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College of Arts and Sciences and Office of Registrar win award for efficiency improvements

Rachel Sauer — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 17:27:57 +0000

College of Arts and Sciences and Office of Registrar win award for efficiency improvements Rachel Sauer Mon, 06/23/2025 - 11:27

Award was one of five given by the CU Office of University Controller for demonstrating a commitment to streamlining operations

A collaboration between the ��ϳԹ� College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) and the Office of the Registrar to automate the major/minor declaration process has won an Office of University Controller 2025 CU Innovation & Efficiency Award and a $1,000 prize.

By partnering with the Office of the Registrar, A&S was able to automate and streamline the process by which students update their majors/minors, eliminating paper forms and manual data entry, according to A&S representatives, who said the end result was improved student communication and increased staff productivity.

In place of paper forms, the new process includes an online OnBase form for A&S undergraduate students to declare an A&S minor, and a robot to automate and record changes, associated academic advisor assignments and student notification upon the completion of the request. As a result, A&S representatives said this process requires significantly less manual work to ready the spreadsheet for the robot system. Also, the OnBase form allows for immediate notification to the student when the change has been made and automatically saves the request form to the student’s electronic dean’s file.

“I’m extremely proud to be part of a team dedicated to innovation and student success. The A&S Academic Operations team motto is ‘Student Success is Our Success,’ and the development of the change-of-major robot allowed us to deliver on that by improving service for students and staff, as well as streamlining processes. Winning this award is truly an honor, as there were many other incredible submissions,” said Megan Stephenson, director of academic operations and student records for A&S.

“This award means the world to me, especially considering the large amount of other deserving projects that were submitted. Our nomination alone recognizes that our dedication to improving processes is not only noticed but modeled across campus. I am constantly grateful and thankful to work with this winning team,” added Donna O’Neill-Mika, A&S operations technician in the dean’s office.

Representatives said this process improvement is notable in part because A&S is the largest college on the ��ϳԹ� campus and is responsible for processing upwards of 6,600 student-initiated academic-record update requests per year in Campus Solutions.

The Innovation & Efficiency Award was one of five total awards given out by the Office of University Controller, which said each one “demonstrates a powerful commitment to streamlining operations, enhancing service and delivering measurable impact.” For more information on other award winners, click on this weblink.

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Award was one of five given by the CU Office of University Controller for demonstrating a commitment to streamlining operations.

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College finance chief wins prestigious fellowship

Rachel Sauer — Thu, 22 May 2025 15:08:06 +0000

College finance chief wins prestigious fellowship Rachel Sauer Thu, 05/22/2025 - 09:08

Amy Lavens, the College of Arts and Sciences’ vice dean of finance and administration, is one of 17 professionals to win this recognition

Amy Lavens, vice dean of finance and administration for the College of Arts and Sciences at the ��ϳԹ�, is one of 17 business and financial professionals named as fellows of the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO), the group has announced.

NACUBO’s immersive leadership development program prepares higher education professionals who are seeking a chief business officer (CBO) position in their next role, the organization said.

Amy Lavens, vice dean of finance and administration for the College of Arts and Sciences at ��ϳԹ�, has been named a fellow of the National Association of College and University Business Officers.

Over the course of a year, NACUBO fellows will work with higher education presidents, provosts, CBOs and other experts as they expand their management, communications and leadership skills and strengthen the core competencies needed to succeed as senior leaders.

The 2025-26 fellows were selected from the largest applicant pool in the program’s history, and the incoming cohort is one of the largest since the program was founded in 2016.

"We are thrilled to welcome the 10th cohort of NACUBO’s prestigious Fellows Program—a milestone made even more meaningful because this group was selected from one of the most competitive applicant pools in our program’s history,” said Kara D. Freeman, NACUBO president and CEO, adding:

“These new fellows’ talent, diverse experiences and passion for higher education reflect the best of the future of college and university business administration and leadership. We look forward to supporting these and all our fellows’ continued growth and impact.”

At the ��ϳԹ� College of Arts and Sciences, Lavens oversees financial strategy, budget planning and finance operations for the largest academic unit on campus. Before joining higher education, Lavens led financial and operational strategies in diverse environments, including clinical research, start-ups, manufacturing and a successful initial public offering. This background allows her to challenge conventional approaches, promoting creative and pragmatic solutions that marry financial stewardship with an institution’s overarching mission.

Her successes are built on the foundation of listening and learning, being authentic and translating complex concepts into clear, accessible language. She prioritizes transparency and avoids jargon that obscures meaning, fostering trust and collaboration, NABUCO noted.

Lavens holds an executive MBA and a bachelor of science in biochemistry from Colorado State University.

NACUBO’s fellows program is one in a suite of professional development programs aimed at preparing the next generation of chief business officers. Its offerings also include the Emerging Leaders Program and the New Business Officers Program.

Founded in 1962, NACUBO is a nonprofit professional organization representing chief administrative and financial officers at more than 1,700 colleges and universities across the country. It works to advance the economic vitality, business practices and support of higher education institutions in pursuit of their missions.

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Amy Lavens, the College of Arts and Sciences’ vice dean of finance and administration, is one of 17 professionals to win this recognition.

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College faculty and staff honored at 2025 recognition ceremony

Kylie Clarke — Thu, 01 May 2025 21:51:26 +0000

College faculty and staff honored at 2025 recognition ceremony Kylie Clarke Thu, 05/01/2025 - 15:51

The annual event recognizes excellence in teaching, scholarship and other work that is a highlight of the College of Arts and Sciences

Faculty and staff from across the ��ϳԹ� College of Arts and Sciences were honored at the Recognition Reception held Thursday afternoon in the Norlin Library.

Deans of division Irene Blair, Sarah E. Jackson and John-Michael Rivera presented gifts to faculty and staff being recognized for their outstanding achievements during the 2024-2025 academic year.

Awarded recognitions:

College Scholar Awards
Kahn Family Community Teaming Fund
ASCEND Awards
ASSETT Excellence in Teaching with Technology
Award Cogswell Award for Inspirational Instruction
College Professor of Distinction
CU Distinguished Professors
A&S Staﬀ Employees of the Year
Promotion to Full Professor
Tenure & Promotion to Associate Professor
Promotion to Teaching Professor
Promotion to Associate Teaching Professor

View the list of recognized faculty and staff

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The annual event recognizes excellence in teaching, scholarship and other work that is a highlight of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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Fifth annual Staff Summit celebrates connection, adaptability, innovation

Clint Talbott — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 19:23:30 +0000

Fifth annual Staff Summit celebrates connection, adaptability, innovation Clint Talbott Fri, 04/25/2025 - 13:23

Staff members in the College of Arts and Sciences are invited to participate in the fifth annual Staff Summit, a two-day event dedicated to learning, community and professional growth. This year’s theme, Thriving Together in Changing Times, reflects the evolving landscape of higher education and our shared commitment to collaboration, adaptability and progress.

Day 1 (Tuesday, May 20) will take place virtually and feature campus leaders, expert panels and timely updates—including a keynote from Chancellor Justin Schwartz, discussions on workplace civility and innovation and briefings on federal policy and HR transformation efforts.

Day 2 (Wednesday, May 21) will bring staff together in person at the Idea Forge for connection, creativity and celebration. Activities include community-building sessions, networking opportunities, updates from the Be Heard 2.0 initiative, a hands-on design thinking workshop and a guided campus tour to close the summit.

All staff in the College of Arts and Sciences are welcome to attend. Registration is required, and we encourage managers and supervisors to support staff participation in this opportunity for professional development and community connection.

The Staff Summit is an outgrowth of the college’s Be Heard initiative and reflects our continued investment in staff engagement and organizational wellbeing. We look forward to seeing you there!

How to attend and next steps:

Please register by Friday, May 9, for one or both days of the Staff Summit at this link.
Please include your dietary restrictions for breakfast and lunch.
Help us celebrate college wins! As part of the 2025 Staff Summit, we want to celebrate the great accomplishments of the arts and sciences departments. Please take a moment to describe your department's biggest win of the year by completing a short questionnaire at this link.

For questions, contact Erin Cunningham Ritter.

Full schedule of events:

Tuesday, May 20, 2025, 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Location: virtual via Zoom

10 a.m.-10:15 a.m.: Welcome and opening remarks

Bernadette Stewart, Assistant dean of culture and people, College of Arts and Sciences

10:15 a.m.-11:15 a.m.: Keynote presentation

Chancellor Justin Schwartz will kick off the summit with a brief keynote that speaks directly to the theme: Thriving Together in Changing Times. In the midst of ongoing reorganization and the challenges facing higher education, his remarks will offer insight, encouragement and connection. Staff are encouraged to bring questions related to campus strategy and how we can move forward—together.

Justin Schwartz, chancellor, ��ϳԹ�

11:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Break

11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Blueprint Project update

Blueprint Project updates will highlight the progress of ��ϳԹ�'s multi-year HR Blueprint initiative, which aims to transform HR systems, processes and governance to create a more equitable and consistent experience for staff and faculty. Co-sponsored by campus leadership, the project supports broader institutional goals around transformation and financial resilience by streamlining operations and enhancing strategic HR partnerships. The session will share key findings from the campus-wide assessment and outline progress related to designing and implementing improvements across HR functions.

Robyn Fergus, vice chancellor of human resources

Michele Moses, vice provost and associate vice chancellor for faculty affairs

12 p.m.–1 p.m.: Lunch break

1 p.m.–2 p.m.: Panel discussion: Brave Spaces & Bold Ideas: Navigating Safety, Discomfort & Innovation

How do we distinguish between being unsafe and merely uncomfortable in the workplace? And how can constructive dissent fuel innovation instead of division? This panel explores the evolving meaning of psychological safety, the role of respectful disagreement in driving creativity and how organizations can foster brave spaces where diverse ideas thrive.

MODERATOR

Marysia Lopez, program manager, access and community engagement, College of Arts and Sciences

PANELISTS

Kirsi Aulin, Ombuds director

Dr. Ashley Grice, Senior consultant, Office of Leadership Support and Programming

Stanley Ly, MA, LPC, ACS, director, Faculty and Staff Assistance Program

2 p.m –2:15 p.m.: Break

2:15 p.m.–3:15 p.m.: Federal transition updates

CU government relations specialists will provide an overview of the latest federal transitions, including recent executive actions and policy shifts, and what they mean for ��ϳԹ�. This session will focus on how these developments may affect staff across our campuses—highlighting both challenges and opportunities as we navigate a changing national landscape together.

Kirsten Schuchman, associate vice chancellor for public policy, government relations, Office of Government and Community Engagement

Heather Bené, associate vice president of research and federal policy, Office of Government Relations

3:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.: Wrap-up

Erin Cunningham Ritter, PhD, director of wellness and employee engagement, College of Arts and Sciences

Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 9:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Location: Idea Forge | Project-Based Learning Studio

Fleming Building | 2445 Kittredge Loop Dr | Boulder CO, 80309

9:45 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.: Light breakfast

10:15 a.m. – 10:20 a.m.: Welcome and opening remarks

Daryl Maeda, dean, College of Arts and Sciences, interim

10:20 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.: CELEBRATE! Staff Advisory Committee (SAC) Employee of the Year winners

Chris Marelli, SAC co-chair, director of the general chemistry labs

Robyn Ronen, SAC co-chair, business manager, Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences

10:45 a.m. - 11 a.m.: Break

11 a.m. – 12 p.m.: SAC A&S college staff connection networking

Building on the success of the inaugural event held in the spring, this session will provide an opportunity for networking, learning and collaboration. The event will include group activities and discussion designed to foster cross-division collaboration, share best practices and strengthen relationships among staff.

Staff Advisory Committee members

12 p.m. - 1 p.m.: Lunch

1 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.: SAC Be Heard 2.0: Advancing civility and connection in A&S

This presentation provides an update on Be Heard 2.0, the multi-phase initiative to strengthen workplace civility, engagement and inclusion across the College of Arts and Sciences. We will revisit each phase, including Phase 1, which focused on the effect of emotions, stress and resilience on workplace behavior, and Phase 2, in which SAC participants crafted personal leadership narratives aligned with SAC’s vision for civility. We’ll also preview the goals of Phases 3 and 4, which will support team-level dialogue and unit-specific actions that promote a culture of respect, accountability and collaboration.

Staff Advisory Committee Members

Erin Cunningham Ritter, PhD, Director of wellness and employee engagement College of Arts and Sciences

1:45 p.m. - 2 p.m.: Break

2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.: Design thinking activity

Kristen Alipit will lead the group through a skill-building session on design thinking—a commonly used and very effective approach to solving complex problems and issues in organizations. We will apply these tools to ideating and prototyping the Be Heard 2.0 initiatives to include staff expertise in solutions design. Kristen has many years of experience working in design thinking, both in training others in the framework and leading organizational projects using this technique.

Kristen Alipit, director of organizational effectiveness and engagement, finance and business strategy

3:30 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.: Idea Forge tour

Victoria Lanaghan, program coordinator, Idea Forge

3:45 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.: Campus tour

Concluding the College of Arts and Sciences Staff Summit, we invite you to join us for a tour of the Idea Forge followed by a campus tour of the ��ϳԹ�. As the final session of the summit, this tour will immerse you in our top-tier public research institution nestled below the Flatirons. Discover the academic excellence, cutting-edge facilities and vibrant community that define the College of Arts and Sciences. From historic landmarks to awe-inspiring outdoor spaces, ��ϳԹ� offers an unforgettable educational journey in a stunning natural setting. Bring your water and walking shoes and dress for our Colorado weather!

Gavin Laing, faculty affairs senior coordinator, College of Arts and Sciences

Staff members in the College of Arts and Sciences are invited to participate in the fifth annual Staff Summit

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Fourth-annual summit aims to boost staff engagement, community

Anonymous — Wed, 01 May 2024 19:11:05 +0000

Fourth-annual summit aims to boost staff engagement, community Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 05/01/2024 - 13:11

Staff members in the College of Arts and Sciences are invited to join the fourth-annual staff summit. The first day of the summit will feature virtual offerings related to the event’s theme: Building Bridges: Connecting, Collaborating and Creating Together.

Day two of the staff summit will include organized activities and presentations to foster a stronger sense of community and belonging. The emphasis on building connections will involve learning about campus, strengthening our college culture, engaging in community building and fun.

The summit is scheduled for Tuesday, May 14, 10 a.m.-3:15 p.m. (virtual) and Wednesday, May 15, 8:45 a.m.-4:45 p.m. (in person) plus an optional happy hour in downtown Boulder. All members of the college’s staff are welcome to attend. Registration is required and is available at this link.

Participation in the summit is optional. Staff members are encouraged to attend relevant sessions, and the college has urged managers and chairs to support these professional-development and community-building activities.

The staff summit is an outgrowth of the college’s Be Heard initiative and its commitment to employee development and engagement. The Be SEEN: Staff Training and Mentoring working group is committed to providing staff more opportunities to connect and network by investing in professional-development opportunities such as this staff summit.

How to attend and next steps:

Please register by Wednesday, May 8, for one or both days of the staff summit at this link.
Please include your dietary restrictions for breakfast and lunch.
Help us celebrate college wins! As part of the 2024 Staff Summit, we want to celebrate the great accomplishments of the departments in arts and sciences. Please describe your department's biggest win of the year by completing a short questionnaire at this link.

For questions, contact Erin Cunningham Ritter

Full schedule of events

Day one

Tuesday, May 14, 2024, 10 a.m.-3:15 p.m.
Location: virtual via Zoom

10 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Welcome and opening remarks

Bernadette Stewart, assistant dean of culture and people, College of Arts and Sciences

10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Keynote Presentation

Pat O’Rourke, executive vice chancellor and chief operating officer, ��ϳԹ�
Pat O’Rourke will deliver a presentation that sets the tone for the summit's theme: Building Bridges: Connecting, Collaborating and Creating Together. Participants are encouraged to bring questions related to campus strategy and this year’s theme.

11:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Break

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Strengths in Our Differences: Fostering a Culture of Inclusivity and Respect in the College of Arts and Sciences

Moderators

Stephanie Colunga Montoya
director of inclusive practice for natural sciences, College of Arts and Sciences

Elaine Paul
director, Visual Arts Complex
visual resources specialist, Department of Art and Art History

Panelists

Kirk Ambrose
professor of Classics and founding director of the Center for Teaching & Learning

Jessica Brunecky
Divisional Manager, Social Sciences

Martin Boileau
professor and department chair, Economics

Join us for an inspiring panel discussion celebrating the diverse contributions of all members of the College of Arts and Sciences community at ��ϳԹ�, regardless of employee background, level or classification. Moderated by Stephanie Colunga Montoya, director of inclusive practice for natural sciences, and Elaine Paul, director of the Visual Arts Complex, this panel will explore how each individual's talents and perspectives contribute to the college's overarching goals in student success, research excellence and operational effectiveness.

12:30 p.m.–1 p.m. Lunch break

1 p.m.–2 p.m. Celebrating CU’s Legacy in Research

Massimo Ruzzene, vice chancellor for research and innovation and dean of the institutes, Slade Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Research & Innovation Office
This session highlights and celebrates ��ϳԹ�'s current research, historical research milestones and the invaluable staff contributions, as we foster a sense of pride and connection to ��ϳԹ�'s academic legacy. By highlighting the vital role each of us play in advancing the research mission, we will emphasize the power of collaboration and unity. This session will not only delve into the depth and breadth of arts and sciences research, but also integrate key highlights from across campus, showcasing our interconnected academic community.

2 p.m. –2:15 p.m. Break

2:15 p.m.–3 p.m. Three Resources for Building Community on Campus

Representatives from the three offices listed below will give brief overviews of their offerings, with opportunities for all college community members to build connections on campus:

Volunteer Resource Center
Fred Hodges
Event and community partnerships program manager
Volunteer Resource Center

CU Restorative Justice Program
Jamie Pratt, assistant director of restorative justice and conflict resolution
Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution

Basic needs center
Fred Hodges
Event and community partnerships program manager
Volunteer Resource Center

3:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. Wrap-up

Day two

Wednesday, May 15, 2024, 8:45 a.m. - 4:15 p.m. + happy hour
Location: Idea Forge | Project-Based Learning Studio
Fleming Building | 2445 Kittredge Loop Dr. | Boulder, CO 80309

8:45 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. Bagels and coffee

9:15 a.m. – 9:20 a.m. Welcome and opening remarks

Glen Krutz
Dean, College of Arts and Sciences

9:20 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. CELEBRATE!

Staff Advisory Committee (SAC) Employee of the Year Winners

Chris Marelli
SAC co-chair, director of the general chemistry labs

Elaine Paul
director, Visual Arts Complex
visual resources specialist, Department of Art and Art History

9:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. Break

9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Higher Education, a Whole Different Animal: How and Why Higher Education Is Not Like Other Organizations

What makes higher education different from other organizations and industries? What are the different employee “cultures” in an institution of higher education and what do they value? How are decisions made in higher ed? What do we mean by shared governance? Why does it take so long to get things done? These and many other questions about working in an institution of higher education will be answered in this session!

Merna Jacobsen, Ph.D., SPHR
Associate vice chancellor for organization and employee development
Deputy chief human resources officer

10:45 a.m. - 11 a.m. Break

11:00 a.m. – 12 p.m. Empower Personal Career Decision Making in the Midst of Self-Doubt and Systemic Barriers

While it can feel empowering and relieving to make a career decision, taking steps to enact the decision can feel overwhelming. For some of us, self-limiting beliefs—including imposter syndrome—negatively affect our ability to achieve a goal. For others, especially members of underrepresented and historically marginalized identities, systemic issues including access can hinder career goal attainment. Attend this highly interactive session to gain more clarity on what might be holding you back from taking the leap and pursuing your next career move. Collectively, we will discuss this topic on an individual and systemic level in terms of limitations and strategies for addressing those limitations.

Kristi Wasson
Assistant director, populations comprehensive career team
��ϳԹ� Career Services

12 p.m. - 1 p.m. Lunch

Table resources: check out the three resources for building community on campus
Stop by the tables to learn more!

Volunteer Resource Center

Fred Hodges
Event and community partnerships program manager
Volunteer Resource Center

CU Restorative Justice Program

Jamie Pratt
Assistant director of restorative justice and conflict resolution
Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution

Basic needs center

Fred Hodges
Event and community partnerships program manager
Volunteer Resource Center

1 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. The Welcome Land Launch Hub Is Here!

Bernadette Stewart will introduce a new hub of knowledge that provides an introduction to the CU System. It empowers employees and supervisors to recognize where they are situated in the college, division and department, and to gain tactical guidance for work responsibilities.

Bernadette Stewart
Assistant dean of culture and people, College of Arts and Sciences

1:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. Break

1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Adopting the Shared Equity Leadership Model to My Work While Centering and Empowering My Personal Journey

The Shared Equity Leadership Model is a “critical-consciousness” process that invites individuals to reflect on and become critically aware of social, political and economic oppression and the resulting social injustices; identify and navigate the structural constraints and social inequities that limit human agency and well-being; and acquire the skills and resources to transform oppressive elements and create a just society. Through interactive participation and reflection, participants will dive deeper into what it means to reflect on their personal journey toward critical consciousness, while sharing equity-focused values and enacting specific practices to promote more just and equitable outcomes.

Dr. Patricia Gonzalez
Assistant dean for justice, equity, diversity and inclusion, College of Arts and Sciences

Marysia Lopez
Program manager for justice, equity, diversity and inclusion, College of Arts and Sciences

2:45 p.m. - 3 p.m. Break

3 p.m. - 3:20 p.m. Idea Forge tour

Victoria Lanaghan
Program coordinator, Idea Forge

3:20 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. Campus tour

As the final session of the summit, this tour will immerse you in our top-tier public research institution nestled below the Flatirons. Discover the academic excellence, cutting-edge facilities and vibrant community that define the College of Arts and Sciences. From historic landmarks to awe-inspiring outdoor spaces, ��ϳԹ� offers an unforgettable educational journey in a stunning natural setting. Bring your water and walking shoes and dress for our Colorado weather!

Gavin Laing, tour guide,
Faculty affairs senior coordinator, College of Arts and Sciences

4:15 p.m. - 6 p.m. Happy hour at Avanti

The campus tour will end at the Buffalo pool (Rec Center) and from there we will go on a short walk to Avanti on Pearl Street (those with cars can meet us there). Food and drinks aren’t provided but please come spend time building community with your colleagues.

Staff members in the College of Arts and Sciences are invited to join the fourth-annual staff summit.

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