Approved June 8, 2012 WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES MINUTES April 12, 2012 1. CALL TO ORDER, APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chair Dennis Madsen called the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of Western Washington University to order at 3:00 p.m., April 12, 2012, in OM 340, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA. Board of Trustees Betti Fujikado, Secretary Dennis Madsen, Chair Ralph Munro, Vice Chair Phil Sharpe Dick Thompson Jacob Whitish Peggy Zoro Western Washington University Bruce Shepard, President Wendy Bohlke, Assistant Attorney General Stephanie Bowers, Vice President for University Advancement Sherry Burkey, Associate Vice President for University Relations Paul Cocke, Director, University Communications Eileen Coughlin, Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services Paul Dunn, Sr. Executive Assistant to the President Anna Ellermeier, President, Associated Students Paula Gilman, Exec. Director, University Planning & Budgeting Karen Stout, President, Faculty Senate Liz Sipes, Secretary to the Board of Trustees Steve Swan, Vice President for University Relations Richard Van Den Hul, Vice President for Business and Financial Affairs 2. SPECIAL REPORTS A. APPLYING WESTERN’S STRENGTHS TO CRITICAL STATE NEEDS Bruce Shepard, President, reported that the university has been working on budget decision packages for the 2013-2015 Biennium. Shepard said that, even if the state cannot provide funding, it is important to be thinking about these proposals and setting priorities for the future. 1 Approved June 8, 2012 Kathleen Kitto, Acting Vice Provost for Research and Dean of the Graduate School said that each of the decision packages focuses not only on Western’s needs but also the needs of the State of Washington. Active Minds Changing Lives Brian Burton, Dean, College of Business & Economics presented Active Minds Changing Lives. Burton said that the most basic need of the State of Washington is an educated citizenry and Western helps meet that need by providing a liberal education. Burton said to help our students become “active minds changing lives” we need to provide a lifelong skills set including: Leadership Skills, Innovation and Social Change, Information Literacy, Social, Economic, and Environmental Sustainability, Ethical Decision, and Global Perspective. In order to offer all of these crucial elements to Western’s students and help meet the state’s need for “change agents” we need resources. Clinical Doctorate in Audiology Brent Carbajal, Dean, College of Humanities & Social Sciences presented Clinical Doctorate in Audiology. This initiative builds upon Western’s strengths to meet the needs of the State of Washington. Carbajal noted that the proposed AUD is the entry level graduate degree in Audiology; it meets the 2007 certification standards of ASHA and the Council on Academic Accreditation. The AUD program would replace the master’s degree program that was shelved, but the existing curriculum offers a solid core for the Clinical Doctorate in Audiology curriculum. Carbajal said there is a clear need for this degree, both by student demand and market demand. Currently, the UW is the only institution that offers the AUD program and can only accept 12 students from the 85 to 100 applications received. Western’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders is clearly one of Western’s strengths. We can offer physical resources, lab equipment, quality faculty, staff, and students and the department is poised to take on this new program. To respond to the state’s needs we would need to request enabling legislation to have the authority to grant a clinical doctorate, as well as some additional faculty and staff. Coastal Resources and Ecology of Washington (CREW) Kathleen Kitto, Acting Vice Provost for Research/Dean of the Graduate School presented Coastal Resources and Ecology of Washington (CREW). Kitto acknowledged the work of Steve Sulkin, Director of the Shannon Point Marine Center, in putting together this initiative. Kitto said that CREW is a wonderful interdisciplinary opportunity. Over 30 faculty from four colleges and the Shannon Point Marine Center are involved in the initiative. A Steering Committee, comprised of representatives of the various departments and programs, has been formed and are inventorying all the existing recourses. The principal new resources needed will include faculty and support positions to fully implement the initiative and those physical resources required to support is functions. 2 Approved June 8, 2012 Energy Program Brian Burton, Dean, College of Business & Economics, said the Energy Program is at the right place at the right time. The program meets the mission and goals of the university and can meet the needs of the State of Washington. The Energy Program will continue Western’s tradition of research innovation, environmental leadership and commitment to undergraduate education. Three colleges within the University have collaborated to produce a unique program that harnesses expertise from throughout the campus. All three colleges are nationally recognized for their outstanding educational programs and demonstrated educational excellence. There is availability of all types of energy in the vicinity – wind, solar, hydro, etc. The Energy Program Advisory Board is enthusiastic, highly connected and eager to get this program going and succeed. Resources are needed for additional faculty and staff. Some external money has been raised allowing us to offer a minor in policy, economics and business in the Fall of 2012. Engineering at Western Jeff Wright, Dean, College of Sciences and Technology, said the Engineering at Western initiative would transform the existing Engineering Technology department into a full Engineering Department. This initiative builds on Western’s strengths of a liberal arts core and the existence of an Engineering Technology program. We also have support from the community, state industries, and community colleges. The proposal transitions mechanical engineering technology, electrical engineering technology and plastics technology into full engineering programs. There is a great need in the state for an increased engineering workforce and with modest increases in resources Western can take advantage of its strengths and contribute to that need. Math/Science Teacher Preparation George “Pinky” Nelson, Director of Science & Math Technology Education (SMATE) presented the proposed initiative on Math/Science Teacher Preparation. Nelson said there is a shortage of math and science teachers in Washington State as well as around the country. Western can build on its strength of an existing partnership between the CST and Woodring to almost double the number of high school math and science teachers. Nelson noted that Western is a national leader in producing high quality teachers; our teachers are more confident and better prepared than any other institution in the state. With few additional resources, Western Washington University Math/Science Teacher Preparation will help more people achieve degrees, it will focus on diversity, it will help create higher expectations for K-12 students, it will make college easier to access, and it will fill unmet needs in the high-demand fields. Trustees discussed the proposals and strategies for gathering support for them from the legislators as well as industry and private donors. 3 Approved June 8, 2012 B. EXECUTIVE PANEL – WWU AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS Bruce Shepard, President introduced Kelli Linville, Bellingham Mayor and Jack Louws, Whatcom County Executive who joined the Trustees to discuss WWU’s current and potential partnerships with the city and the county. Jack Louws, the new Whatcom County Executive and Kelli Linville, newly elected Bellingham Mayor, each gave a brief personal background. One of the goals of the university is to establish a strong relationship with the city and county and to help each other prosper. Strong and successful partnerships already exist and we can build on those. Linville said she is looking forward to working on the revitalization of economic development partnership in the community. There was discussion of development of programs or internships in the city and county so that students have an active part in local government. The students would benefit from the experience of working in the public sector. Stout said the faculty would be interested in servicelearning opportunities for their students. Louws said there are many areas in county government that would benefit from having the involvement of a faculty member or student. There was a suggestion to structure a program for a short-term city/county/Western project to involve Western students. To help solidify the emotional connection between Western and the surrounding community, a program based around the environment or the economic development of the community needs to be developed. Zoro said she is confident that we can connect the university more directly with the community. All the right people are in place to develop partnerships and Western is ready to do great things in the community. In response to a question on campus growth, Linville said that it would still be appropriate for Western to have a presence on the waterfront. The city needs to accommodate university growth in a variety of ways. Linville said that if the university has plans to expand, we need to start discussing it now so that it can be included in the city’s comprehensive plan update due in 2016. Shepard reported that Western has to produce more baccalaureate degrees in order to meet the state’s needs. We do need more operating budget, but we can accommodate more students on campus by better utilizing our current buildings. The waterfront presents opportunities and challenges and it is an important option for the university. Louws and Linville suggested we begin looking at ways of pooling systems that are non-mission driven and look at ways of collaborating on community issues, etc. The city and the county can use the university as an information resource and work in partnership on many projects. 3. EXECUTIVE SESSION At 4:50 p.m. Chair Madsen announced that the Board would go into Executive Session for 30 minutes to discuss personnel and legal issues as authorized by RCW 42.30.110. No action will be taken. At 5:40 p.m. the Board reconvened in Open Session. The meeting recessed at 5:41 p.m. 4