Section VIII: Huxley College of the Environment
I. Role and Mission
Huxley College of the Environment is a division of Western Washington University created by and deriving its authority from the Board of Trustees of the University. The mission of Huxley College is to pursue programs of environmental education, research, and community service that reflect the broadest possible viewpoint of man in a physical, biological, social, and cultural world. This mission reflects an underlying philosophy that responsible solutions to environmental problems require an academic program that is global in its frame of reference, interdisciplinary in its concept, innovative and experimental in its work, and problem-oriented in its studies.
The goals of Huxley College are to synthesize knowledge in areas of environmental study through an interdisciplinary approach to education; to promote beneficial human values by integrating natural and social sciences; and to seek ecologically and socially sound solutions to environmental problems.
II. Organization
Huxley College is comprised of its dean, full-time, part-time, adjunct and affiliated faculty; staff; and undergraduate and graduate students. There are two departments in Huxley College: Department of Environmental Sciences and Department of Environmental Studies: Policy, Planning, Education and Geography. Huxley's undergraduate program centers on majors in environmental science, environmental policy, environmental planning and environmental education. As alternatives, undergraduates may pursue faculty-student designed major concentrations or a more generalized environmental studies program. Huxley College also offers the Master's degree in environmental science and in geography. The College also offers cooperative programs of study at both graduate and undergraduate levels with other units of the University. The organization of the College and its academic functions are defined in its Constitution and Bylaws, both of which have been approved by the Board of Trustees of Western Washington University.
III. Governance
The College is governed by its dean, Policy Committee, and college membership. The responsibilities, powers, and duties of these entities are set forth in the Bylaws of the College. In addition, the Bylaws define the work of the College's Personnel Committee and Community Affairs Committee – and other standing committees having day-to-day responsibilities for College governance.
IV. Relationship to Other Colleges at Western Washington University
Since Huxley College is Western's College of the Environment, much of the University's environmental work is centered at Huxley. In this context, Huxley serves as a focus for University-wide activities in environmental studies. Affiliated faculty are appointed from other academic units at Western Washington University to work with Huxley faculty, to team-teach courses, offer environmental seminars, and conduct comparative research projects. Through such interactions, Huxley is able to build cooperative links with other colleges at Western. In addition, Huxley College participates in cooperative graduate program activities with the Departments of Chemistry and Political Science, the Shannon Point Marine Center, and the Science Education program.
V. Appointment, Tenure, and Other Faculty Personnel Actions
The appointment, review, promotion, and merit action procedures of Huxley College faculty are carried out in accordance with the Faculty Handbook. Qualifications for tenure and promotion are based on the Faculty Handbook and supplemented by those published in Huxley's Bylaws.