Recent Posts

August Faculty Senate Chair Blog

Greetings! As the 2024-2025 Chair of the WSU Faculty Senate I’d like to welcome you back as we anticipate our first Fall meeting on September 19, 2024. During the summer semester, the Faculty Senate Executive Committee and Steering Committee meet periodically. This summer, the Steering Committee approved Title IX language for the Faculty Manual which […]

“Diversity” not allowed at WSU anymore?

Forum Post There is a disturbing and abrupt shift at WSU to remove the word “Diversity” from activities formerly known as DEI activities. For example, instead of DEI statements from faculty job applicants, we are requesting “land-grant mission” statements, and the word “diversity” can no longer appear in job descriptions. Assoc Deans and others whose […]

Institutional Neutrality – clarification

Forum Post WSU has enacted a practice of neutrality on controversial political topics (https://news.wsu.edu/news/2024/09/09/wsu-enacting-practice-of-neutrality-on-controversial-political-topics/). There is no definition of controversial political topics in the statement. There are topics that seem reasonable to many (like the right for marginalized groups to exist or equal rights for all genders) but could be viewed as controversial to others. […]

Rule 38 Section B: Academic Notice and Recess for At-risk Students

Forum Post The Senate office received an anonymous concern related to how this section is being interpreted in action: Rule 38: Academic Probation and Recess for At-risk Students (a) Undergraduate students whose semester (excluding summer session) or cumulative grade point average drops below a 2.0 for the first time must apply for reinstatement to continue […]

Academic Probation and Recess for At Risk Students

The Senate office received an anonymous concern related to how this section is being interpreted in action: Rule 38: Academic Probation and Recess for At-risk Students (a) Undergraduate students whose semester (excluding summer session) or cumulative grade point average drops below a 2.0 for the first time must apply for reinstatement to continue their enrollment at […]

WSU – support your constituents better

Forum Post University leadership needs to take a more active role in attracting students, faculty and staff to Pullman by engaging Pullman leadership directly to stem the hemorrhaging that is occurring. As an example, property taxes are going to be increased substantially in many, if not all neighborhoods in Pullman. For example, several of my […]

Support for WSU Press

Forum Post I am a 1984 graduate of Washington State University and a Platinum Life Member of the WSU Alumni Association. I just learned of an intention to eliminate one of the best things about our university, the Washington State University Press. I have several titles from WSU Press that I cherish. Furthermore, now that […]

Closing WSU Press

Forum Post The budget committee has mandated closing WSU Press, but it appears that no faculty members were consulted, because I heard only a rumor about it last week, and it took me a week to confirm it. I would prefer openness, transparency, and shared governance to secrecy. A university press is integral to our […]

Re-unify Pullman chancellor and Provost roles.

Forum Post In the wake of Chancellor Elizabeth Chilton’s departure, we should apply the same principle that we do to academic losses – that is, don’t fill her position but let it lapse. WSU functioned for years without a Pullman chancellor. In these days of stark financial exigency we should return to that model. Response […]

Meeting Minutes: April 4, 2024

Guest Presentation: End of Year Address with President Kirk Schulz and Provost Elizabeth Chilton, Executive Vice President & Chancellor, WSU Pullman. Faculty Senate Tenure & Promotion Recognition.
Review of the Ad Hoc Salary Step Committee Report.
Remarks by Faculty Senate Secretary, Matthew Hudelson – 2nd round ballots for the Faculty Senate Chair-Elect Executive Election were released by email to faculty senators By Monday, March 25th, and 2nd round ballot counts […]

May Faculty Senate Chair Blog

Dear All, I hope the ends of the semester is going smoothly and you will be able to take part in the upcoming celebration of student graduations on our campuses. A couple of quick updates and reminders from the Senate chair: 1: In response to constituent concerns, WSU Human Resources has revised their website that […]

April Faculty Senate Chair Blog

Dear All: The faculty senate greatly appreciates the efforts of the Board of Regents in conducting the recent and extensive listening sessions with all campuses. A summary of these sessions (PDF) and a letter from the Board of Regents Chair, Lisa Keohokalole Schauer (PDF), has been posted to the “Highlights” section of the Faculty Senate […]

Meeting Minutes: March 21, 2024

Guest Presentation: Institutional Research Review with Executive Director of Institutional Research, Stephanie Kane (PDF). Board of Regents listening sessions are underway
Faculty Senate Chair, Eric Shelden will be moderating the state of the university address is happening next week on March 26th, 2024, on the WSU Everett campus. Mention of the March 2024 Senate Chair Blog prepared for your review and reference.

Why is Pomp and Circumstance no longer played for our graduating seniors?

Forum Post Why is “Pomp and Circumstance” no longer played at Commencement for our graduating seniors, who are expected to seat themselves in silence, whereas it is played for the commencement platform–mostly administrators? It sends the wrong message, because the administrators are not the ones being honored at Commencement. Please honor our graduating seniors. I’ve […]

Tone Deaf Provost Search

Forum Post It seems really tone-deaf to me to have a Provost search on top of the Chancellor of Pullman position. This will grow our already byzantine upper administration while we are repeatedly asked to give back college level funds. ~Anonymous Faculty  Response The Faculty Senate Executive Officers have been notified of this forum post […]

Faculty Senate Agenda: April 4, 2024

Institutional Research Review with Executive Director of Institutional Research, Stephanie Kane. The Faculty Senate Chair, Eric Shelden presented to the Board of Regents on Friday, March 8th. The faculty senate executive officers met with the President and Provost on Tuesday, March 19th.

Meeting Minutes: April 8, 2021

Faculty Senate Minutes Regular Meeting April 8, 2021 The Faculty Senate met Thursday, April 8, 2021 via Zoom at 3:30 p.m. Approval of Undergraduate and Professional Degrees (Becky Bitter): (Item# 2021.04.08_94_Registrar) I move that the University Faculty recommend to the President and the Board of Regents that, effective at the closing dates for each graduating […]

Meeting Minutes: September 22, 2022

Guest Presentation: New Academic Year Welcome President Kirk Schulz, WSU System Provost Elizabeth Chilton, Executive Vice President & Chancellor, WSU Pullman https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/3253/2022/09/2022.09.22-Faculty-Senate-Update-vPublic.pdf https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/3253/2022/09/Revised-Memorandum-Salary-Equity-Process-August-2022.pdf Minutes Call to Order. 4:05pm. The faculty Senate met on Thursday, September 22, 2022 in Lighty 403 and via Zoom. Seventy-two (72) senators were present with nine (9) absent and twenty-two (22) […]

March Faculty Senate Chair Blog

I hope you all had a great spring break last week. A few updates and reminders from Faculty Senate: 1.      A few weeks ago, Exec asked Vice Provost of Enrollment Management Saichi Oba and Director of Admissions Andrew Brewick to update the Senate on efforts and progress toward addressing enrollment issues. Their response can be found […]