WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY

FACULTY SENATE MINUTES

Regular Meeting

November 10, 2003

James Loucky, Senate President, called the Senate meeting to order at 4:02 p.m.  Thirty (30) people were present including twenty-four (24) Senators, one (1) recorder, and three (3) guests.  (See attached roster). 

Approval of Senate Minutes

§         The Senate approved the minutes of October 27, 2003 as written. 

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Items from the Administration

§         University President Karen Morse reported on the history of faculty participation in major capital projects, including predesign and design phases of new buildings.

§         Morse informed Senators about an upcoming invitation for campus discussion on Western’s options in the face of future enrollment pressure, and the need to continue to emphasize that a university education is far more than “job training.”  Morse formulated two major questions to be addressed:  Where should we go with our enrollment, since our present strategic plan takes us to the year 2013 based on full funding for students “in the pipeline”.  Should we increase over that target and if so, how?  How do we maintain our niche?  The second major question is whether there are things that we can do in collaboration with the city of Bellingham, perhaps in particular in connection with waterfront redevelopment.  Funding for enrollment is determined by Olympia with our input and our request, and Western has been successful because it has always had a clear and well-prepared plan.  Morse would like to be able to anticipate future projects, since capital funding is contingent on a six-year planning period. 

§         Senators plan to monitor US HCR318, a proposed intellectual bill of rights currently before Congress.

§         Provost Andrew Bodman reported that the Faculty Senate President will join the Provost’s Council this week for discussions on tenure and promotion and professional leave eligibility. 

Special Report on the Campus Bookstore – Robert Perks, Textbook Manager

§         President Loucky introduced Robert Perks, Textbook Manager, Viking Campus Bookstore, who updated Senators on the latest procedures for ordering books, and why numbers of books received do not always coincide with numbers ordered.  Perks expressed concern that students would be without books for any reason. 

§         Perks went on to explain costs associated with returning books to publishers and how sales history is the primary determinant of numbers of books ordered for classes. 

§         Senators agreed to establish a bookstore advisory committee to meet once a quarter.  Senators suggested it was important to establish who to contact in a book shortage or other book emergency, and learned it would be Robert Perks, Dave McCauley, or Linda Beckman. 

§         Senators suggested implementing a system whereby any problem that arises during the ordering process would be conveyed back immediately to the faculty member who made the order.  Senators suggested a way of synchronizing the bookstore count with the number of student registrations per class.  Another Senator suggested penalizing students who do not purchase their books early on in the quarter by removing the 10% discount.

§         Perks urged faculty to ask students early on if they have purchased books, and outlined other developments for improving textbook availability

Items from the Chair

President Loucky reported that the Senate Executive Council had a productive meeting with the Deans last Friday on interdisciplinary concerns.  A tenure and promotion work group has been formed with Senators and Deans.  Loucky reported the Executive Council will review “other” university committees requesting faculty representation.

Constituent Concerns

§         One Senator noted that some buildings on campus do not have evacuation instructions posted in the event of an emergency.  A request was made to post such signs, particularly in Parks Hall and the south end of campus so that faculty working with students, particularly in education departments, meet state Safety requirements.

§         Senators reported that increased use of campus facilities has decreased parking on the campus for faculty in the evenings.  Senators requested special spaces be reserved for faculty who must be on campus after hours.

Reading of Standing Committee Minutes

The following Standing Committee minutes were accepted.

Academic Coordinating Commission, 10/21/03

Academic Technology Committee, 10/8/03

Senate Library Committee, 10/3/03

University Planning Council, 10/15/03

ACTION ITEMS:

Appointments and Elections, Kristen Parris, Officer

Parris announced that elections to the Senate and to committees are intended to be competitive, but that this was not happening if only one person was volunteering for each position.  Parris encouraged Senators to sign up for competitive elections.

Parris conducted the following election:

To the Faculty Senate (1 quarter replacement for Carol Guess):  Chris Friday, History.

Motion from the Executive Council – Ad Hoc Committee on Institutional Climate

Members discussed a set of motions from the Executive Council which revolved around issues of climate, and levels of faculty satisfaction, engagement and participation of faculty in shared governance, and administrative accountability.  After discussion the Senate passed the following motion from the Executive Council (moved and seconded):

  “that the Executive Council of the Faculty Senate establish an ad hoc Committee on Institutional Climate composed of eight faculty, broadly representative of the seven colleges and library, and at least one of whom is a Senator, charged to make recommendations to the Faculty Senate by the start of Spring Quarter 2004 on mechanisms for achieving continuing engagement of faculty on issues of climate, shared governance, and administrative accountability.” 

Provost Bodman’s Report on HEC Board meetings

Senators postponed discussion of  Interdisciplinary Concerns scheduled on the agenda.  Provost Bodman reported on his meeting with the HEC Board and its new draft master plan, which particularly emphasized high demand enrollment.  President Morse with the other comprehensives as well as community colleges will present unified testimony in response.

Adjournment

§         Senators adjourned at 6:05 pm.

Written by Rose Marie Norton-Nader, Recorder, 11/10/03

                      _______________________________

                                                                                                                                        Thomas Read, Secretary

Faculty Senate Roster 2002-2003

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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)