LFA Exec - Minutes - December 16, 2026

LFA Executive Committee Meeting     
December 16, 2025 

11:00 AM -12:00 PM  

   

Attending: Josh Bolick (Chair), Elspeth Healey (Vice Chair), Amanda Schlumpberger (Secretary), Scott McEathron, Angie Rathmel

  

Absent:   Samantha Bishop Simmons  

  

Minutes:    

 

  • Welcome 
  • Approve minutes from 10/22 LFA Exec Meeting [link] 
    • Scott moves to approve, Angie seconded, motion carries, minutes approved
  • Liaison reports: 
    • LCPT (Elspeth) 
      • Jill is joining Carol on meetings for PTT, Ad hoc committees will meet in Jan. They will continue to refine language coming out of Assembly feedback.
    • SLPTR (Scott) 
      • Not much, they are getting ready to do post-tenure reviews
    • Ad Hoc Committee for Review of PT Criteria (Elspeth & Josh) 
      • Wrapped up meetings and some feedback came out of those focus groups 
      • They Qualtrics form closes 12/19 and in Jan. they will take all that feedback and review of other institutions that they will build recs to bring to the body with a special meeting likely 
      • Major source of tension was minor and major distinctions. 
      • They have gotten feedback from a good number of people
    • University Senate Library Committee (Josh) 
      • Still trying to identify what to work on together, but leadership is good. They have met twice and still discussion on what shape they will take. There is some conversation of subcommittees. Space is a likely topic they will take up 
    • LSA (Josh) 
      • Talent development continues to be a conversation for them 
      • There was a concern from staff about faculty/staff service workload divide when serving on committees and who carries the workload and how to ensure everyone is equally carrying their weight when they take up serving on a committee. 
      • Discussion on how to ensure this isn’t a problem and addressed—solutions are conversations with individuals, chair of governance, and/or supervisors. Also, continue to model a culture in service 
      • LSA reported there was some difference between the KEYS survey and what the results say between staff and admin. 
      • LSFA talked about ways to track creative items that are meeting barriers. There was also discussion on how we define creativity in our work and what support for creativity looks like in the culture of the organization 
    • UAKU (Scott) 
      • There will be bargaining sessions 12/19 and 12/22 all day in Watson 455, so you are welcome to hop in and out—promotion and tenure and salary are the topics on the table. 
  • Report on LFA Chair and Vice Chair/Chair Elect meeting 11/10/25 and 12/8/25 meetings with Dean (Josh and Elspeth) 
    • Talked a bit about salary – Carol had no new info 
    • Talked about space (Anschutz, Annex, Watson, etc). We are balancing tenant space and protecting library space at the same time 
    • Innovation: how to accelerate culture change in midst of huge changes and the importance of having an agile approach 
    • We do have $1200, we can use this to provide some food and snacks at assembly and special meetings. At the end of the year we can look at what is left and hosting programming or thank you event for those who serve. The vision is that this will be repeated for future years 
  • Updates to priorities for FY26 
    • Eval reform (Josh) 
      • Faculty evaluation appeals process; the Faculty handbook is silent on faculty eval appeal process. Faculty Affairs just say there must be due process. At this time there isn’t anything to do because it is too late for this year and Union will change it all. HR and governance agreed that they will work on developing a process if it comes up in the meantime 
      • At that time we aren’t sending an all faculty email to not create non-necessary panic. But, we are available to answer questions and navigate if necessary. 
    • Ad Hoc PT Guidelines (placeholder; update provided in liaison reports above)
  • LFA Assembly Debrief and Action Items 
    • Minutes: LFAassembly_minutes2025.11.17.docx 
      • There was concern about the language proposed around new hire policy. Elspeth followed up with Carol to clarify the proposal. 
      • Feedback: Highlight changes to policies to leadership prior to assembly meetings 
      • Jill is cleaning up the language of the proposal to have ready for the body in the Spring
    • Actions: 
      • What we need to send to ballot: LCPT new standing charge to be sent to ballot: “When requested by the Dean of Libraries, review new-hire faculty files to determine if awarding tenure and/or elevated rank is appropriate.” 
      • Plan to assist Nominating & Ballot re: strategic selection of candidates for service on faculty committees (in particular) 
        • Action: executive and other committees who have tricky membership requirements will need to help N&B identify people to serve 
        • This is to address the committee membership challenges raised in Assembly
      • In spring: work with LCPT towards next steps for proposed revisions to Academic Appointments in University Libraries document 
        • Jill working on language for Spring Assembly 
        • The goal is to have the language ready for yes/no vote so we aren’t editing as a full group 
        • We will also ensure the full mark up view is visible and available for the full body 
    • Any other business? 
      • none
    • Conclude 
      • Motion to adjourn: Elspeth
      • Second: Angie
      • Motion carried, meeting adjourned at 11:55am