Abstract of May 14, 2012, Faculty Senate meeting

Western Today staff

May 16, 2012

Karen Stout, Faculty Senate president, called the meeting of the 2011-2012 Faculty Senate to order at 4:06 p.m. after orientation for new senators. Senators accepted the senate minutes of April 30, 2012, and the standing committee minutes. Senators also accepted the Graduate Council minutes, which included approval of a self-sustaining CCE program that plans to enroll students this year.

President Stout announced:

  • The May 16 Library presentation will be with a representative from the Oregon Cascade Alliance
  • The May 31st Provost and Faculty Senate Awards Ceremony in the Gallery at which Senators and faculty are invited to celebrate with colleagues who are receiving teaching and other awards
  • Senators are asked to remind colleagues not to penalize or drop students who may miss class during Yom Kippur
  • ACC will review catalog language regarding graduation with two majors or two degrees or two degrees
  • Data on the success of outreach efforts to attract students with high GPAs needs to be collected
  • Western doesn’t charge for interlibrary loans at present but that may change in the future.

WWU Provost Catherine Riordan reported:

  • Meetings are continuing with candidates for dean of Huxley College of the Environment
  • Community colleges in the state are discussing the move to a semester system
  • New Western initiatives may include an “Institute for Energy Studies”
  • Planning is continuing for the RN-to-BSN program
  • Only four programs will continue faculty searches next year to achieve top choices
  • Please let Provost Riordan know if you are interested in attending liberal arts conversations hosted by the Evergreen State College this summer

Steven Garfinkle, United Faculty of Western Washington president, suggested the need for formalized evaluation procedures for tenure and promotion when faculty have joint appointments. Garfinkle reminded senators that the capital campaign would optimally increase only 4 percent of Western's budget and cannot replace budgetary losses of the past few years.

Dan Boxberger, faculty legislative representative, confirmed that next year could be a critical one in Olympia, with continued budget issues and the push toward open courseware. Sara Singleton, a faculty member from the political science department, is nominee for deputy FLR when the senate votes on June 4.

Fabiola Arvizu, Associated Students vice president for academics, sent a message that the student senate, local union members and student employees are discussing the extent of AS support for Aramark unionizing on campus.

Spencer Anthony-Cahill, Faculty Senate vice president, led the discussion on development of the Elimination and Merger Policy in which senators emphasized a focus on quality programs and alignment with Western’s mission. Senators pointed out the impact of resource allocation on faculty and staff employment, and the challenge of attempting to create a consistent policy across colleges within specific disciplines.

Appointments and elections

ACTION: The senate moved to rescind a motion which allocated three positions to the UPRC and proposed a new MOTION which allocated the three positions to CFPA, CST and the Humanities, but one of the three will be filled by a Senator, as allowed in the Bylaws. The motion then continued that the remaining two positions will be filled following recommendations of the appropriate College Governance bodies, which are asked to select faculty with insights to serve the broader needs of those colleges as plans for space and capital plans are being formulated.

Senators adjourned at 5:37 p.m.

The following are the current faculty vacancies on ACC and other standing committees:

  • Council on University Programs (CUP): faculty from Honors, International Studies, Women Studies
  • Recruitment, Admissions, Support (RASC): 3 faculty broadly representative of areas (new committee replacing Admissions)

(For 1 through 4 below, four nominees are presented to the Provost, two are selected and an alternate. 7 faculty will be appointed)
1. Student Academic Grievance Board: 4 faculty, 2-year terms
2. Judicial Appeals Committee: 4 faculty, 3-year terms
3. Academic Honesty Board: 4 faculty, 3-year terms
4. Faculty Development Grants (RSP): 4 faculty, 3-year terms
**Central Health and Safety, 1 faculty; **Emergency Management Committee, 1 faculty (both replacing Brandi Row)
**LGBT Advocacy Council: 3 faculty
**Student Publications Council: 3 faculty with interest in selecting editors: 1 thru Spring 2013, 1 thru fall 2013, 1 alternate
**University Dining Contract: 1 faculty any area
For charges, memberships, meeting times, chairs, etc., please see http://www.acadweb.wwu.edu/senate See “Committees: Memberships” left column . (Please contact the Elections Officer, Jackie Caplan-Auerbach, or the Senate office via email: RoseMarie.Norton-Nader@wwu.edu with your availability to serve)