Approved December 14, 2012

WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
MINUTES
October 11, 2012

1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Peggy Zoro called the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of Western
Washington University to order at 3:00 p.m., October 11, 2012, in Old Main 340, Western
Washington University, Bellingham, WA.
Board of Trustees
Betti Fujikado, Secretary
Joseph Meyer
Ralph Munro
Karen Lee, Vice Chair
Sue Sharpe
Dick Thompson
Peggy Zoro, Chair
Western Washington University
Bruce Shepard, President
Wendy Bohlke, Assistant Attorney General
Stephanie Bowers, Vice President for University Advancement
Paul Cocke, Director, University Communications
Eileen Coughlin, Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services
Paul Dunn, Sr. Executive Assistant to the President
Ethan Glemaker, President, Associated Students
Catherine Riordan, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
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.

PREPARING STUDENTS TO SUCCEED IN CHANGING WORLD: INPUTS AND
OUTCOMES
1. Senior Exit Survey

Bruce Shepard, President, opened the presentation stating that the university measures data for
two purposes -- statistical information for the legislature and accrediting agencies, and for
information that allows us to evaluate and continue to improve our programs. The Board of
Trustees holds the university accountable for well- informed decisions that are based on this
information.
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Approved December 14, 2012
Catherine Riordan, Provost, introduced John Krieg, Professor of Economics and Director of the
Office of Survey Research. Krieg said the primary goal of the Office of Survey Research is to
conduct surveys of Western’s students and alumni to learn about what we do well and what
areas need improvement. Krieg described that Western Educational Longitudinal Study
(WELS). This study surveys incoming freshman and transfer students a month prior to their
coming to campus. This cohort of students is surveyed again at the end of their second year to
assess their general education experience and what things we are doing well in their first two
years at Western. The Exit Survey is conducted of both undergraduate and graduate students
every quarter. The goal of the Exit Survey is for students to look back at their educational
experience and to look forward and ask “how well has Western prepared them for their future?”
Every other year Alumni are asked, “how well did Western prepare them for this stage of their
life?”
Krieg presented data from the Western Educational Longitudinal Study (WELS) for 2009 –
2012.
2. GUR Strands
Steve Vanderstaay, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, noted that the data collected
from both freshman and senior students and as well as nationally benchmarked data, is used to
inform program improvements in the Liberal Arts & Sciences core --our General University
Requirements (GUR). To improve on the freshman year experience, Western is piloting the
GUR Strands.
Emily Borda, Chemistry and Johann Neem, History gave a brief presentation on how a GUR
Strand works. A GUR Strand consists of 3 GUR classes that are taken in successive quarters.
The purpose of the GUR Strand is to enhance the first year experience by providing a year-long
“learning community” of peers and a “strand” of three courses connected by a theme or
question. Students would be able to see the connection between these courses and ultimately
better understand the connection between the liberal arts and sciences. For example Strand
One is “Science and Religion”. Classes in this Strand are LBRL 23, Introduction to the Study of
Religion (Fall qtr.); FAIR 297J, Evolutionary Biology (Winter qtr.); and LBRL 297, Science and
Religion (Spring qtr.).
There are four different strands, each consisting of a three course sequence. Strand Two: “How
do you know? Evidence and Argument”; Strand Three: “Understanding Human-Environment
Interactions”; and Strand Four: “Global Citizenship.”
Chair Zoro said that they would like an updated report on the GUR Strands pilot program at the
October 2013 Board of Trustees meeting.
At 3:17 p.m. Chair Zoro announced a five minute break.

3.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

At 3:22 p.m. Chair Zoro announced that the Board would convene in Executive Session for
approximately 90 minutes to discuss personnel, real estate and legal issues as authorized in
RCW 42.30.110. The Board reconvened in Open Session at 5:00 p.m. No action was taken.
Meeting recessed at 5:00 p.m.
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