WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY

FACULTY SENATE MINUTES

Regular Meeting – April 4, 2011

Call to Order

Senate President Scott Pearce called the 2010-2011 Senate to order at 4:06 pm.  Pearce welcomed

twenty-three (23) Senators along with thirteen (13) others for a total of thirty-six (36)  (See attached roster).

Approval of Senate Minutes:   Senators accepted the Senate minutes of February 28, 2011 with a sentence added to page 2 as follows:  “Chris Suczek commented that we devalue the GURs by accepting a D- in a GUR course as a passing grade.”

Senate President Scott Pearce announcements: 

Scott Pearce reported that:

o  Low turnout to the General Faculty Assembly on college shared governance guidelines may indicate few problems; Pearce suggested that the UEP should include the guidelines, and plans future discussions with provost and the deans about possibly changing the name of the UEP to be inclusive not only of evaluation plans but also of faculty governance;

o  The Senate will be the default stakeholder in policies developed in the academic affairs policy committee (Debra Jusak, Barbara Lechtanski and Francis Halle);

o  A policy regarding page charges is currently being drafted by Dean Moheb Ghali following suggestions by David Wallin and Jackie Caplan-Auerbach;

o  The confidential process outlined in the Elimination and Merger policy passed by the Senate is being partially implemented; President Shepard asks for time to consider it further after the current budget issues are resolved;

o  A new East College Way will probably allow a speed limit of 10 mph and suggest that motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists share the road.

Items from the Administration

President Shepard reported:

·         That the message to Olympia has been that Western is badly underfunded – by $18M biennially when compared to the average of Eastern, Central, and Evergreen.  Shepard thinks the House heard the message and may address part of the historical underfunding: with a 13% tuition increase, the net result would be a cut of 3.3% to Western’s operating budget.  However, the Senate budget and conference budget could be more punitive. 

·         Tuition flexibility may be necessary to continue access to quality.  Legislators may become more aware of higher education funding needs when parents contact them.

·         Shepard added that there is evidence that legislators are beginning to understand how devastating deeper cuts could be to public higher education in Washington thanks to faculty and others who have been actively engaged; however, we will all need to redouble our efforts in the coming weeks as we compete with social service organizations for limited resources.

Provost Riordan reported:

·         Candidates may be expected on campus in April for the deans’ searches for Woodring and CST.

·         A search for Director for International Studies seeks a candidate able to advance curricular integration and innovation in International issues.  The five year appointment may have several options for replacement if a faculty member is appointed.

Other Reports

On behalf of Marsha Riddle Buly, Ramon Rinonos-Diaz, ASVP-Academics, reported:

·         That faculty need to continue to contact legislators and work with students in a collaboration which has already shown significant impact on legislative consideration for support for higher education. 

·         Please email Rinonos-Diaz to obtain district cards and sample letters to the legislature.

On behalf of the AS Rinonos-Diaz reported:

·         Student trustee applications close Tuesday April 12; and

·         Faculty can submit Green Energy Fee proposals which close on April 18. 

Steve Garfinkle, UFWW Chair reported

·         That direct political action by Western faculty is effective and we must continue to ensure that legislators hear from us;

·         At 4:15 pm Tuesday in Fraser 3 there will be updates on collective bargaining following Provost Riordan’s budget presentation.

Paul Dunn, Special Assistant to the President, reviewed the newly instituted procedure for nominating a candidate for an honorary doctoral degree.  The Senate Executive will forward its recommendation from among the six current nominees to the President next week who will then forward to the Board of Trustees. 

APPROVAL OF REAPPOINTMENT OF CHAIR OF UPRC

·         MOTION:  The Senate moved to approve Jeff Newcomer to serve as Chair of the University Planning and Resources Council through 2013.  (Moved by Chuck Lambert, second by David Meyer, passed unanimously.)

Constituent Concerns included issues that:

·         Using differential tuition such as higher tuition for expensive programs is against the mission of the university and could set a dangerous precedent.  We are all in this together and should not set higher tuition for expensive programs.  Such a policy would prevent students from entering certain programs and the price setting could create a competition for salaries that would also limit access.

·         Some faculty request that the return date for the Provost’s review via the survey be extended.

·         Language in Policy U3000.02, Using Electronic Methods for University Communication needs clarification and John Lawson is invited to explain the related IT Security Audit.

·         Not all faculty may be aware of the extensive process that took place for developing Western’s logo.

·         Discrepancy exists between catalog language which prohibits the early scheduling of final exams and actual practice. No final exams may be scheduled during Dead Week.

Appointments and Elections:   Chuck Lambert, Officer

Senators were asked to notify constituents re:

• SENATE ONLINE ELECTION -  BALLOTS OPEN ON Bb April 1 through April 15 

• Senators were provided with the list of Vacancies on Standing Committees

The following vacancies were announced:

·         Faculty Legislative Representative 2011-2012: – A faculty volunteer is sought to serve in this important role.

·         Search Committee:  International Studies Director – one faculty member for the committee

DISCUSSION

The Budget, Potential Cuts, the Future of the University – EESP

·         Senators learned that University of Washington’s version of EESP is to take growing numbers of programs and turn them into private entities, but that is not Western’s plan.  For example, 90% of  their programs are graduate programs focused on professions – niche programs run in cohorts with about twenty students, which are a large revenue source for them.

·         Western might provide something exciting for working professionals that would be a really high quality or premier program.  The Senate might discuss if there is a role for such programs at Western and under what conditions would we want to build new programs, if any.

·         Nursing is one example which might be of concern if taught on campus because of its impact on our already highly impacted science programs.  What about as an off-campus program through EESP? 

·         Senators discussed development of EESP according to principles that make sure what we do off campus is consistent with Western’s high standards.  Some deans are working on sets of principles.  Provost Riordan noted that the major hurdles are logistics and policies, but doors are wide open for entrepreneurial efforts by faculty using regular ACC processes.

Special Report on Labor Issues by President of UFWW

·         Garfinkle raised the question of defining “overload” and will report on labor issues at the next meeting.  Questions arose particularly in connection with online offerings and how creating such offerings and teaching online courses fits in with the work faculty are already doing.  For example, what  constitutes a “full load”?  Can an online course be added to that – because “a course is a course is a course.” ?  At one time there was a push to curb overloads, but in the present budget crisis there appears to be a push to accommodate overloads.  UFWW’s concern is that all faculty be treated equitably, along with consideration for how to merge hyrbids or online offerings into existing programs.

·         President Shepard added that from the standpoint of pure marketing, we understand that in the marketplace we also have to protect the quality of the Western degree.  It is wholly unrealistic to think that we can solve all the problems through online programs.  This university has a special niche.

·         Senators noted that summer school is not the same quality as school during the year.  We may not be doing the students any favors by offering shorter courses in the summer.

·         We have to remember that curricular decisions begin in departments and must proceed through ACC.

·         Faculty in departments must look carefully at this, and we must look carefully at EESP candidates.  Who understands policy issues?  Sometimes entrepreneurial faculty in departments can make a big difference.

·         Garfinkle will give a full report on labor issues at the next meeting.

Adjournment

Senators adjourned at 6:00 pm – April 4, 2011 – Rose Marie Norton-Nader, Recorder

                                                                                                ___________________________

David Hartenstine, Secretary, 2010-2011

FACULTY SENATE – ROSTER 2010-2011