Faculty Senate Meeting Summary 2/8/24; Recruitment Updates
Dear Colleagues,
I’m writing with a summary of the first Faculty Senate meeting of Winter quarter, and some general updates on our recruitment efforts into shared governance.
The fourth full meeting of this year’s Faculty Senate was on 2/9/2024. Full text of remarks and reports can be found on the agenda, including updates from Planning and Budgeting, our Legislative Representative, and many of our Faculty Councils. I hope you can take the time to read them and appreciate how hard our colleagues are working behind the scenes on our behalf.
New business and discussion:
Chair’s Remarks: Among other updates, Chair Dougherty informed the Senate that, with Provost Serio’s support, PEN America will be conducting a webinar workshop during our next Senate meeting, March 7th, on academic freedom and free speech in our public institution. There will be space for 1,000 attendees. Please watch for this e-mail announcement, and join us if you can for this timely and useful event. Also, our three faculty liaisons are completing training to help faculty involved in dispute resolution, and the program will go live by the end of the month.
President’s Remarks: acknowledging the painful issues we face in our community and the world, President Cauce affirmed her personal and institutional commitment to academic freedom. She invited senators to offer their thoughts on collective /departmental statements on university websites. She does not want to ban such statements as other university leaders have done, but wants to strike a balance with the right to dissent and institutional neutrality. As such, she discussed potential guidelines – not a ruling – for collective academic statements on topics of public interest. Guidelines are likely forthcoming in a non-binding form.
Class C Resolution on the Timetable for Climate Crisis Finance and Decarbonization. After a second review by Senate Executive Committee, this Resolution from the Council for Campus Planning and Stewardship, was submitted to the Senate for vote. It passed with a substantial majority. Students were in attendance to show support. It calls for a goal of 95% reduction of Scope 1 emissions by 2035.
Disability Access Requirements on the Horizon: Coordinators for DRS (Disability Resources for Students) and our ADA office presented an overview of existing and possibly-forthcoming requirements for accessibility in the context of a big increase in demand. They asked us to share out specific questions to constituents about how to shift our model to meet demand and legal requirements. These questions can be found at the end of their presentation; please discuss within your units. Course materials and modalities will be particularly implicated.
Recruitment announcements:
Applications for Secretary of the Faculty: our esteemed SecFac Mike Townsend is stepping down in September after 8 years of outstanding service. We are seeking nominations for his replacement, due by February 16th to jjsmith4@uw.edu. Candidates must be a voting faculty member at the rank of associate professor or professor and have deep knowledge of, and commitment to, shared governance.
Faculty Legislative Representative and Deputy Faculty Legislative Representative: representing faculty issues in Olympia for the academic year 2024-25. Please send nominations to secfac@uw.edu by March 1st.
Faculty Councils: please consider serving on one of our councils, which are the engine rooms of shared governance and a chance to help change policies. Diverse backgrounds, disciplines, and views are welcome and necessary. Please complete the interest survey to indicate your issues of interest.
Vice Chair of the Senate: nominations are closed and interviews are being conducted.
The next full Faculty Senate meeting is March 7, 2024.
I continue to be inspired by my colleagues in shared governance who step up to do critical labor that is not recognized enough in our metrics of excellence. Governance is not an easy space, but you lean in with such good faith, bringing your expertise and a spirit of service to benefit us all. Thank you.
And as always – in fact more than ever – we welcome the engagement of faculty at large. Your Senator can be found on the roster, and I hold Office Hours.
Sincerely,
Louisa Mackenzie, Vice Chair, Faculty Senate