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WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY

FACULTY SENATE MINUTES

Regular Meeting - November 22, 2004

Jim Stewart, 2004-2005 Senate President, called the  Senate to order at 4:06 pm. Twenty-eight (28) people were present including twenty-three (23) Senators, one (1) recorder, two (2) guests and two (2) ex officio members.  (See attached roster).  President Morse was away at a conference on the East Coast.

Approval of Minutes of November 8, 2004.

Senators approved the minutes of November 8 as written.

Items from the Chair

President Stewart reminded Senators of the General Faculty Assembly to be held on Monday December 6 at 4 pm in SL150 with invited guests Sandra Christenson, Management, and Tony Flinn, English, both from Eastern Washington University.  The Senate is providing an opportunity for faculty to hear presentations and discussion on both sides of the issue of unionization.  Jeff Newcomer and William Lyne will also present from Western.  Prepared questions will be directed to the guests, and George Mariz will moderate.  Faculty can forward their questions to the Executive Council.  There will be an earlier informal session.   

Later in the Senate meeting Senators will review a draft of FAQs regarding unionization and pro and con responses which will then be updated and then made available to faculty on the Senate website along with a threaded link for response.  Questions can also be emailed to an Outlook address entitled “Ask Q”.

Items from the Administration

Compact

§     Provost Andrew Bodman reviewed a compact prototype developed by his working group. The Senate urged caution in negotiations with the legislature, questioned the meaning of “performance measures”, urged greater mention of the value of a liberal arts education without reference to employment. 

§     Faculty expressed concern about faculty participation in the discussion with the Office of Financial Management at which Bodman and Judy McNickle will present the draft compact. Provost Bodman assured Senators that a representative would attend his presentations, most likely Todd Donovan, the Senate legislative liaison.  Senators asked for confirmation that the Provost and the administration are committed to faculty input going forward.   Further concern was expressed about faculty being “kept apprised” of what happens and being effectively cut out – and about making commitments and promises on the margin that we already do well.  If the state does not fulfill its end of the bargain, we do not have a clause out.

§     Senators reported that the topic was mentioned at the recent Council of Faculty Representatives meeting on campus, and that Kelli Linville spoke about the compact and salaries.  She suggested that her colleagues might be open to an argument for the sake of a liberal arts degree apart from what or who employs you.

§     Bodman does not think that details will be worked out until later.  Bodman referred to the draft compact as a “report card” on the university.

§     Senators asked about performance measures, especially when referring to instructional quality.  Bodman noted this is a draft only and that there is a reference to the proportion of students who rate courses as good or better, and while not an ideal measure, it is put in only as a placeholder in the draft.  Bodman does not see performance measures substituting in any way for accountability, nor is it attached to “credibility” measures at all.

§     One Senator suggested that performance measures that include too much of student preferences like course evaluations can lead to problems like grade inflation and are very simple and inferior measures of the quality of this university.  Faculty must be committed to value added measures that determine the knowledge and skills of students both when they come into the university and when they leave, and are independent of instruction, and of grades.  Another Senator questioned whether state goals for higher education actually enhance the civic vibrancy of the state, and none of that can be measured in our value to the state.  Not comfortable with pressures to create employees for the state, and concerned that we worry whether employers are happy with our students. 

§     Brian Gettman, speaking on behalf of Associated Students, suggested that the AS is not concerned with what template is used, as long as you use an indicator that reaches all 12,000+ students.

§     Bodman concluded that the purpose of the compact is to eliminate the huge data bases that must be submitted every year to OFM.  Bodman spoke of a timeline:  whether performance contracts will be part of a governor’s proposal decision (made in mid-December), and we might be included with the research universities.  Once in the legislature there are no "guestimates".  Bodman will argue for a minimalist draft, and for not putting anything on the table that we are not willing to live with.  He may well include only six headings.  The idea will be presented to the Board of Trustees in December as an information item. 

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

A.    Academic Coordinating Commission, 10/20/04 – Accepted with recommendation that the General Studies  discussion continue to ensure the highest quality measures are developed for the degree.  Brian Gettman reported that the GS discussion has been a very productive one.  Provost Bodman reported that the GS is a safety valve for when we need one and to shut it off will build a lot of pressure on departments.  At the same time if we don’t reform it, there is a fear we are giving a degree not of the highest caliber.

B.    Academic Technology Committee, 10/20/04 – Accepted with a spelling correction.  Senate representatives explained that there is no pressure on non-Outlook faculty to switch over and that the Microsoft Exchange Server has capability to allow people to use any product they wish. The major push for Outlook is its advanced spam filtering.

C.    University Planning Council, 10/27/04 - Accepted.

Senate Library Committee, 10/22/04-  Accepted. 

Appointments and Elections, Jeff Newcomer, Officer – The following vacancies were announced:

University Planning Council :  Nicholas Wonder, Management, to replace Matt Roelofs, Winter Quarter.

Vacancies:  UPC:  one replacement for D. Parker until 2006

Faculty Development Grants:  2 tenured faculty, one to be appointed (3-yr term)

Legislative Liaison, Fall 2005 – to attend 2 legislative meetings Winter Quarter as deputy liaison, and become Legislative Liaison Fall 2005.  Release time and travel available. 

DISCUSSION

Revised Faculty Grievance Procedure

President Stewart described the timeline for the Revised Faculty Grievance Procedure which will be up for a vote of approval at the first and second January meetings of the Senate.  Stewart urged Senators to forward their concerns on the document to the Executive Council as soon as possible.

Motion from the Executive Council

on various information delivery methods to faculty (Handbook)

Following review of the Handbook language, Senators passed a motion to ensure that faculty Senate agendas and minutes are delivered to Faculty via web posting, email message, flyer, or FAST publication

References to FAST in SECTION I

XV.D.2. Under: Elimination or Merger of a Degree Program, College, or Department of Instruction (p. 27)

     “The final policy will be posted on the Faculty Senate website and delivered to the faculty through an e-mail, flyer, or by publication in FAST.”

XV.D.4.b. Elimination or Merger of a Degree Program, College, or Department of Instruction (p. 27)

     “In the case of college elimination or merger, the Provost will undertake the review following the publication of procedures as per Section XV.D.2. published in FAST. 

References to FAST in Appendix B (Constitution)

VI.4 Amendments (p. 68)

     “Bylaws to this Constitution may be adopted, amended, or repealed by majority vote of the total voting membership of the Faculty Senate provided that they are proposed in writing at one meeting of the Faculty Senate, are posted on the Faculty Senate website and delivered to the faculty through an e-mail; flyer; or by publication in FAST as proposed, and are voted on at the next regular meeting of the Faculty Senate.

BL8.1 Publication of Agenda and Minutes (p. 74)

     “The agenda for any meeting of the Faculty Senate shall be posted on the Faculty Senate website and delivered to the faculty through an e-mail, flyer, or by publication in FAST at least four days prior to the meeting.

BL8.2 Publication of Agenda and Minutes (p. 74)

     “An abstract of the minutes of any meeting of the Faculty Senate shall be posted on the Faculty Senate website and published to the faculty through an e-mail, flyer, or by publication in FAST as soon as possible after the meeting.

BL12.8.1 Publicity (p. 76)

     “The list of candidates is sent to all voting faculty, posted on the Faculty Senate website, and delivered to the faculty through an e-mail, flyer, or by publication in FAST.

The motion passed unanimously.

Constituent Concerns.  Senators asked for information on:

1)        how the Viking insignia was chosen;

2)        addressed concerns raised by changes to the Board of Trustees’ rules of operation, and the role of faculty in relationship to the Board;

3)        asked where and what kinds of protests are allowed on the campus, and who makes the rules regarding what is appropriate on Red Square; and

4)        questioned the lack of faculty attendance at Winter graduation. 

Adjournment

Senators moved to adjourn at 5:58 p.m.

Written by Rose Marie Norton-Nader, Recorder, 11/22/04

                                                                                                                              _____________________

                                                                                                                              Lorraine Kasprisin, Secretary

Faculty Senate Roster 2004-2005