Abstract of Oct. 15, 2012, Faculty Senate meeting

Western Today staff

October 16, 2012

Karen Stout, Western Washington University Faculty Senate president, welcomed the 2012-13 Faculty Senate and called senators to order at 4:05 p.m. Monday, Oct. 15. Senators accepted the Senate minutes of Oct. 1, 2012, along with the standing committee minutes.

President Stout announced the following:

  • Humans vs. Zombies is planned for Oct. 24, and concerned faculty can email wwu.humansvszombies@gmail.com or call x3450 for details.
  • Faculty award deadlines and the ceremony itself are scheduled for earlier this year, so please nominate faculty soon. See the Provost’s website for forms. Students can also nominate, except for scholarship awards, so faculty are asked to submit plenty of these types of nominations in order to recognize colleagues for their scholarship.
  • Faculty are asked to show leniency to students involved in Compass2Campus who will be shepherding fifth grade students around campus on Tuesday, Oct. 23, for both educational and safety purposes.
  • As part of its scheduled administrative review, the Senate Executive Committee this year plans to review deans Brent Carbajal, Francisco Rios and Jeff Wright, one each quarter, through a short survey that should minimize the impact on faculty involved in review. The provost is not reviewing administrators this year.

Steve Garfinkle, United Faculty of Western Washington president, reminded faculty that UFWW will host a fall faculty celebration from 1 to 4 p.m. this Sunday, Oct. 21, at the Squalicum Boathouse in Zuanich Point Park. Faculty are invited to bring family, colleagues and a dish to share; appetizers and beverages will be served. See the UFWW newsletter on its website. Garfinkle reported that the committee on compression equity adjustment has begun to meet with the intent that raises will go into effect early next year retroactive to September 16. Faculty do not need to submit an application as all tenure and tenure-track faculty are eligible. 

Victor Celis, Associated Students vice president for academics, reported that 2,280 students were registered to vote by the AS, more than any other school in the state. Celis also reported that the AS Board is planning a retreat for 6 to 9 p.m. next Thursday for the 52-plus students who will serve on faculty governance committees. Celis also reported that the Ethnic Student Center will hold a weekend retreat at Camp Casey that will be attended by more than 150 students.

APPOINTMENTS AND ELECTIONS – Jackie Caplan-Auerbach, Officer.

Senators approved the following appointments: to Senate Library Committee: Hilary Schwandt, Fairhaven, thru 2014; to Student Publications Council: Sheila Webb, Journalism, and Chris Patton, English. Senators then discussed the status of non-tenure-track faculty who volunteered for committee service.

By MOTION an amendment was made to the appointment of Chris Patton as follows: “The Senate moves that Chris Patton be appointed conditionally to ensure that he is compensated as NTT for his service as so stipulated in the CBA,” which passed.

Senators discussed the question of reasonable compensation for NTT faculty and suggested that a pool of money be made available to compensate for duties outside of those stipulated in the NTT letter of offer.

Senators were reminded of the need for a senator to be appointed as a member of the Library Committee.

By MOTION Senators approved the appointment of Jason Kanov, Economics, as an interim At-Large non-voting member of the Senate Executive Council to fill the vacant position of Past President.

DISCUSSION: Academic Honesty Policy. Senators and invited members of the AS Board discussed ideas for improving the culture of academic honesty on campus. Senators will investigate the current Ethics Initiative which seems integral to the support of academic honesty and agreed that conversations about plagiarism and academic dishonesty should take place in the GURs and be more than a note in a syllabus.

Constituent Concerns:

  • Compensation of faculty serving on committees during times not on pay status (such as in the summer) should be addressed.
  • The periodic testing of “Big Ole” should take place infrequently and when no one is working on campus such as during breaks.

Adjournment: 5:44 p.m.