Faculty Senate > Recent Posts > Minutes > 2025-2026 – Minutes > Meeting Minutes: February 26, 2026

Meeting Minutes: February 26, 2026

MINUTES

The Faculty Senate met on Thursday February 26, 2026, in Faculty Senate Conference Room French Admin 344B and via Zoom. Fifty-seven (57) senators were present, two (2) vacancies with thirty-four (34) absent, and twenty-six (26) non-voting participants. The meeting was called to order by Ken Roberts, Senate Chair, at 3:49 pm

Guest Presentations (3:30 pm – 4:00 pm):WSU Enrollment Update – Saichi Oba, Vice Provost of Enrollment Management and Andrew Berwick, Assistant Vice Provost for Enrollment Management

Enrollment Management Update 2.26.26

  1. Call to Order 3:49 pm
  2. Approval of minutes from February 12, 2026, Faculty Senate meeting (PDF)
    • Approved by unanimous consent
  3. Additions or changes to the agenda
    • None
  4. Updates
    1. Remarks by Faculty Senate Executive Committee
      1. Faculty Senate Chair –
        • We want to remind senators and constituents that if you have received an invitation to fill out the COACHE faculty satisfaction survey, please do so before the deadline (early April). This is an important opportunity to share your views on faculty life at WSU. If you have any questions, please contact Doug Call or Lisa Guerrero in the Provost’s Office.
        • Digital Accessibility training is now available in Percipio. All faculty and staff are required to complete this training by year end.
      2. Immediate Past Chair – Nothing to Report
      3. Chair Elect – Nothing to report
      4. Executive Secretary
        • Faculty Senate Executive Elections – Successful elections; 55 ballots were returned, 54 were valid. Ryan Thomas was successfully elected as Chair-Elect; his term will begin on August 16, 2026. Matt Hudelson was successfully re-elected to the position of Executive Secretary. The Executive Secretary seat is a 3-year term that will begin on August 16, 2026.
      5. Board of Regents –
        • The upcoming Board of Regents meeting, scheduled for March 5–6 in Vancouver, will address several key items, with the university budget process serving as the central focus. Budget hearings will take place from March 23-30, BoR budget vote is planned for May 18. The finalized and approved budget document is anticipated around September 1.
        • Two academic degree programs previously approved by the Faculty Senate will be presented to the Board for final approval: the Master’s in Sustainable Fuels (WSU Global) and the MS in Viticulture and Enology (Tri‑Cities).
        • Additionally, the Board agenda includes a report from a career track faculty member who recently completed professional leave. Her sabbatical included mentorship at the University of Kentucky in community‑engaged teaching, and collaboration with WSU students that resulted in the submission of five publications over six months. Her experience underscores the positive impact of the professional leave program, which has transitioned from a pilot to a permanent offering
      6. Legislative Update – Not present
  5. Information Items
    • None
  6. Agenda Items
    1. Action Items
      1. (Item #2026.02.12_596_CRP) Graduate Major Change Bulletin No. 6, Courses (Exhibit 596A)
        • Motion Approved; 48 Approve, 0 Reject
      2. (Item #2026.02.12_597_CRP) Undergraduate and Professional Major Change Bulletin No. 6 Courses (Exhibit 597A)
        • Motion Approved; 49 Approve, 0 Reject
      3. (Item #2026.02.12_598_CRP) Professional Health Sciences Major Change Bulletin No. 4, Courses (Exhibit 598A)
        • Motion Approved; 48 Approve, 0 Reject
      4. (Item #2026.02.12_599_FAC) Proposed Update to Faculty Manual Section III.D.8 regarding descriptions for Regents Professor and Laureate Professor (Exhibits 599A, 599B)
        • Motion Approved; 46 Approve, 2 Reject
      5. (Item #2026.02.05_600_Steering) NOI to Rename Doctor of Philosophy – Individual Interdisciplinary Program to Doctor of Philosophy – Interdisciplinary Studies (Exhibits 600A, 600B, 600C, 600D)
        • Motion Approved; 50 Approve, 1 Reject
      6. (Item #2026.02.12_601_GSC) Proposed Plan Updates from CESHS (Exhibit 601A, 601B)
        • Motion Approved; 49 Approve, 1 Reject
      7. (Item #2026.02.12_602_GSC) College of Nursing Request to Close Academic Program Plans (Exhibits 602A, 602B)
        • Motion Approved; 48 Approve, 3 Reject
    2. Discussion Items
      1. (Item #2026.02.26_Steering) Proposed Amendments to the Faculty Senate Constitution and Bylaws (Exhibits 603A, 603B)
        • No discussion, move to action 3/12/26
      2. (Item #2026.02.26_604_GSC) Recommendations from the Graduate Studies Committee (Exhibits 604A, 604B)
        • Item is not related to 90-CB, move to action 3/12/26
      3. (Item #2026.02.26_605_AAC) Undergraduate and Professional Major Change Bulletin No. 8, Requirements (Exhibit 605A)
        • No discussion, move to action 3/12/26
      4. (Item #2026.02.26_606_AAC) Proposed updated Catalog Subcommittee function language (Exhibit 606A)
        • No discussion, move to action 3/12/26
  7. Constituent Concerns
    • A constituent raised concerns about limited and unreliable transportation options to and from the Pullman/Moscow Airport, an issue particularly affecting faculty who travel frequently for work. Current challenges include inconsistent taxi availability, limited bus service, and parking costs at the Pullman airport that are reportedly higher than at Spokane or Lewiston. It was noted that while Wheatland Express provides transportation between Pullman and Spokane, it is not affiliated with WSU. The WSU Women’s Center previously operated shuttle service, but it was discontinued when its student‑service funding ceased. Transportation Services was identified as the most appropriate unit to evaluate feasibility.
  8. Adjournment 4:15 pm
Dr. M. Hudelson Signature

Matthew G. Hudelson

Executive Secretary, WSU Faculty Senate

Associate Professor, Mathematics

Email: mhudelson@wsu.edu