Abstract of April 30, 2012, Faculty Senate meeting

Western Today staff

May 2, 2012

Karen Stout, Faculty Senate president, called the meeting of the 2011-2012 Faculty Senate to order at 4:04 p.m.

Senators accepted the senate minutes of April 16, 2012, and the standing committee minutes.

President Stout reported that:

  • Tuesday’s meeting to vet program guidelines for elimination and merger will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. in Communications Facility Room 298 (a room change), and faculty from a variety of areas are invited.
  • Western Libraries Dean Chris Cox encourages faculty to attend the next library presentation at 4 p.m. May 2 in Wilson Library Room 164
  • Steve Vanderstaay, Western's vice provost for undergraduate education, has asked for feedback regarding the effectiveness of outreach efforts to be provided to faculty.
  • The Senate Executive discussed a) forming a committee to confirm the academic calendar through 2021; b) a recruitment, admissions and support committee charge that would provide faculty input on admissions; and c) a legislative representative is sought for next year.

Steve Garfinkle, president of the United Faculty of Western Washington, reported that:

  • Electronic ballots for UFWW officers will be sent shortly to members.
  • Changes to the WWU retirement plan for faculty will provide access to the best funds via a single recordkeeper. Faculty can remain with funds they already have. Certain management fees will be reduced. A supplementation clause related to retirement will stay in effect for current faculty.

Fabiola Arvizu, Associated Students vice president for academics, sent a message to the senate that AS elections have ended and all four initiatives passed, including renewal of the Alternative Transportation Fee.

Presentation on veterans’ services: Chris Brown, Whatcom County Veterans Advisory Board member and veteran community coordinator, and Jordan Linayao, veteran community coordinator and Vet Corps representative, spoke about the large influx of student veterans across the country, which is expected to increase, and Western’s commitment to serve veterans through best practices. As a means of promoting social support on campus, Brown and Linayao suggested a veteran task force can visit departments and provide some training regarding working with veterans to help them transition from a military to a campus culture to minimize feelings of isolation. Faculty are frequently the point of first contact and can be helpful in recognizing the professional skills veterans have already acquired from military service. Senators agreed that sensitive engagement of veterans on the basis of their experience could be a terrific resource and beneficial to the entire class experience.

Medical excuses and absences from class: Kunle Ojikutu, assistant vice president for enrollment and student services, and Emily Gibson, director of the Student Health Care Center, said that student health centers at schools across the country are moving away from providing medical excuses to students. Gibson continues to provide a note for students whom she actually treats who are seriously ill and must be absent for more than two classes. Student population has increased while resources have not, and health care providers would prefer to spend time treating the ill rather than generating personalized excuses for students (especially for students who are asking for notes after the fact). So if students have not been seen in the Health Center, no medical note of excuse will be provided.

Action: Motion regarding allocation of UPRC at-large positions: The senate moved (Jackie Caplan-Auerbach), seconded (Deb Currier) and amended (Jim Graham) a motion to allocate the UPRC positions as follows: That three positions (rather than two) be allocated to CFPA, CST, and the Humanities area of CHSS, with recommendations to the College Governance bodies to select faculty with insights to serve the broader needs of the college as plans for space and capital plans are being formulated. Passed unanimously. (The senate recognized that if such allocation of three rather than two positions was to become permanent after next year that the membership charge to the UPRC would then have to be revised.)

Senators adjourned at 5:54 p.m.

Appointments and Elections: Senators appointed Craig Moyer, Biology, as senator to the Academic Technology Committee and Johann Neem, History, as senator to the Senate Library Committee.

Vacancies (Appointments to be made by May 14 so committees can seat new members at final meetings):

  • Academic Coordinating Commission: 1 faculty from Huxley, Fairhaven, CHSS (Area B), 1 Senator.
  • University Planning & Resources Council: 1 faculty from CST, CHSS (Humanities), CFPA.
  • Committee on Undergraduate Education (CUE): 1 faculty from CST, CHSS, Fairhaven, CBE, Libraries, Huxley.
  • Academic Technology Committee: 1 faculty from CHSS, CST, Huxley, Woodring,
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