Meeting Minutes: September 21, 2017

Faculty Senate Minutes

Regular Meeting

September 21, 2017

The Faculty Senate was called to order by J. McDonald, Chair on Thursday September 21, 2017, in FSHN T101 at 3:30 p.m. forty-six  (46) members were present with six (6) absent and nine (9) nonvoting members present.

Minutes of April 13 2017 meeting were approved as circulated.

1. Announcements (Information items).
   1. Information Items.
      1. Faculty Senate Officers met with the Provost on April 27,  June 20, July 13, and August 24, 2017
      2. Faculty Senate Officers met with the president on May 1, 2017
      3. Minor Change Bulletin #1  (Exhibit B)
      4. Summer Items passed by Steering Committee
         1. ESF College of Medicine amended Academic Schedule for 2017-18
         2. Gen Studies –(Exhibits C and D). This is also included on Undergraduate Major Change Bulletin #2
      5. Annual report from the Faculty Status Committee (Exhibit E)
      6. Steering Committee and Faculty Affairs Committee have approved the Notice of Intent in  accordance with the MOU guidelines to approve the proposal to rename the College of Pharmacy to the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences  (Exhibit F)
      7. The Graduate Studies Committee has approved updated Bylaws for the Professional Science Master’s in Molecular Biosciences (PSM-MB) department which are available on the department’s website
      8. The Graduate Studies Committee has approved updated Bylaws for the Molecular Biosciences Graduate Program (SMB) which are available on the department’s website
      9. Recommendation from the Academic Affairs Committee to approve the corrected Undergraduate Major Change Bulletin #1 (Exhibits  H   H1) previously passed at Senate in 2016-17
      10. The Steering Committee voted unanimously to accept an increase in the annual leave accrual rate from the previous maximum of 14.67/month to the current maximum of 16.67/month offered by the state and supported by the president.  It becomes effective September 1, 2017.
2. Announcements (Reports)
   1. Remarks by J. McDonald
      1. The new annual review system was updated and VP Ward will be discussing this
      2. Please forward any suggestions for speakers.
      3. WSU and City of Pullman are collaborating on ways to improve downtown Pullman.
      4. A meeting with the provost’s office was held to discuss when campus closures would occur during inclement weather or other events. When this occurs, faculty will be requested to give material/information to students and make reasonable accommodations to students.
      5. Executive officers traveled to Olympia to meet with other faculty across WSU.
      6. Steering committee will begin the process of reviewing the structure of the Faculty Senate Committees as well as the balance of senators between colleges in the tenure and non-tenure track.
   2. Remarks by Kelly Ward, Vice Provost
3. Additions or Changes to the Agenda.  Motion to move Discussion Item #2 to an action item.  Motion carried.
4. Agenda Items (Action Items)
   1. Recommendation from Steering Committee to approve the salary distribution of raises (Exhibit K)
      1. Motion Carried
5. Agenda Items (Discussion Items).
   1. Recommendation from Steering Committee to approve the Faculty Senate Committees be approved as listed, although not all committees have the required number of senators since the senate elections were not completed at the time the committees were populated (Exhibit G)
      1. No Discussion
   2. Recommendation from Steering Committee to approve the salary distribution of raises (Exhibit K). Motion to move this to an action item. 
      1. Motion carried.
   3. Recommendation from the Academic Affairs Committee to approve the Undergraduate Major Change Bulletin #2 (Exhibits  I  I1 )– G. Crouch
      1. No Discussion
   4. Recommendation from the Graduate Studies Committee to approve Graduate Major Change Bulletin  (Exhibit  J ) –T. Salsbury/D.Potts
      1. No Discussion
6. Constituents’ Concerns.
   1. A concern was raised regarding miscommunication between HRS and a faculty member when a medical leave situation occurred.  J. McDonald will follow up with HRS.
   2. A comment was expressed that the new Annual Review process should hopefully resolve faculty dissatisfaction with their review method.
   3. A concern was raised that when weekday football games occur on campus, they are disruptive to students and faculty.                       
   4. It was noted the Executive Officers will follow up on these concerns.
7. Adjournment.                                                    

                      The meeting adjourned at 4:16 p.m.

                                              Amy Nielsen, Executive Secretary