Senate hears variety of issues

By Amy Geiszler-Jones

A committee reviewing faculty development opportunities and rewards at WSU wants input on what type of support faculty need for professional development.

Rosalind Scudder, a communicative disorders and sciences professor who chairs the committee, told Faculty Senate Jan. 26 that the committee would be ready to recommend forming a center for such support, but they want feedback on that idea.

“We want a center, if it exists, to be administratively funded, but faculty driven in review and operation,” she said. “There are some amazing things that we could be doing and more support that could be given by this university.”

In addition to soliciting feedback and conducting focus groups, the committee will host open meetings for faculty, graduate assistants and adjuncts about faculty development.

To offer comment on the idea, contact Scudder, ext. 3240.

Among other things discussed at the Faculty Senate meeting:

• President Don Beggs, addressing the senate for the first time since taking office Jan. 1, announced a national search will be conducted for the vice president for student affairs position. Since Jim Rhatigan’s retirement from that position to become senior vice president in June 1997, the post has been filled on an interim basis.

He also noted he’s planning to move ahead rather quickly on some items left unresolved by former President Hughes, including WSU’s strategic plan and a proposed parking plan.

Beggs asked for faculty cooperation in getting “good news” about their activities to university constituents, particularly taxpayers and legislators who often are unaware of the value they are receiving for their tax money.

• Senate President Elmer Hoyer announced he is forming an ad hoc committee on distance learning.

• The senate gave unanimous support for a number of proposals suggested by the faculty members of the ad hoc parking committee. Among their proposals: Money for parking lot renovations should be raised through fees on a pay-as-you-go basis, rather than indebtedness by selling bonds, while road repairs should be paid for by the state, which does have funds earmarked for such work; and visitors to campus should not be charged to park on campus. Sen. Will Klunder noted the community already provides support for the campus through the mill-levy support from the city and county.

• Guidelines for further studies courses, proposed by the general education committee, will be discussed at the next senate meeting, 3:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8.