Executive Council Meeting
April 23, 2007, 9:00 am, UW2 327
Present: Steve Collins, Bill Erdly, Kevin Laverty, Alan Leong, Carol Leppa, Nancy Place and Mike Stiber
Absent: Constantin Behler
Guest: Tom Bellamy
Adoption of Agenda
Agenda was adopted.
Approval of EC minutes of February 7, 2007
EC minutes of April 12, 2007 were approved unanimously, with revisions.
Reports of Officers
A. Chair - Steve Collins
Steve notified the EC that we do not have any confirmed nominees for the position of GFO Vice Chair. He asked the EC for feedback on how to proceed in solving this dilemma . This conundrum prompted a discussion on service issues at UWB and specifically service engagement in faculty governance.
EC Discussion:
* Research expectations within programs
* Enrollment targets
* Lack of recognition/reward structure for service
Steve updated the EC on the UW Senate legislation to clarify the meaning of "campus" and distinguish it from "schools and colleges" in the UW Handbook. The Senate will revisit this legislation tomorrow. The legislation was drafted by the Faculty Council on Tri-Campus Policy (FCTCP) and passed by the Senate in February. Soon after the Senate passed the original legislation, the Advisory Committee on Code and Regulations struck it down, as noncompliant with the UW Handbook. Steve reviewed the language added to the UW Handbook with the EC, specifically in Chapter 23. The substitute legislation strengthens the presence of the "term" campus by adding the words "campus" and "chancellor" wherever "college/school" and "Dean" appear in Chapter 23.
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
Steve, Mike and Dan Jacoby will meet with Chancellor Olswang to review the UWB budget for the coming year.
E. Student Relations
Carol Leppa will work with Lindsey Wille in Student Affairs to review freshman margin files for possible admission to UWB. A report will be presented the end of Spring Quarter to assessing how the holistic review for freshman admissions is working.
Reports from Programs
Education - conducted successful searches and hired three new faculty.
IAS - held a meeting to talk about the four new science majors being developed. The IAS program voted to become a college. There is support for the program to re-organize around curriculum area work groups.
This is a significant transition point for IAS.
CSS - moving forward on the review of the BA in Applied Computing.
Business - development of an accounting program is in process, a search for an accounting professor is underway.
Old Business
A. Bylaws revision
Steve incorporated the EC suggestions into the new bylaws. Articles I and II were written following a template for shared governance prepared by the UW Office of Shared Governance. No changes were made to Articles III or IV, under Article V, the EC will assume a more strategic role in policy making and campus planning. The Instructional and Research Support Committee has been re-instated into the GFO structure, advising the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs on matters that support research and instructional support working with the Office of Research Support, the Teaching/Learning Center and the Learning Technologies Center. Changes under Article VI include a revision to the constitution of the Campus Council on Promotion, Tenure and Faculty Affairs, this council will not longer require a minimum number of full professors in constituting the council. An election to choose 3 or 4 tenured faculty will be held each Spring Quarter, with a total of 7 members serving on the Campus Council on Promotion, Tenure and Faculty Affairs. The Council will advise the Chief Academic Officer on cases involving promotion and tenure of the faculty and will advise the EC on policy matters. Steve revised the structure of the Campus Council on Academic Standards and Curriculum, changing the structure from proportional representation to equal representation across programs. This council will serve as an advisory body to the EC on matters of policy for new academic programs, colleges and schools, majors, minors and concentrations. It will consider curriculum and academic standards and look at curriculum from a campus planning position. Steve would like to address the issue of GFO involvement with Commencement planning, he does not feel that this area falls under faculty governance. He would like to see a administrative committee with faculty representation to work on this but retain GFO involvement in academic standards for graduation, admissions and student honors.
Motion:
The EC moves to approve the revised GFO bylaws and move the bylaws forward for a GFO vote, to be conducted by mail, with a simple majority of the voting faculty. Steve called the motion, Kevin seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved.
B. Campus-wide planning for STEM in response to the ASTPGroup Phase I Report
Steve informed the EC that Substitute Senate Bill 5731 passed, establishing a committee to develop a plan to increase the capacity of Washington institutions of higher education to produce baccalaureate and advanced degrees in high demand fields, market these opportunities and look at other ways to develop pathways for students into high demand fields. Steve expressed UWB's interest to be involved with this study group.
Tom wanted to discuss the STEM recommendations with the EC before they deliberated on the resolution. He stated the EC could consider two kinds of academic planning, both long and short term planning. Immediate planning would look at programs to be developed by 2008/09. One way to move forward within the current structure is to respond to programs that are currently proposed, taking into account budgetary constraints and enrollment issues. Long term strategic planning calls for assessing areas most important to give priority to in the planning effort. We cannot look at STEM alone, we must consider other programs. Budgetary constraints may not allow for STEM and all other proposed programs to move forward. Consultation with the programs is necessary.
Steve opened further discussion on the issue stating that IAS is currently developing four science related programs, a Life Sciences, a Biotech, a Biomedical and an Environmental Science program.
EC discussion:
The EC recommends some revisions to the STEM Resolution that will form a campus-wide strategic planning group to proceed with the next steps of the ASTP planning process.
Motion:
The EC moves to adopt the STEM Resolution of the EC on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Planning as amended. Kevin called the motion, Steve seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved.
New Business
A. Planning for the 4/23 meeting with Provost Wise
The EC outlined some issues for discussion with Provost Wise.
The EC will work with Chancellor Chan to incorporate STEM in strategic planning.
The meeting adjourned at 11:00 am
The next meeting will be May 3, 2007
Minutes submitted by Barbara Van Sant
