§
John Purdy, 2002-2003 Senate President, called the
Senate meeting to order at 4:04 pm. Senators
approved the minutes of January 13, 2003 and Standing Committee minutes.
University President Karen Morse and Bob Edie presented information
published in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer calling for firm support for higher
education.
§
Bob Edie, Vice President, External Affairs,
reviewed the highlights of the Governor’s draft budget, which does not include
salary increases for salary or staff, and allows for a 9% tuition increase in
each year of the biennium. Edie
noted that despite serious financial problems, attention to higher education in
the State is much better than it has been for many years.
§
President Purdy announced that a survey of
limited-term faculty is currently in final stages of preparation by the
University Planning Council.
§
Senators reviewed semi-annual reports of Senate
Standing committees, and discussed issues related to recruitment and retention
allocations, special merit, general merit, and minimum and maximum salaries for
faculty ranks, following a presentation by Paul Storer, Interim Chair, Salary
and Welfare Committee.
§
Senators moved
to amend the Faculty Handbook to return to a five-year review cycle rather than
the three-year cycle currently in effect in response to an accreditation
recommendation from the Commission on Colleges and Universities.
§
Senators reviewed proposed Handbook language to
revise the section on first-year review of probationary faculty. The motion was
tabled.
§
President Purdy referred Senators to a discussion
link on the Senate website for faculty input on shared governance issues at
Western. Academic chairs and
program directors have been asked to open up time during meetings for faculty to
air their concerns, and faculty are also invited to communicate directly with
Senators and Senate officers. Purdy
reported that the Executive Council has included a line on the Senate agenda for
an Executive Session in order for Senators to discuss sensitive issues for
voting members.
§
The meeting adjourned at 5:40 p.m.
APPOINTMENTS AND ELECTIONS, KEVIN LEONARD, Elections Officer
Appointed to the Senate Committee on Grievance
and Sanctions:
Leo
Bodensteiner, Huxley College (3-year term)
Academic
Coordinating Commission, Senator
(2
quarters for James Hearne)
Senate
Library Committee (2 quarters for James Hearne)
Employee
Training and Development Committee,
1-year term