FACULTY SENATE

Minutes of February 6, 2012

Call to Order

Karen Stout, Faculty Senate President, called the 2011-2012 Senate to order at 4:04 pm. Stout welcomed twenty-five (25) Senators along with nine (9) others for a total of thirty-four (34).  (See Roster).

Items from the Faculty Senate President:

Approval of Senate Minutes: Senators accepted the Senate minutes of January 23, 2012.

President Stout reported:

§  The next “Humans vs. Zombies” game will take place on the weekend of February 18 and 19;

§  Stout will be going on “good will” tours in meetings with governance committees;

§  Email surveys regarding administrative review will go out shortly and will provide an option if faculty only have minimal interaction with the administrator.  Response data is entirely controlled by the Senate.

Reports

President Shepard reported that:

§  Budget issues are still somewhat murky;  in recent discussions he assured Senators that he is no longer considering program eliminations or major reductions in the near future regardless of budget cuts;

§  Shepard commented on the many emails he received in which faculty students and parents responded compassionately to the recent student suicide.

Steve Garfinkle, UFWW President, reported that collective bargaining agreement negotiations have begun.

§  Garfinkle expressed appreciation to the hard work of the ten member faculty bargaining team.

Fabiola Arvizu, ASVP Academics reported that:

§  Mayor Kelli Linville attended a recent workshop for women interested in elective campaigning;

§  AS is preparing a resolution regarding the recent marriage equality bill;

§  A second resolution is planned that will seek support in opposing Arizona’s decision to eliminate Mexican-American studies programs from its schools.

Center for International Studies – Vicki Hamblin, Director

Hamblin reported on her efforts to turn Western’s mission statement into actions, including taking the following actions to:

§  Simplify the process for transfer credit and transcript issues;

§  Build stronger international partnerships;

§  Make opportunities known with a plan and process for recruiting international students;

§  Internationalize the curriculum. 

Hamblin reported on the need to review and organize the international choices currently available and focus attention on programs which are both cost effective and beneficial to students in the academic programs in which they are enrolled.

Space Administration Update:  Francis Halle, Director

Senators heard Francis Halle discuss future planning in light of major capital requests currently being considered.  Included in a 10-year to 15-year plan is the possibility of having all of the Fine and Performing Arts centrally located on High Street; a new interdisciplinary sciences building within the central campus, reconsideration of some of the current science buildings for less stressful usage; updating the wireless LAN; consolidation within Wilson Library; and updating certain portions of Old Main.  Senators urged continued dialogue with faculty members and architects at the earliest phases of planning.

Faculty Club:  Senators discussed the possibility of establishing a functioning Faculty Club, including a no-pay option and a discrete community space available only to faculty that provided a place for work, or thoughtful dialogue with colleagues, and that was open all day to faculty across disciplines.

Appointments and Elections:   Jackie Caplan-Auerbach, 2011-12 Officer

Appointed via Exec Council approval and reported to the Senate:

To Campus Dining Committee:  Jacquelyn Baker-Sennett, Human Svcs,  through 2014

To Student Publications Council:  Sheila Webb, Theater and Dance

 VACANCIES:  1 Senator for each:  Academic Technology Committee and Senate Library Committee                         

Constituent Concerns:  Senators requested that Blackboard be stabilized; it was upgraded one day during the weekend but was not functioning for a much longer period of time.

Senators were reminded that the Senate would meet next Monday, February 13 in lieu of the following Monday which is the President’s Day holiday.

ADJOURNMENT

Senators moved to adjourn at 5:42 pm without caucus.

January 23, 2012 – Rose Marie Norton-Nader, Recorder

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Kathleen Saunders, Secretary, 2011-2012

FACULTY SENATE – ROSTER 2011-2012