WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
FACULTY SENATE MINUTES
Regular Meeting
September 29, 2003

James Loucky, Senate President, called the first Senate meeting of the 2003-2004 academic year to order at 4:04 p.m.  Twenty-nine (29) people were present including twenty-three (23) Senators, one (1) recorder, and two (2) guests.  (See attached roster). 

 Approval of Senate Minutes

§       The Senate approved the minutes of June 3, 2003 as written. 

Items from the Administration

§       Provost Bodman reported that a committee including legislators and the Presidents of WWU and WSU is discussing a potential performance contract between the University and the State and promised progress reports to faculty on what might be entailed in terms of expectations and support.  Senators asked about who was involved and what constraints might be relaxed.  Bodman responded that WWU is constrained with respect to tuition waivers, and any compact would address funding, access, and local management flexibility.

§       Bodman reported on the current Academic Affairs budget and a one-year deferment in hiring some (6 or 7 of 18 approved) tenure track positions.  Bodman noted this is the second year in which the university budget had been cut significantly ($1.1 million over the biennium), but that the majority of the cut has been absorbed by the Provost’ office in non-instructional areas, in accordance with the university contingency plan.  This includes merging the position of director of instructional research (formerly held by Carl Simpson) with Institutional Testing and Assessment.  Bodman emphasized a continuing priority on maintaining instructional resources.

§       Bodman reported that Western was the only university to receive full funding for community college transfers, and was successful in obtaining high demand funding for all four of its proposals. 

§       Bodman added that the total number of sections funded actually declined by 25 from a base of about 2000, or about 1%.  He will work with Salary and Welfare and University Planning Council to establish a process for distribution of available retention and recruitment funds.

§       One Senator suggested that earlier communication be made to limited term faculty (LTF) of possible non-renewal of contracts.  Senators requested clarification on whether benefits to LTF may have affected colleges’ reserve funds.  Paula Rustan explained that these are covered by a university benefits pool.

§       Senators requested a written summary of the sudden shortfall in temporary funding allocated to the colleges in order to reconcile with the unexpectedly large requests the Provost encountered.  Bodman explained how erosion of permanent funding led to utilization of colleges’ temporary reserve last year, deepening the current budget shortfall.

Items from the Chair

§       President James Loucky reviewed the discussion items from the Senate retreat and reiterated as one of the Senate’s primary goals the early involvement of faculty in University policy decisions. 

§       Loucky laid out anticipated goals for the coming Senate year, and noted that the GURs, the position of the “ombuds person” and the status of LTF remain ongoing items from a year ago.  He suggested introducing “new models of process” to get things done.

§       Loucky emphasized that the Senate’s role in shared governance is critical to the faculty commitment to and responsibility for maintaining curriculum, scholarship and the principles of our University mission.

§       Loucky urged Senators to be active in communicating to their constituent groups, and to search for commonalities with each other and other groups on campus, such as the Associated Students. 

Constituent Concerns

Senators brought the following concerns from their constituents:

§       In cases of offensive graffiti on campus, necessary steps need to be taken for its quick removal and for addressing the problem;

§       Escalating parking fees for faculty are a concern; as are requirements for faculty to pay at all hours and during break; perhaps they could have a designated lot or special passes during breaks.

§       Reduced tuition for children of faculty is desirable, and fits our retention and corresponds with retention and recruitment purposes.

§       Concerns regarding faculty use of the new Recreation Center were raised, such as the cost, possibility for family membership, conditions for instructional use, and options for payment for specific classes in lieu of quarter-based fees.  These concerns will be raised with the Director of the Recreation Center.

§       Among some additional concerns:  not requiring faculty to put W numbers on forms accessible to students (for example, forms for directed independent study); a  request for earlier communication to faculty when notable visitors such as the governor or Supreme Court members are on campus; and a request for clearer standards on test-taking requirements for students whose native language is not English.

Reading of Standing Committee Minutes

The following Standing Committee minutes were accepted.

University Planning Council, 5/21/03

Academic Technology Committee, 5/21/03

Agenda Items

APPOINTMENTS AND ELECTIONS, Kristen Parris, Officer

Senators appointed the following faculty to committees by acclimation:

To the University Planning Council: Marc Geisler, English, 1-yr term; Victor Nolet, Senate representative

To the Academic Coordinating Commission:  Grace Wang, Huxley College

To the Academic Technology Committee:  John Bower, Fairhaven College

To the Senate Committee on Grievance and Sanctions (3-year term):  Leonard Helfgott, History; Martin Osborne, Computer Science;  Daniel Warner, Accounting; Shaw Gynan, Mod & Classical Lang

To the Salary and Welfare Committee:  Paul Storer, Economics,  Nicole Hoekstra, Eng Technology;

Jianglong Wang, Communication

Salary & Welfare representative to the  Senate Legislative Committee:  Jianglong Wang

Vacancies:  Student Academic Grievance Committee – 4 to 8 alternates (2 to be appointed to 3-year terms)

ACC rep to UPC;  ACC rep to Legislative Committee; UPC rep to Legislative Committee

Motions from EXECUTIVE COUNCIL:

The Executive Council of the Faculty Senate brought motions (moved and seconded) to amend the Faculty Handbook language as indicated below (deleted material struck-through, new material underlined):

BYLAWS 12, 13, AND 14:

BL 12.1 Procedures.  The time, place, and manner of conducting elections is determined by the Elections committee Appointments and Elections Officer and approved by the voting members of the Faculty Senate (remainder unchanged)

BL13.3    (unchanged until last sentence) . . . . . .   Faculty Senate shall determine the question or questions to be voted on and state the same on the ballot, along with other necessary information, prior to directing the Elections Committee Appointments and Elections Officer to prepare the ballot and poll the Faculty.

BL14   Faculty Referendum

BL14.1    (1^st sentence unchanged) . . . . .  The results of all referendums are reported by the Elections Committee Appointments and Elections Officer to the Faculty Senate, entered in the minutes at that point. . . .  (remainder unchanged)

BL 7.3  Salary and Welfare Committee

BL.7.3.1 The Salary and Welfare Committee (unchanged)…. will elect a chair each spring after the appointment of new members.  to the committee  The Committee shall recommend to the Faculty Senate on matters of faculty salary, salary schedule, welfare and fringe benefits, including insurance options, within the biennial operations planning and budgeting decision process.

BL7.2.  Senate Legislative Committee

BL7.2.1  The Senate Legislative Committee shall consist of … (unchanged).  The term of office of the elected members shall be three years with one member to be elected in the Spring Quarter of each year.  Members shall be eligible for reelection.  If the representative from ACC, UPC or SWC also happens to be a three-year member of the Legislative Committee, the SLC position shall revert to at-large for that one year  in which he/she represents ACC, UPC or SWC,  in order to retain membership of seven. (remainder unchanged)

Senators passed the motions unanimously.  Material will be published in FAST and brought to the Senate for a second vote.

DISCUSSION

Interdisciplinarity.  Senators discussed the topic of interdisciplinarity following a suggestion from President Loucky that faculty who have taught across disciplines get together to review courses that might not always fit into present departments. 

·         Members sought to clarify the intention of the Board of Trustees in suggesting a new committee or task force.  This occurred following President Morse’s presentation to the Board on restructuring and concerns expressed by faculty that alternatives could include strengthening interdisciplinary linkages rather than dividing an existing college.  Senators agreed to forward suggestions to the Executive Council.  Senators had expressed concern that curricular matters would be impinged upon and asked what kinds of resources would be available, given low funding for existing interdisciplinary programs. 

·         Senators suggested that such a committee might be under the purview of the Academic Coordinating Commission, as a standing committee of ACC which could scrutinize interdisciplinary courses that may not currently report to regular collegial committees.  Currently some interdisciplinary courses are proposed in one college, go through a separate curricular committee, and then have to go to the provost office for funding.   Provost Bodman suggested that faculty simplify the course proposal and review process. 

·         The Executive Council will review the issue, asking specifically what long-term support is likely and what assurance such a committee would have, that its recommendations would be addressed. 

“Ombuds” Language.   President Loucky reminded Senators that a good part of last year had been spent discussing tenure and promotion issues and the appeals process.  Definition of an ombuds person is part of the as yet unresolved grievance policy that has been around for seven years.  All of it has been approved except for the “ombuds” role.    Loucky suggested resolving the issue this quarter, drawing on recommendations of the ad hoc committee whose report was made available in spring 2003. 

Adjournment.

President Loucky announced he will bring forward information on tenure and promotion items which have been discussed during the summer, and Senators moved to adjourn at 5:47 pm.

Written by Rose Marie Norton-Nader, Recorder, 9/29/03

                      _______________________________

                                                                                                                          Thomas Read, Secretary

Faculty Senate Roster 2002-2003

_______________________________

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)