Abstract of May 2, 2011, Faculty Senate meeting

Western Today staff

May 3, 2011

Scott Pearce, Western Washington University Faculty Senate president, called the 2010-2011 Faculty Senate to order at 4:06 p.m. Senators accepted senate minutes of April 18, 2011, and standing committee minutes.

Pearce asked for a faculty member to volunteer as speaker for welcoming convocation and reported that a potential memorandum of understanding would change the Unit Evaluation Plan name to ”Unit Evaluation Plan and Operating Procedures” to expand the authority of the document to include faculty governance.

WWU President Bruce Shepard reported that continued uncertainty on budget decisions from Olympia has caused the campus to move ahead on ideas to reinvest in the university and sustain excellence in the long run. The University Planning and Resources Council will weigh in on immediate decisions; other decisions will be postponed to fall, when there is less pressure. See UPRC schedule below.

Shepard reported that this year’s budgeting process and the roles of faculty in the confidential process could be formalized once a critical examination of the completed process can take place. Faculty agreed that a full disclosure of controversial issues is necessary before voting on future policies.

Provost Catherine Riordan reported that the Graduate Strategic Advisory Committee criteria for evaluating graduate programs will be released soon so faculty can gather statistics during the summer. Riordan reported that searches for deans for the College of Sciences and Technology and Woodring College of Education, as well as the search for a director for Extended Education and Summer Programs, are moving along well.

Steven Garfinkle reported that he is the sole nominee for United Faculty of Western Washington president. Garfinkle added that the UFWW provides an important forum for cross-campus dialogue.

Ramon Rinonos-Diaz, Associated Students vice president for academics, introduced Fabiola Arvizu, elected ASVP-Academics 2011-12, and announced that AS will hold runoff elections for three other positions.

Senators heard reports from senators who formed ad hoc committees to survey satisfaction with faculty governance in their colleges. Pearce held several straw votes in which senators voted to continue with the survey process and to work out an introduction and one or two questions that can be available to those who would like a sample.

Senators considered language for a medical excuse policy to finalize at a future meeting.

Adjournment: 5:55 p.m.

Appointments and Elections: Chuck Lambert, Officer

Appointed to the Faculty Senate: Paul Chen, Political Science, 2011 through 2012 (representing Area C)

Vacancies:

  • One Faculty Legislative Representative 2011-2012 (travel stipend and release time provided)
  • One Senate replacement for Chuck Lambert, Woodring through 2012
  • Senators will propose areas for the two additional UPRC representatives for 2011-2012 by sending email to the Senate office

Schedule of review by UPRC and special hearings schedules

UPRC will adhere as far as possible to the following schedule at its meetings:

  • May 4: University Relations, BFA, Student Affairs, Academic Affairs (Support including Graduate School)
  • May 11: University Advancement, CHSS, Fairhaven, CFPA & Woodring
  • May 18: CBE, CST, Huxley, and the Library

UPRC will provide four hours of special hearings from 10 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 3 p.m. on Friday, May 6, and Friday, May 13, in Old Main Room 340 so people can come forward to discuss proposals that UPRC will begin considering this week even without a target budget from Olympia. Constituents are asked to forward concerns to Jeff Newcomer and can view UPRC representatives on the Faculty Senate website.