APPROVED April 8, 2016 WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING MINUTES THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2016 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Karen Lee called the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of Western Washington University to order at 3:08 p.m., in the Johnson Lobby Lounge at the Washington Athletic Club, 1325 Sixth Ave, in Seattle, WA. Board of Trustees Karen Lee, Chair Sue Sharpe, Vice Chair Earl Overstreet, Secretary Betti Fujikado Chase Franklin John M. Meyer - by phone Mo West - by phone Seth Brickey Western Washington University Bruce Shepard, President Brent Carbajal, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Eileen Coughlin, Senior VP, Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services Richard Van Den Hul, Vice President for Business and Financial Affairs Stephanie Bowers, Vice President for University Advancement Steve Swan, Vice President for University Relations and Community Development Molly Ware, Faculty Senate President Roger Leishman, Assistant Attorney General Paul Cocke, Director of University Communications Paul Dunn, Special Executive Assistant to the President Barbara Sandoval, Assistant to the President and Secretary to the BOT Elissa Hicks, Assistant Secretary to the Board of Trustees 2. EXECUTIVE SESSION MAY BE HELD TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL, REAL ESTATE AND LEGAL ISSUES AS AUTHORIZED IN RCW 42.30.110. At 3:09 p.m. Chair Lee announced that the Board would convene in Executive Session for approximately 30 minutes to discuss personnel and legal matters as authorized in RCW 42.30.110 (1)(g)&(i). The Board returned to open meeting at 3:29 p.m. with no action to report. Chair Lee announced a break at 3:29 p.m. The board returned and reconvened the meeting at 3:36 p.m. Active Minds Changing Lives Page 1 APPROVED April 8, 2016 3. K – 16 EDUCATION: OPPORTUNITIES & CHALLENGES Provost Carbajal introduced Francisco Rios, Dean of Woodring College of Education as moderator who then introduced panelists Paul Francis, Council of Presidents; Betty Patu, Seattle Public Schools, Board Chair; Rachelle Sharpe, Deputy Director, Washington State Achievement Council (WSAC); Jan Yoshiwara, Deputy Executive Director for Education Services, Washington State Board of Community and Technical Colleges. Dean Rios asked the panel what they believe is the biggest challenges for K-12 education over the next ten years. Panelists said that they are noticing that most kindergarteners aren’t ready for school and they are looking at the challenge of how to get kids ready, and what kind of early education would bring the most benefit. They also noted that education funding at all levels for things such as early education, non-traditional students, adult worker education and mentorships, aren’t keeping up with the need. The panelists said that participation is increasing at all levels of education, but the financial aid isn’t there for those who need it. Rios asked the panel what the responsibility as an institution of public education is to help with the challenges identified? Panelist responded that if early education, K-12 education, higher education and workforce development programs would speak as one integrated system in Olympia it would help legislative members see how everyone is interrelated and everything works together. They also remarked that Western is doing well at shining a light on what higher education can do for K-12 education with programs like Compass 2 Campus and recruiting students in underserved communities. By focusing on those early connections for higher education it is promoting new solutions, opportunities and bringing education to the people. Trustees asked how to improve campus diversity and climate and how to serve underserved populations? Panelists said that no one has a fail proof answer but that closing the gap between the ratio of student body diversity and staff and faculty diversity composition would help. Students of color look for mentors with similar backgrounds, panelists said, and if there aren’t enough mentors students often feel like they don’t have anyone to turn to. Panelists also suggested that if Western focused on the most pressing needs one at a time most of the rest would fix itself over time and suggested offering more opportunities to students of color to reach out to other diverse populations, showing them that higher education is a possibility and something they can relate too. Trustees asked about the poverty factor for early education and what the university could do to mediate the gap. Panelists said that it comes down to capacity, communication and collaboration adding that reducing class sizes so schools could retain teachers would allow them to truly teach, giving students the focused attention they need to thrive and learn. Communication with the public and bringing respect back to the teaching profession so that teachers feel appreciated and more students will want to be teachers is also important. And, collaborate with early education in order to get students started on the right track and excited to learn in kindergarten. Chair Lee adjourned the meeting at 5:09 p.m. Active Minds Changing Lives Page 2