The University of Colorado announced on March 26 that a proposal to allow collective bargaining for university employees not already covered by existing agreements is being delayed. Regent Elliott Hood, who intended to introduce the measure at the March meeting of the CU Board of Regents Governance Committee, informed committee members about the postponement.
The delay comes as Hood seeks additional input from stakeholders within the university community. The proposal could impact how employee representation and shared governance operate at the institution.
“I wanted to make sure that I gave everyone, especially those already representing their fellow staff or faculty through the existing shared governance model, a chance to study and provide me with feedback on not only the idea, but how it could be structured to complement our system of shared governance,” Hood said.
Hood clarified that previous language circulating in the CU community was not necessarily his planned proposal but rather an example of one possible approach. He said any official language would be introduced through the Governance Committee process, where it would receive public review and debate.
According to Hood, any regent may bring a policy proposal through committee and ultimately to the full board due to how authority is structured in the Board of Regents. The process includes several steps: introduction in a committee, notification of all board members about policy discussions at committee level, formal introduction and debate within committee sessions followed by votes both in committee and before the full board. Each step must be separated by at least one month. A vote at committee does not prevent an individual regent from advancing a proposal for consideration by all regents.
Hood told his colleagues he will develop a timeline for potential introduction and discussion after completing outreach efforts with various groups across campus.
