Trustees approve supplemental budget requests to Legislature

[ Editor’s Note: After each Board of Trustees meeting, Western Today provides a recap of decisions and discussion. What follows is the Board of Trustees Recap for Aug. 20 and 21. ]

Western’s Board of Trustees on Aug. 20 approved 2016 supplemental operating and capital budgets. In both cases, in preparation for the 2016 legislative session, Western must submit budgets to the state this fall.

The operating budget includes a $2,374,762 decision package to expand support for Degree Completion and Student Success, and a $2,200,000 decision package to update and improve Western’s IT data network and wireless capacity.

In the supplemental capital budget request there are three requests totaling $9,350,000. Those include expansion and moving the offices for DisAbility Resources for Students from the ground floor of Old Main to the third floor of Haggard Hall; the first phase of a program to improve emergency response through upgraded building access control (campus-wide lockdown capability); and improving emergency response through upgraded outdoor enunciation (to cover more areas of campus with outside speakers for audio emergency messages).

Several of these requests, including Degree Completion and Student Success, expansion of DisAbility Resources for Students and upgrading outdoor enunciation all were previously submitted to the Legislature for funding.

The trustees held their Aug. 20 meeting at Shannon Point Marine Center (SPMC) and were welcomed by SPMC Director Erika McPhee-Shaw. Several trustees praised the marine science research and other programs of the center; Western President Bruce Shepard noted SPMC’s successful community outreach.

In other business, the trustees:

  • Recognized the service of Trustee Ralph Munro, whose term is ending. Several trustees praised Munro for how much he has helped Western, in a myriad of ways. Trustee Betti Fujikado told Munro: “I want to thank you for how much you stood up for Western in Olympia.” Munro, longtime Washington Secretary of State, Western alumnus and namesake for the Munro Institute at Western, said that it “has been an honor and a privilege” to serve on the board and that he will continue to support Western however he can.
  • Recognized the service of Trustee Dick Thompson, whose term is ending. Thompson, a Western alum who previously was chief of staff to former Gov. Booth Gardner, director of the state’s Office of Financial Management and secretary of the state Department of Social and Health Services (DHSH), was recognized for his outstanding service and dedication to Western. Trustees previously have expressed appreciation for Thompson’s many efforts to advance Western, including advocating for the university in Olympia.
  • Welcomed new Student Trustee Seth Brickey.
  • Recognized the service of Lisa Wochos, assistant attorney general, who is retiring. Wochos has provided legal counsel to the Board of Trustees, president, vice presidents, faculty and staff since 2001. “It’s been a real honor and a capstone to my legal career” which spanned 36 years, Wochos told the trustees of her service at Western. Following Wochos’ retirement, Roger Leishman has been named chief legal adviser for Western.
  • Welcomed new Faculty Senate President Molly Ware.
  • Heard a presentation on emergency management by Darin Rasmussen, Western’s chief of Police and director of Public Safety, and Sue Sullivan, director of WWU Environmental Health and Safety. They updated the trustees on improvements to the university’s Western Alert emergency notification system and discussed planning for emergency response drills on campus in the fall and spring.
  • Approved awarding a $430,215 contract to THA Architecture of Portland, Ore., to provide predesign for the Science Building renovation and addition project (the Environmental Studies building).
  • Approved awarding a $470,951 contract to Studio Meng Stazzara of Seattle to provide architectural and engineering services for renovation work for Ridgeway Gamma residence hall.
  • Discussed planning for and the possibility of expansion of on-campus student housing in the form of apartment-style suites. No decisions were made and further review will be ongoing.
  • Stephanie Bowers, vice president for University Advancement, provided an update on WWU’s comprehensive campaign, adding that the Western Stands for Washington Campaign had reached about $57 million on its way to a $60 million goal.
  • Approved a resolution – as part of the search for a new Western president – that addresses the role of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee, the scope of the search, criteria for search committee member selection, and the size, composition and selection process for the search committee. Additional information on the resolution is available at this link: http://www.wwu.edu/presidentsearch/.
  • At their Aug. 21 meeting, heard a presentation by Roger Leishman, chief legal adviser for Western, on the Open Public Meetings Act and public records review as those relate to the role of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee.
  • For more information on the trustees’ meeting, see: Meeting Materials.
  • The date for the next regular meeting of the Board of Trustees is Oct. 8 and 9.