Abstract of Jan. 22, 2010, Faculty Senate meeting

January 26, 2010

Daniel Larner, Faculty Senate president, called the 2009-2010 senate to order at 4:03 p.m. Senators accepted senate minutes of Jan. 11, 2010, and standing committee minutes. Western Washington University President Shepard and Provost Catherine Riordan were off campus today.

President Larner reported the following:

  • Condolences are forwarded to the families of former faculty William Demmert (Woodring College) and Gene Hogan (Political Science) who passed away recently.
  • The Faculty Senate is soliciting Executive Council faculty members for next year. Those interested should e-mail Larner or Pearce.
  • A date will be set for faculty of the college governing boards to appoint representatives to the Graduate Strategic Advisory Committee; nominees can be forwarded to Larner for the committee chair to be jointly appointed by the senate and the provost.
  • The Library Committee charge is still under review as members take senate and other comments under advisement.
  • There are plans to webcast upcoming UPRC budget meetings, and faculty concerned about the bottom up budget process in their area should alert Larner or Pearce. Larner noted it is up to faculty to help enforce the president’s determination to keep the processes open and collaborative.

Larner read the legislative report from Marsha Riddle Buly, presently in Olympia, regarding bills currently before the legislature. These included:

  • a bill proposing furloughs that did not attract much support
  • several bills authorizing local tuition authority which some think may relieve the legislature of the need to fund public education.

Ramon Rinonos-Diaz reported:

  • a request to faculty to announce Project Leadership workshops for students being held all week; and
  • a positive Lobby Day when 35 students went to Olympia and spoke to legislators who seemed supportive of funding work-study and continued financial aid support.

Steven Garfinkle, United Faculty of Western Washington president, reported:

  • continued requests to correspond with legislators on behalf of higher education; please do so only from home email with information available on the UFWW and UFWS website or the Faculty Senate website (http://www.acadweb.wwu.edu/senate );
  • collaborations with college presidents and the unions towards lobbying efforts are working in new ways;
  • there are concerns that faculty may agree to increase their workload or sacrifice salary or other rights without full appreciation of their protections under the collective bargaining agreement. Faculty with questions should contact their local steward or Garfinkle.

Stephanie Bowers presented information on the guiding principles of the Foundation as it plans for a major Capital Campaign, including asking what it would take for a donor to make the most significant gift ever to Western. One requirement is the understanding of a compelling vision for Western’s future, and the specifics of a donation: what it will be used for; how it will make a difference; how it will change the university; and how the donor will know that he or she make a significant impact. Bowers emphasized the importance of programs where specific outcomes can be illustrated. Bowers mentioned an endowed chair in the sciences that might affect faculty and students for generations, or a several million dollar endowment that might grant every valedictorian in the state a scholarship to Western, as examples of “specific deliverables.” Bowers asks faculty to send her their ideas.

Senators moved to a faculty caucus at 5:40 p.m. after a short break and then adjourned at 5:54 p.m.

Appointments and Elections

Chuck Lambert, officer

Senators voted to approve the 2010 Senate Election Schedule for online voting.

Senators voted to appoint the following faculty to an Assessment Advisory Committee:

  • David Bover (Computer Science)
  • Tracy Thorndike Christ (Special Education)
  • Shaw Gynan (Modern and Classical Languages)
  • Alex Czopp (Psychology)
  • As Alternate: Michael Meehan (Computer Science)

Vacancies

Graduate Strategic Advisory Committee: one faculty representative from each of the Colleges and the Library appointed by the college or library faculty governance. Candidate for chair of the Committee (to be jointly appointed by Provost and Senate).