WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY

FACULTY SENATE MINUTES

Regular Meeting

January 26, 2004

James Loucky, Senate President, called the Senate meeting to order at 4:04 pm.  Thirty-four (34) people were present including twenty-six (26) Senators, one (1) recorder, and four (4) guests.  (See attached roster). 

 Approval of Senate Minutes

§         The Senate approved the minutes of January 12, 2004 as written. 

 Reading of Standing Committee Minutes

Senate President Loucky revised the agenda and moved ahead with accepting standing committee minutes.

The following Standing Committee minutes were accepted.

Academic Coordinating Commission, 12/02/03, and 1/13/04

Academic Technology Committee, with attachment regarding Blackboard, 12/03/03

Senate Library Committee, 11/21/03

University Planning Council, 12/03/04

§      Senators highlighted a UPC recommendation that asked for a complete identification of “university” committees and the faculty who serve on them.  Senators will email constituents and ask them to supply the names of committees on which these constituents serve.  Senators supported consistent annual reporting to the Senate by either the chair or a faculty member on the committee.

Items from the Chair

President Loucky moved “Chair Items” higher on the agenda and reported on the following:

à        That several faculty names have been forwarded to President Morse for the Compact Committee that will be chaired by Provost Bodman

à        Ongoing discussion on how to increase involvement in campus and facilities planning, and on public space policies conducive to intellectual and collegial interchange

à        Continuing work with the Salary and Welfare Committee to finalize recommendations for retention and recruitment funds;

à        Clarification of professional leave policy in light of requests which spiked this year;

à        Request from Larry Gilbert for participation in a group to advise on university and public space in new buildings;

à        Proposals of Winter and Spring faculty forums to consider topics such as enabling legislation and campus growth issues;

à        Continued monthly meetings of the Executive Council and Deans to consider common concerns and joint recommendations for academic policy. 

John Purdy reported that the Ethics Committee has completed its report which will be delivered to the Senate shortly.

Items from the Administration

Provost Bodman reported on the following:

§         That University President Karen Morse was in Olympia testifying on Higher Education performance contracts and the supplemental budget recommendations.

§         That concurrent House and Senate bills for a pilot program performance contract include a research university, comprehensive, and community college.  Bodman has been appointed by Morse to chair a committee to consider whether Western should proceed with a contract proposal, what it might entail, and how to ensure the protection and priority of academic concerns.  Loucky has forwarded faculty names for participation. 

§         Bodman suggested that any performance contract with the State will be unlikely to focus on the faculty but will more probably be concerned with issues of student access, and accountability measures.  Senators requested that recommendations from the compact committee come to the Senate for review.

§         Other matters including $4.9 million from the State for renovating Bond Hall in terms of asbestos abatement and handicap access as well as elevator improvement.  Additional funds are rquested to refurbish College Hall which is expected to be vacated by the opening of the Communications Building.  Bodman suggested that the University Planning Council appoint a representative to the building committees with responsibility for reporting on the use of instructional space.

§         That Representative Sommers called for construction of a new 4-year campus, and while there is extraordinary attention to Higher Education in the State at the moment there is frustration with the coordinating structure currently in place.

§         That the HEC Board Master Plan was approved December 12 and virtually none of the suggestions made by the universities were embraced. 

§         That he will report to the Senate at the next meeting in response to faculty concerns about what appears to be a smaller proportion of professional leaves granted this year which is 4% of the complement of faculty.  Bodman noted that the number of leaves requested has spiked this year which may be due to the fact that a number of faculty postponed leaves last year.  Bodman asks the Senate for assistance in rewriting handbook language regarding leave eligibility where it is unclear how many years must occur before asking for a quarter not taken earlier.

§         Bodman asks the Senate to make a decision on R&R distribution no later than April 1^st, for State compliance. 

ACTION ITEMS:

Appointments and Elections, Kristen Parris, Officer

Senators approved the 2004 election schedule.

To the Faculty Senate: -  Sheila Fox, Special Ed, to replace Victor Nolet

University Planning Council: - Michael Meehan, Senate representative

Vacancies:  Summer Session Advisory Committee (headed by Barbara Audley)

Barbara Audley, Director, Extended Education and Summer Programs – New Committee. 

Director Audley requested a Senate representative on a new Summer Session Advisory Committee which will meet about once a month to work with colleges and departments to enhance summer programming, and to identify barriers to activities and enrollments.  While not focusing primarily on academics, the committee will be a sounding board for marketing ideas, how to increase participation, and may consider new ways of presenting material.  The Summer Session is self-supporting and profit-making.  Both Thomas Downing and Jim Stewart expressed willingness to participate. 

Motions from the Executive Council

Revised Handbook Language on Limited Term Faculty (LTF):

After brief discussion a motion was made by Tom Goetzl, seconded by John Purdy, and passed by the Senate to revised the following Faculty Handbook language regarding LTF as follows (to be published in FAST with second vote next session) (new material underlined and bolded; deletions struck-through):

(Page 3)

     C.   Faculty Duties

The duties of probationary and (unchanged). . .  special assignments.  The duties of full-time, limited-term and part-time limited-term faculty are fully defined in the letter of offer.

(Page 4)

     F.           Qualifications and Characteristics of Faculty Without Rank

Expectations for faculty without rank are fully determined by the terms defined in the letter of offer. Any changes to the expectations shall be agreed to in writing by the faculty member and the department chair.

1.    Lecturer

Full or part-time teaching faculty (unchanged) full-time, limited-term faculty.. . .(unchanged).  Lecturers may participate in department affairs.  but voting on department affairs is at the discretion of the department.  Departmental voting privileges are at the discretion of the department, but may not extend to issues of appointment, tenure, promotion, or other personnel matters.

 2.    Special Appointment

A scholar or artist of recognized outstanding attainment may be appointed to any academic rank regardless of the academic degree held. Faculty hired by special appointment are not granted voting privileges.

3.    Affiliated Teaching Faculty

People may be appointed to perform specialized teaching duties in positions that do not carry tenure, rank, promotion, or faculty voting privileges.  Examples of such positions are affiliated teachers of music and joint appointment of public school teachers for student teaching supervision.  Affiliated Teaching Faculty are not granted voting privileges.

4.             Research Associate (unchanged)

5.          Visiting Faculty

An individual may be appointed as visiting instructor, visiting assistant professor, visiting associate professor, or visiting professor, provided the individual qualifies for the rank and the appointment is clearly temporary. Visiting Faculty are not granted voting privileges.

6.      Adjunct Faculty (unchanged)

                  Section IV: (page 6)

B.   Initial Appointments and Orientation

3.      Lecturers, probationary faculty, and tenured faculty shall receive a copy of the Faculty Handbook; be issued a WWU I.D. card; receive complete information on insurance and other benefits available; be eligible to serve as appointed members of Faculty Senate committees; become a voting member of the faculty at .5 FTEF or more for university-wide elections; be notified by the chair or unit head of department meetings and be informed about any limit on department voting privileges; and shall be provided with a mailbox , office space containing a telephone and a computer, instructional support, and access to departmental office staff.

4.      All other faculty without rank and emeritus faculty shall receive a copy of the Faculty Handbook; be issued a WWU I.D. card; receive complete information on insurance and other benefits for which they are eligible; and shall be provided with the support appropriate to the performance of their duties.

Section V:  Evaluation of Faculty (page 8)

A.  Student Evaluation of Faculty (unchanged)

B. Evaluation of Limited Term Faculty

All limited term faculty shall be evaluated annually by their unit in a manner established by the unit and the appropriate dean on the basis of the expectations and duties defined in the letter of offer. Other contributions may be included if agreed to in writing by both the faculty member and the department chair. The result of the evaluation is to be summarized in an annual letter from the department chair to the dean with a copy to the faculty member and the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs. Under no circumstances shall such an evaluation of a limited term faculty member be undertaken without the faculty member’s knowledge.

B.   C. Evaluations of Non-Tenured Faculty Evaluation of Probationary Faculty

1.       All probationary faculty shall be evaluated annually.  The annual evaluation shall be completed by March 15 of each year and shall contain a statement, where appropriate, of all matters relative to eligibility for the acquisition of tenure.  All limited term faculty shall be evaluated annually by the department in a manner established by the department and dean.  Under no circumstances shall such an evaluation of a non-tenured faculty member be undertaken without the faculty member’s knowledge. 

C.   D. Evaluation of Tenured Faculty Members

D.   E. Unit Evaluation Plans (page 9)

Section X

                D.   Salary Categories and Priorities (page 14)

2.          General Merit Step Adjustment …last Professional Performance/ Development Review (V.C.D2).

E.  Criteria and  Administration of Funds (page 15)

1.           (a) (1) Tenured faculty shall be reviewed by their college/library/departmental peers through a formal Professional Performance /Developmental Review process (V.C.D.2 & 5).

    (b)   Probationary Faculty:  Probationary faculty shall be reviewed annually in accordance with Section V.A &C.

Constituent concerns included:

1)   unappreciated parking policies, to be addressed at a future meeting with Vice President Pierce[1];

2)   a report on doors in Haggard Hall and elsewhere that open in a direction that is unsafe.

Academic Freedom Issues

Senators were apprised of concerns regarding potential threats to academic freedom, and agreed to engage in campus-wide education both before and following a Senate vote on a proposed resolution (posted with supporting documents on the Senate website). Senators were alerted to Legislative Bill 2747 regarding internet filters in campus libraries..

Standing Committee Reports

Senators reviewed semi-annual written reports from University Planning Council, Academic Technology, and Senate Library Committees.

Adjournment

§         Senators adjourned at 5:48 pm.

Written by Rose Marie Norton-Nader, Recorder, 1/26/04

                      _______________________________

                                                                                                            Thomas Read, Secretary

Faculty Senate Roster 2004

_______________________________

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)