WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY

FACULTY SENATE MINUTES

Regular Meeting

April 5, 2004

James Loucky, Senate President, called the Senate meeting to order at 4:05 pm.  Thirty-two (32) people were present including twenty-six (26) Senators, one (1) recorder, and three (3) guests.  (See attached roster).

Approval of Senate Minutes

The Senate approved the minutes of March 8, 2004 as written.

Items from the Chair

¨    President Loucky reported that the Office of the Vice President for Business and Financial Affairs has agreed to allocate 15-20 parking spaces for faculty for evenings and weekends. Loucky reported that several new bike racks had been installed on campus, including one between the Environmental Sciences and Communications buildings.

¨    After learning that Senator TJ Olney is hospitalized following an accident this past weekend, Senators expressed well wishes and signed a get-well card for him.

¨    Loucky reported that UPC will participate in the supplemental budget allocation process at its Wednesday April 7^th meeting.  The Senate Executive Council will also attend the meeting.  Provost Bodman indicated he is open to any suggestions from the Senate and its committees on the use of the additional funds; and suggested preparation of a wish list, particularly with regard to decision packages in 2005-07.

¨    Associated Students.  Maya Tomlin announced that students running for Associated Students positions will be seeking time to encourage voting through speaking engagements on campus.

Items from the Administration

·         Provost Bodman reported on higher education items from the recent legislative session. Only public institutions will be allowed to compete for high demand enrollment funding.  Bodman reported that Governor Locke vetoed study of a proposal to combine the Bothel campus of the University of Washington with Cascadia Community College as a four year college, and also a similar proposal involving WSU Vancouver.

·       Provost Bodman reported that all 30 applications for tenure and promotion were approved by the Provost and President in agreement with recommendations from the Deans.

·       Bodman reported fund distribution for Recruitment and Retention will be as follows: 60% to retention of existing faculty; 15% reserved for new faculty recruitment; 15% for equity directed at departments with ranks significantly below national norms; and 10% held in reserve.

Reading of Standing Committee Minutes (The following Standing Committee minutes were accepted):

Academic Coordinating Commission, 03/02/04

University Planning Council, 2/25/04

ACTION ITEMS:

Appointments and Elections, Kristen Parris, Officer.   Faculty are urged to vote by returning their ballots to the Senate by Noon on April 12^th, particularly in Areas A, C, and I. 

Parris congratulated faculty elected to the 2004-2006 Senate, including:  Area B: Ira Hyman, Psychology;  Area D: Garth Amundson, Art; Bertil Von Boer, Music,Gregory Pulver, Theater; Area E: Hart Hodges and Steve Henson, Economics; Area H: Ramona Chauvin, Elementary Education; Keith Hyatt and Kris Slentz, Special Education.

Motions from the Executive Council

Policy on Consulting and Other Professional Activity

¨     Senators considered for a second time the revised policy on consulting and other professional activities (Section XXII.B of the Faculty Handbook) which incorporated several new revisions including a paragraph clarifying the University’s position on intellectual property.  Kristen Parris moved to approve, seconded by Sheila Fox.  The policy, when approved will be published to all faculty and then forwarded to the Board of Trustees for approval.

¨    Several points arose which Senators debated for clarification, including the interpretation of “de minimis” use of university property.  Loucky reminded Senators that Washington State Code defined the use of state property and this policy made it simpler for faculty who teach, write, and pursue creative activities, to continue these activities under a code written generally for state employees. Wendy Bohlke had suggested this was a good policy worth passing now, and which could be refined as time went on.

¨    Senators requested further clarification on several points, and the incorporation of several minor edits which will be reviewed by the Executive Council.  Senators will also forward further suggestions.  A motion was then made by Tom Read to table, seconded by Fred Grote, which the Senate passed.

Retention and Recruitment

Senators amended a motion passed at the meeting of March 8^th  to clarify the amount of R&R funds and their allocation over the biennium.  The new motion was passed which read: “that $168,000 of funds for the 2003-2004 AY and $168,000 for the 2004-2005 AY would be given to the Provost to distribute for compensation for tenured and tenure-track faculty, in response to retention and recruitment requests from the Colleges.”

Professional Leave

Senators passed a motion to revise Section XIII.A.2.a. of the Faculty Handbook on Leaves of Absence as follows: “Faculty members may be granted professional leave for a maximum of one academic year for each leave.  Only tenured faculty are eligible to take apply for professional leave,” (remainder unchanged)

Loucky asked for two or three volunteer faculty to revise additional sections.

Constituent Concerns

·         Senators asked for a report from Vice President Pierce on the effectiveness of the daytime shuttle experiment during winter quarter.  Senators learned that the Associated Students Board had declined to approve funding for continuing the shuttle, but that the language of the vote was not clear.

·         In response to another concern asking about the effectiveness of block scheduling after 2 years and whether it is doing a better job than the earlier system, Provost Bodman responded that we have increased classroom utilization, and the College of Business and Economics has seen the greatest efficiency gain.  Bodman commented that greater efficiency was apparent on Fridays, using 13% more classrooms than before, and the overall use of campus facilities has seen about 5% to 6% increased efficiency..

Executive Session and Adjournment

Senators moved into Executive Session at 5:10 p.m.

Senators moved to adjourn at 6:01 p.m.

Written by Rose Marie Norton-Nader, Recorder, 3/08/04

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)