Committees

LAS Committees

Committees within LAS

  

Admissions Committee
Members
  • Ed Hoang (SS) 2026
  • Colin McAllister (H/A) 2026
  • James Kovacks (NS) 2024
  • 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
  • John Harner (SS) 2025
  • Steven Carter (H/A) 2023
  • Sam Christiansen (H/A) 2026
  • Shannon Michaux (NS) 2026
  • David Havlick (SS) 2026
  • Allen Schoffstall (NS) 2024
  • Colin Wren (SS) sub 23-24
  • Raphael Sassower (H/A) fall 2025
  • Andrea Williams (Classified)
  • Rose Johnson (Classified)
  • Alex Ilyasova (ex-officio)
  • Sherry McDonnell (LAS recording secretary/financial 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
  • Larry Eubanks (SS) 2025   
  • Helen Davies (H/A) 2024
  • Curt Holder (NS) 2025
  • Steven Pittz (SS) Fall 2025
  • David Weiss (NS) 2024            
  • Capt. Ricky Buchanan (MS)
  • Alex Ilyasova (ex-officio)
  • Brian Mann (academic advising)
  • Syndee Garland (academic advising)
  • Jessica 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
  • ** Anna Faria (SS) 2025
  • Janice Thorpe (SS) 2026
  • Crystal Vanden Zander (NS) 2026
  • Edgar Cota-Torres (H/A) 2024
  • ** Barb Headle (at-large) 2024
  • Phillip Haisley (H/A) 2025
  • Justin Cole (NS) 2024
  • Alex Ilyasova (ex-officio)
  • Carolyn Daley (ex-officio)
  • Lily Cosgrave (LAS recording secretary)
  • Joseph Brucker (student representative)

** Co-chairs of the Committee

Meeting Schedule, AY 2023-2024, 8-9:30 am. Via Microsoft Teams:

Committee Description

The Curriculum and Requirements committee (C&R) serves as an advisory and deciding body to the Faculty of the College of Letters, Arts & Sciences (LAS). The duties of the C&R committee are to review all new LAS courses at the undergraduate and graduate level and to provide advice and guidelines with respect to new academic programs and LAS college degree requirements. The recommendations of the C&R committee are submitted to the Faculty of LAS for final approval as specified below.

Dean’s Instructor Review Committee (DIRC)

Structure and Membership

Members
  • Suzanne Cook (H/A) 2026
  • Laura Austin-Eurich (SS) 2025 
  • Janice Thorpe (SS) 2025
  • Christy Lofton (at-large) 2025 
  • ** Kathleen Johnson (H/A) 2024 
  • Lisa Durrenberger (NS) 2024 
  • Robert Gist (NS) 2024  
  • Deann Barrett (ex-officio)
  • George Rus (ex-officio when needed)

** 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
  • David Weiss (NS) 2025
  • Katherine Mack (H/A) 2026
  • Fred Coolidge (at-large) 2026
  • Ron Ruminski (NS) 2024 (Sabb. Fall’23)
  • Rex Welshon (Fall 2023 only)
  • Deann Barrett (ex-officio)
Members (DRC for AMR)
  • Curt Holder (SS) 2026
  • Connie Staley (SS)
  • Janel Owens (NS)
  • Bob Camley (NS) 2026
  • Paul Harvey (H/A)
  • Ann Amicucci (H/A)
  • VACANCY (at-large) 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
  • ** Jennifer Kling (H/A) 2024
  • Allen Schoffstall (NS) 2026
  • David Weiss (NS) 2024
  • Rebecca Wood (at-large) 2024
  • Farida Khan (SS) 2026
  • Esther Lamidi (SS) 2024
  • Evan Taparata (H/A) 2026
  • Eugenia Olesnicky (ex-officio)
  • AJ Vafiades (LAS recording secretary)

** 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) 2024 
  • Janel Owens (NS) 2025 
  • Rebecca Laroche (at-large) 2026
  • Alex Ilyasova (ex-officio) 
  • Aidan Clark (LAS student senator)
  • Jeremy Click (LAS recording secretary/finance 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
  • Ann Amicucci (H/A) 2025
  • Janice Thorpe (at-large) 2025
  • Maja Krakowiak (SS) 20236
  • Roger Martinez (H/A) 2024
  • Suman Lakkakula (NS) 2024
  • 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
  • ** Sonja Tanner (H/A) 2025
  • Raphael Sassower (H/A) 2024
  • James Baginski (SS) 2024
  • Minette Church (SS) 2024
  • Lisa Hines (NS) 2024
  • Tara Cepon Robbins (at-large) 2025
  • Eric Billmeyer (NS) 2024
  • Andy Klocko (sub 22-23 & 23-24)
  • Eugenia Olesnicky (ex-officio)
  • Erin Klein (LAS recording secretary)

** Co-chairs of the Committee

Research Committee
Members
  • ** Amanda Morgenstern (NS) 2025 
  • Paul Harvey (H/A) 2026
  • Steve Bistricky (SS) 2025
  • Christine Biermann (NS) 2026
  • Robert von Dassanowsky (H/A) 2024
  • Tara Cepon Robins (SS) 2024
  • Eugenia Olesnicky (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
  • ** Raphael Sassower (H/A) 2024 
  • Colin Wren (SS) 2024 
  • Peter Braza (NS) 2024 
  • Eric Billmeyer (NS) 2025
  • David Mullin (SS) 2025
  • Karen deVries (H/A) 2025

** 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
  • VACANT
  • VACANT
  • 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
  • VACANCY (SS) 2025
  • Carole Woodall (H/A) 2025
  • Anatoliy Glushchenko (NS) 2024
  • VACANCY (SS) 2023
  • Emily Mooney (NS) 2026
  • Edgar Cota (H/A) 2025
  • George Rus (ex-officio)
  • Janice Thorpe (ex-officio, advisor)
  • 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