WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY

FACULTY SENATE MINUTES

Regular Meeting – November 10, 2008

Call to Order

Matthew Liao-Troth, 2008-2009 Faculty Senate President, called the Senate to order at 4:01 pm. 

Liao-Troth welcomed twenty-eight (28) Senators, two (2) ex officio members, the Past President (1), the recorder (1) and two guests (2) for a total of thirty-four (34)  (see attached roster).  

Items from the Senate President

Approval of Senate Minutes.  

Senators accepted Senate minutes of October 27, 2008. 

Reports

Liao-Troth reported that:

§    John Lawson, VP Technology, and Frances Halle, Space Administration, had checked out podiums in the AIC had been checked to ensure that the pull-out keyboard allowed for faculty to sit at the podium computer.

§    Microsoft Word 2007 is available to faculty and the MAC version requires a small licensing fee.

§    Forums for the Bookstore Managers will be held on Nov 12, 14, and 19 in Viking Union. 

Items from the Administration

§    Provost Murphy reported that he is waiting for revenue forecasts before approving faculty hires for the Fall. Murphy added that now the election is over there will be greater focus on the budget.

Items from UFWW. 

·    Bill Lyne, UFWW President reported that UFWW is working closely with the WEA Board to make sure that Higher Education concerns are vigorously represented in the upcoming legislative agenda.  The unions plan to caution against making cuts to Higher Education thereby squandering the progress made over many years.

·    Lyne reported that he and Andrea Goddard, ASVP Academics, along with members of the search committee completed a weekend of interviewing provost finalists at SeaTac and announced the following public forums: a) for Shirley Clay Scott, Thurs 14 Nov: 4-5 pm, SL110; b) Rex Gandy, Thurs 20 Nov: 3-4 pm, SL110; c) Elizabeth Paul, Mon 1 Dec: 4-5 pm, SL 120.  Faculty can read curriculum vitae and provide direct response at www.wwu.edu/provostsearch .   Lyne encouraged faculty to do so prior to the committee meeting with President Shepard on December 3^rd. 

·    In response to further questions Lyne reported that all three candidates come from colleges with graduate programs. 

Constituent Concerns:

Senators brought the following concerns from constituents:

·    Singing and loud demonstrations on Red Square have become distracting to faculty in surrounding offices, and seem to be occurring without consideration of time constraints imposed by class scheduling.   Liao-Troth with check on the regulations with Randy Stegmeier, campus police.

·    Student teacher evaluation processes are currently under review by the Academic Coordinating Commission.  The intention is to strive to understand the purpose for which the evaluations are designed and utilized and administered on a broad level.  Senator Hearne, who is also Vice Chair of the ACC, suggested that proposals for improvement, and other concerns should be forwarded to Roger Thompson, Chair, to himself, or to the Senate Office.

Agenda Items: 

Standing Committee Minutes – Reading and Acceptance (Exhibit B)

APPOINTMENTS AND ELECTIONS –Tracy Coskie, Appointments Officer

VACANCY:  Academic Technology Committee:  One Senator through 2009.

ACTION ITEMS:

MOTION TO APPROVE THE REVISED FACULTY HANDBOOK: 

·     Liao-Troth pointed out several minor changes to the revised handbook which were made by the Assistant Attorney General to ensure that the language agreed with State regulations regarding travel policies.

·     Then Chris Suczek moved, seconded by Tom Downing, that the Senate adopted the revised Faculty Handbook with the proviso that minor editorial changes can still be made.  The Senate passed the motion unanimously.

·     Liao-Troth will remove the colored highlighting but keep the strike-through in the revised and approved handbook prior to publishing to the faculty via email and link to the Senate website.  The handbook will then go to the Board of Trustees for approval at their December meeting.

DISCUSSION ITEM: 

Procedures for Appointments of Opportunity Policy (PRO-U1600.01A)

§    Senators reviewed procedures to follow Appointments of Opportunity Policy (PRO-U1600.01A) and will vote on the procedures at the next meeting.  Laura Eckert was present to answer questions.  Once the Senate votes the Equal Opportunity Office can sign off on the document and that is all that is needed for it to become implemented as “law”.

§    Provost Murphy explained that in the policy itself the overriding consideration ordinarily is the hiring of the principal faculty member, and on occasion that is only possible through some accommodation if the university chooses to make that hire – normally for a highly sought-after faculty hire.  That accommodation might include only part-time employment if qualified for a specified period of time.  But the hiring department has to go to the mat for their candidates, achieving a compromise between departmental and personnel needs.

FACULTY CAUCUS AND ADJOURNMENT

§    Senators moved to a faculty caucus at 4:45.  Prior to adjournment Liao-Troth rose to report that a discussion was held on personnel and real estate. 

Adjournment.  Senators moved to adjourn at 4:55 pm.

Rose Marie Norton-Nader, Recorder, 11-4-2008

                                                                                                _______________________

                                                                                                Chuck Lambert, Secretary

Roster of the 2008-2009 Faculty Senate

Article III.  Faculty Senate:  The Faculty Senate is empowered to speak and act for the Faculty in University affairs with particular responsibility in the areas of curriculum, academic programs, Faculty salary, Faculty status, scholarly activities, and all matters relating to the welfare of Faculty, the education of students, and the academic mission of the University. The Faculty Senate is limited to 30 voting members elected by the Faculty, and the President of the University, the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs of the University, and a college dean appointed by the Provost serving as Provost's Council representative as ex officio non-voting members.    (Faculty Handbook, page 55)