WWU dedicates Karen W. Morse Hall and SMATE classroom - Board of Trustees recap for June 13, 14

[ Editor’s note: After each Board of Trustees meeting, Western Today provides a recap of decisions and discussion. ]

On Thursday, June 13, Western Washington University dedicated the Karen W. Morse Hall, the university’s Chemistry Building renamed in honor of Western President Emerita Karen W. Morse.

A lecture hall in Western’s Science, Mathematics and Technology Education (SMATE) Building named after Joe Morse, a retired WWU chemistry professor and the first director of SMATE, also was dedicated on Thursday.

“Over the course of her 15-year tenure Karen was, remarkably, able to lead Western through a period of tremendous growth – of the campus, the faculty, and the student body – while strengthening a national reputation for quality and an intimate, small-college feel.  For its present and future strengths, Western owes Karen Morse a great deal,” Western President Bruce Shepard said at the dedication of Karen W. Morse Hall.

At the dedication of the SMATE lecture hall, Shepard said that “as the first director of SMATE, it is only fitting that Joe’s foundational contributions to one of Western’s strongest, most respected programs should be preserved by naming one of its classrooms for him.”

Karen and Joe Morse both thanked those in attendance. Karen Morse said that she and Joe were deeply touched and honored

People gathered at the two ceremonies included Western President Emeritus Jerry Flora, current and former trustees, faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors and members of the community. Speakers at the ceremonies included Peggy Zoro, chair of Western’s Board of Trustees, Shepard, Karen and Joe Morse, College of Sciences and Technology Dean Jeff Wright, retired CST Dean Arlan Norman, and retired SMATE Director George “Pinky” Nelson.

On Dec. 14, Western’s Board of Trustees approved naming the university’s Chemistry Building after Karen Morse and the SMATE lecture hall after Joe Morse.

In other business, the trustees:

• Approved preliminary operating and capital budgets, which will be finalized once the Legislature approves state operating and capital budgets
• Awarded a construction contract for the Multipurpose Field
• Approved 2013-2014 student fees
• Approved a memorandum of understanding, an agreement between the Port and Western that defines how land can be moved into their shared development authority, Western Crossing Development, to enable development of the WWU presence in the Waterfront District
• Heard a report on the President’s Taskforce on Equity, Inclusion and Diversity, by Bill Lyne, English professor and special assistant to the president and provost
• Heard a presentation on Western’s Institute for Energy Studies by Andy Bunn, associate professor of Environmental Sciences and founding director of the institute, student Joseph Meyer and Manca Valum of the WWU Foundation
• Heard a presentation on the university’s on-going comprehensive review of the WWU parking system by Richard Van Den Hul, vice president for Business and Financial Affairs, Randy Stegmeier, director of public safety and university police chief, and Rick Benner, university architect and director, Facilities Development and Capital Budget
• Heard an update on WWU’s comprehensive campaign from Stephanie Bowers, vice president for University Advancement
• Heard an update on the extended legislative session from Sherry Burkey, associate vice president for University Relations

The trustees also recognized:

• Catherine Riordan, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, who is resigning from that position, in a resolution
• Roger Gilman, who is retiring as dean of Fairhaven College, in a resolution
• Lynda Goodrich, who is retiring as athletic director, in a resolution
• Wendy Bohlke, who is retiring as attorney for Western, in a resolution
• Liz Sipes, secretary to the Board of Trustees, who is retiring, in a resolution
• Fulbright Scholars and their advisors
• Mark Greenberg, dean of Libraries
• Clara Capron, assistant vice president, Enrollment and Student Services
• New AS President Carly Roberts and other AS vice presidents
• Students who have been named 2013 Presidential Scholars, during the trustee luncheon on Friday
• And thanked Karen Stout, communication professor and Faculty Senate president for the past two years, outgoing Associated Students President Ethan Glemaker, and outgoingWWU student trustee Joseph Meyer