, improve the quality of research and creative works within the college. It is charged with developing measures for improving faculty and student research and establishing a program of faculty development. Also responsible for awarding the annual LAS research award.

Grievance Committee
Members
  • VACANT (H/A-TT) 
  • Haleh Abghari (H/A-IRC) 2026
  • **Colin Wren (SS-TT) 2027
  • David Mullin (SS-IRC) 2026
  • Peter Braza (NS-TT) 2027
  • Eric Billmeyer (NS-IRC) 2026

** Chair of Committee

Committee Description

The Grievance Committee is composed of tenured faculty from the college, its job is to consider information provided by the grievant and the Dean’s Review Committee and to make recommendations to the Dean. (None of the members of the Grievance Committee can be members of the Dean’s Review Committee.)

Links
Staff Advisory Committee
Members
  • AJ Vafiades
  • Deann Barrett
  • Kim Uhl
  • Tim McDonnell
  • Ashley Beushausen
  • Jamie Pressley
  • Margie Oldham (LAS recording secretary)
Committee Description

The LAS Staff Advisory Committee’s primary purpose is to maintain, and where possible, improve the quality of communication between staff and faculty within the college. The committee is also responsible for awarding the Annual LAS Staff Outstanding Service Award. 

Service Position Description (PDF)

Teaching Committee
Members
  • **Edgar Cota (H/A) 2025                          
  • Gina Baldoni-Rus (H/A) 2027    
  • Katherine Cliff (NS) 2027
  • Emily Mooney (NS) 2026                                 
  • Janice Thorpe (SS) 2025
  • Kelli Klebe (SS) fall 2026
  • George Rus (ex officio)
  • Margie Oldham (LAS recording secretary)
     

** Co-chairs of the Committee

Committee Description

The Teaching Committee’s primary purpose is to maintain, and where possible, improve the quality of undergraduate instruction within the college. Also responsible for awarding the annual LAS teaching award

The Social Sciences Symposium Series
Members
  • Tre Wentling (WEST; Chair)
  • Sara Hagedorn (Political Science)
  • Haruki Eda (Sociology)
  • Julie Torres (WEST)
  • George Bayuga (Anthropology)
  • Dylan Harris (Geography)
  • Josh Vandiver (Political Science)
Committee Description

Information about The Social Sciences Symposium Series