Abstract of Nov. 24, 2012, Faculty Senate meeting

Western Today staff

November 28, 2012

Karen Stout, Faculty Senate President, called senators to order at 4:05 p.m. Senators accepted Senate minutes (with a minor correction) of Nov. 5, 2012, and Standing Committee minutes.

Stout's announcements:

  • More than 140 responses have been received for Dean Carbajal’s administrator review, including expressions of appreciation for the efforts of past Senates to establish this process, and to the Administration for being willing to accept the feedback provided by such reviews.
  • David Brunnemer seeks faculty feedback for a Disability Resource Services website for faculty. Kathleen Saunders volunteered, and other faculty are requested to give feedback as well. Willing faculty should contact President Stout or David Brunnemer. This would not require much time and responsibilities would be complete in winter quarter.
  • Feedback on proposed handbook changes should be submitted to Johann Neem by December 14. A redraft will be voted on in the Senate winter quarter, disseminated to faculty for feedback, and voted on a second time before forwarding to the President, and eventually the Board of Trustees.

Provost Catherine Riordan's announcements:

  • Faculty planning major initiatives linked to budgetary needs should make sure they participate in formulating their college’s 6-year plan, which ideally strives to align with the capital plan.
  • Provost Riordan attended an APLU (http://www.aplu.org) conference and found that universities across the country are developing a variety of options for the delivery of curriculum to deal with budgetary pressures. Poor student outcomes following degree completion may be the cause of a decline in the for-profit online sector.

Dan Boxberger, Faculty Legislative Representative, reported (via email) that Higher Ed committees will be addressing such issues as the Student Advisory Council, impact of tuition increases, the State Need Grant, and GET on Thursday and Friday. Updates will also include the Joint Task Force on Education Funding and Budget Forecasts. Many of these conversations will be available on TVW.

UFWW President Steven Garfinkle directed Senators to the UFWS blog (http://www.UFWS.org ), which lists Washington dead last in state spending per student.

ASVP-Academics Victor Celis reported the AS is seeking a faculty member for the Student Technology Fee review committee, which helps decide next year’s student technology fee.

Motions:

  • Executive Council Action endorsed. The Faculty Senate made a Motion (moved by Caplan-Auerbach, seconded by Hirsch) to endorse the action taken by the Executive Council to send the current (revised) Academic Honesty Policy back to the ACC for discussion/approval. Motion passed. A more completely revised policy is still under consideration for next year.
  • Integrity Advisory Group. A discussion occurred regarding the development of an ad hoc committee to encourage a culture of integrity at Western. This committee would explore options for creating a toolkit for faculty and opportunities for increasing discourse and outreach regarding issues of integrity. Following the discussion, the Senate made a Motion (moved by Wayne, seconded by Hirsch) to create an advisory group to explore relevant literature and what other universities and academic communities have done to foster a culture of integrity, and to make recommendations to the Senate at the end of winter quarter 2013. Motion passed. The membership is as yet undetermined, but plans are to include faculty, staff, students and administration.

Senate adjourned at 5:50 p.m.

Appointments and elections:
Jackie Caplan-Auerbach, Officer

  • Approved: To Senate Library Committee: Michiko Yusa, MC&L, as Senator.
  • Vacancy: 1 faculty to sit on a Student Academic Technology Fee Review committee, meeting once or twice next quarter, preferably with experience/interest in the fee’s allocation.