February 19, 2003, 1:15 pm, Room 211B
Present: Mary Abrums, Andrea Anderson, Frank Cioch, Patricia Kelley, Sandeep Krishnamurthy, Carole Kubota, Barbara Van Sant, Linda Watts and Kathleen Martin.
Guest: Gen McCoy
Linda Watts to discuss the Strategic Planning Initiative
Linda Watts has suggested that the EC take a more central role in the strategic planning for the institution. She has proposed that we write a letter to Associate Dean for Academic Planning and Interim Vice Chancellor, Jane Decker. A draft of this letter was circulated to the EC at this meeting and is attached. The EC provided comments on this draft. Linda will submit this to Jane Decker on behalf of the EC.
Action Item: The EC will invite Jane Decker and the departmental Directors to an EC meeting to launch conversations about the strategic planning initiative.
Gen McCoy discussed the inequity that exists within the faculty structure, regarding lecturers.
Carole informed the EC that she has been talking with faculty at the UWS campus about the status of lecturer within the faculty structure and how this appointment may be improved in the ranks, if not by granting voting privilege then in other meaningful ways. She has invited Gen McCoy, lecturer in IAS to speak to the EC to address first-hand these dilemmas and her ideas for possible solutions.
Gen spoke about the issues that face lecturers that are classified 'part-time' when in reality they have been employed for many years with UWB. Because these lecturers have a relationship with students and a continuity with the campus they feel that certain considerations should be made toward them. Among those considerations would be the offer of yearly contracts and also to be considered first to teach courses, before these classes are offered to new professors coming in. Assignments are sometimes made at the last minute, which does not allow planning on the lecturer's part. Gen and others, appointed for quarterly contracts do not always receive retirement or health care, as these benefits are decided by the directors of each department. There is no policy for lecturers and benefits are determined by how these positions are funded, either by discretionary funds or as permanent lines. Office space is also problematic; shared space with another lecturer means that for private conferences with students, somewhere other than the office must be found. In summation, Gen feels that years of service and dedication to the mission of the campus should mean that lecturers are considered more than 'contract workers'. Carole is in communication with the organizations and committees at UWS, who are looking at this problem and will update the EC once she has more information.
Discussion about Faculty Satisfaction Survey.
Sandeep is developing a survey for the faculty to determine their job satisfaction. The survey will try to address and determine what the faculty feel is needed to be successful and how they assess themselves.
Small number of submissions for campus-level grants. What can be done?
Support for research at UWB is not adequately advertised or utilized, the grant submission notice is sent as email and the time involved in writing up the grant proposal can impact other essential work. A grant writing workshop offered at a faculty retreat in the future could be useful for both internal and external grants. The Bothell endowment award was not utilized this year and this was a concern.
Carole to talk about membership to the Graduate Council.
Carole informed the EC that Pete Nye cannot fulfill his term and UWB needs to appoint someone to the Council. This Council reviews all new graduate programs. Sandeep will approach Jane Van Galen for this.
Minutes submitted by Barbara Van Sant
