Executive Council Meeting
January 10, 2007, 12:00 pm, UW2 327
Present: Constantin Behler, Steve Collins, Bill Erdly, Alan Leong, Carol Leppa, Nancy Place and Mike Stiber.
Absent: Kevin Laverty
Guest: Tom Bellamy, Dan Jacoby and Pete Nye
Mike amended the meeting agenda to include a presentation by Dan Jacoby on the National Survey of Student Engagement following the Reports of the GFO Committees.
Approval of EC minutes of December 4, 2006
Motion was made by Alan Leong to accept the EC minutes of December 4, 2006, Carol seconded the motion and the motion carried. The minutes were approved.
Reports of Officers
A. Chair - Steve Collins
Steve informed the EC that the Senate Executive Council voted yesterday to approve the proposal to revise the UW Handbook by adding language clarifying the definition of a "campus" and the authority of their elected faculty councils. It will now move to the Faculty Senate for a first reading on January 25. The legislation originated in the Faculty Council on Tri-campus Policy. Steve explained that the rationale for the legislation serves to acknowledge the greater degree of institutional complexity and autonomy of a campus over that of a school or college. The UW Handbook will now align with the reality of the three campus system. This legislation clarifies the autonomy of a campus in accordance with it's mission and authority in an elected faculty governance organization over academic standards, curriculum and student affairs. The faculty councils at UWB and UWT preside over organizations that are more integrated and self-contained than those of schools and colleges. Implications of this legislation, should it pass the Senate vote, could mean that the GFO would function as a faculty senate, with GFO committees functioning as faculty councils and could represent a turning point in faculty governance for UWB. One model the GFO could adopt would be to constitute three faculty councils to work with the new UWB faculty senate. Those councils could be a Faculty Council on Promotion, Tenure and Academic Personnel, a Faculty Council on Academic Standards with authority over academic planning and a Faculty Council on Student and External Relations with authority over admission standards and graduation. The EC was positive and supportive of a new governance structure and would like to talk with their programs about this issue.
Steve also shared that he spoke briefly with Provost Phyllis Wise after the Senate Executive Council. She'd like to visit UWB in the near future and mentioned an interest in meeting with faculty representatives. Steve thought that we could invite her to speak at a winter quarter GFO meeting, where she could share her and President Emmert's ideas about the evolution of the three campuses and respond to faculty questions.
Action item: Steve will draft new By-laws that incorporate the EC suggestions on the new GFO committee structure in response to UWB faculty councils and present to the EC.
Steve opened discussion on Chancellor Olswang's proposal to serve Snohomish County by offering new baccalaureate degree programs focused on science, engineering and technology in the Everett area. Steve would like the EC to talk with their programs and provide him with some input on how to respond to this proposal and how the faculty would like to proceed. Tom also would like faculty guidance on this issue since the State Legislature can make decisions during Summer Quarter when the faculty may not be on campus for consultation. The GFO Strategic Planning and Budget Committee could advise the VCAA on this matter. One critical issue involves the quality of faculty life, responsibilities of teaching at Bothell and/or Everett, what would be expected or accepted? The new faculty legislative representative from UW and the next Vice Chair of the Faculty Senate is David Lovell. He has expressed an interest to meet with the EC and hear from the faculty what our needs as a campus are and how he can best represent us.
B. Vice-Chair - Mike Stiber
Mike polled the EC for availability for the final EC meetings for Winter Quarter. The EC meeting schedule will be Friday, February 2, 1:00 - 3:00 pm and Wednesday, February 28, 12:00 - 2:00 pm.
Announcements: Tom distributed information on the 2007 UWB Awards for Scholarship and Service. Two new faculty awards were established in 2006: the Rose Distinguished Academic Service Award and the Worthington Distinguished Faculty Scholarship Award. Recipients of these awards each receive a $3000 stipend. In addition to the new awards, the Office of Academic Affairs is seeking nominations for the Rose Distinguished Academic Service Award and the Worthington Distinguished Faculty Scholarship Award.
Tom briefly discussed a new pilot project for stacking classes at UWB. This project could be implemented by next November. UWB will consider creating a regular process for special approval for faculty to stack classes for two quarters and have an entire quarter to devote to research. Program Directors could approve a quarter off for faculty that are working on major projects.
Reports of Committees
A. Curriculum Committee - no report
B. Faculty Affairs - no report
C. Instructional and Research Support Committee - no report
D. Strategic Planning and Budget
Alan Leong reported that the Strategic Planning and Budget Committee will select a new Chair and look at a timeline for reviewing the budget.
E. Student Relations
New Business
Dan Jacoby updated the EC on an institutional research process that has been initiated at UWB. He will provide regular reports on the National Survey of Student Engagement. This survey will measure five benchmarks:
These benchmarks provide useful feedback and guidance to inform strategic planning
decisions, but we need to assess what are appropriate comparisons. UWB is designated to serve non-traditional students; traditional students may not feel well served in some areas. Dan would like to receive some feedback and guidance from the EC on this institutional research.
Motion:
A motion was made by Steve to approve the Academic & Student Affairs Operating Procedure on the Review of Academic Administrators. Alan seconded the motion and the motion carried. The policy will be adopted as of January 10, 2007.
Pete presented the "Admissions Model: Three Screens" report to the EC that was developed by Pete, Dannette Sullivan, Hung Dang and Tom Bellamy as an objective measure to insure that the institution admits prepared students to the freshman class. This method has a compensatory quality based on more than one criteria and was developed to take into consideration the attributes we are looking for in our students and weigh multiple measurements on each attribute. The screen takes into account criteria based on SAT scores, math and quantitative skills, verbal and written skills and student motivation. High school GPA is not heavily weighted in the screening process. Students will be informed by Student Affairs that a holistic review process will be used for admission at UWB.
Motion:
A motion was made by Steve to approve the proposed "Admission Model: Three Screens". Alan seconded the motion and the motion carried.
This agenda will be carried over to the next meeting.
The next meeting will be Friday, February 2, 2007.
The meeting adjourned at 2:00 pm.
Minutes submitted by Barbara Van Sant
