Faculty Meeting Minutes
College of Forest Resources
Anderson Hall Room 207
Monday October 15, 2007, 10:30 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 10:35 a.m. by Gordon Bradley, College of Forest Resources Faculty
Chair.
ATTENDANCE
Attendance was not taken because this meeting included the larger college community and no action
was undertaken. Approximately 65 people attended.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Dr. Bradley welcomed everyone and began the meeting by saying that full College community was
invited to the meeting because of the topic of the proposed College of the Environment. He referred to
the two documents that were prepared by Dean Bare that were sent with the meeting agenda. He
introduced Dr. Bare and asked him to recap recent events related to the College of the Environment.
Dean Bare will introduce Dr. Wise.
Dean Bare provided a summary of the meetings and discussions that have happened across campus in
regards to how we might reorganize to handle environmental concerns. In mid June Provost Wise
hosted a charette that brought together faculty, administrators, and others from outside the University.
Rick Gustafson, Clare Ryan, and Dean Bare attended this gathering. From mid July through September
open meetings for faculty and administrators were held about how to reorganize in relationship to
environment. 10-12 College of Forest Resources faculty participated in these meetings. On September
5, 2007 the provost held a workshop to further discuss reorganization; Gordon Bradley, Dean Bare, and
Steve West attended. The Provost then visited with the subset of faculty who have participated thus far.
All of this has led to today’s meeting. Dean Bare introduced Provost Wise.
PRESENTATIONS
Dr. Wise thanked Dean Bare and Dr. Bradley for inviting her to discus where we are and what we are
doing.
She has been Provost at the University of Washington for two years. Since her arrival she has gotten
together with faculty groups in a variety of venues, lunches, small meetings, college meetings, etc. A
theme that comes up again and again is how the UW approaches the environment—how we can
celebrate it and do more about it. She is asked if we are so wonderful—Forest Resources, Ocean and
Fishery Sciences, Engineering, Public Affairs, Atmospheric Sciences—then why are we not better
known or coordinated? There are over 400 faculty and more than 40 initiatives at the University of
Washington that focus on developing and applying solutions to environmental concerns. She and
President Emmert have talked about this and they are aware of at least six other universities that are
putting together significant initiatives. If we are going to do something, the time is now.
She pointed out that this is a unique time because the governor of Washington and the legislature
understand the need for environmental reform to improve people’s lives. It is unusual that a governor
and legislature are in sync.
The current capital campaign ends on June 30, 2008. One area that was originally spoken of was
environmental concerns. She has come to recognize that we need a coordinated internal message. She
believes that we have never had a cohesive group of donors because there has never been a coordinated
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voice. If a donor wanted to donate $50 million where would that donation go—as we are organized
right now we compete amongst ourselves for money.
She appreciates being invited to speak to us today. She has a few remarks that she will invite questions.
She sees four grand challenge areas:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Climate, water, and energy
Conservation and urbanization
Global ecosystems and environmental health
Human dimensions of the environment
She has invited the faculty and administrators to form 4 or 5 working groups to work on the following
areas:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Draft a vision statement
Map out a curriculum
Develop a communication and marketing plan
Devise the structure and organization
Finance and budget
She vows not to carve out another piece of the UW pie—which is already cut up into 35 pieces. She
plans to go the legislature, the federal government, and donors to appeal for lasting funding for the
College of the Environment because not one entity can do it all.
As far as organization and structure, she said she would be lying to us if she didn’t say that one of the
working models is to move the College of Forest Resources to the new college. She underscored that
this is not about diminishing our impact but to make it bigger, make us more respected, essential with
visible impact. She said she will do no harm, but she will not make everybody happy either. She
acknowledged that this is a big risky endeavor and that she has weighed the value-added versus the
risk—is it worth it? She believes it is.
The working groups are not closed and she encouraged anyone with interest to participate. A wikipedia
is being developed and should be on-line soon. It will be a link from the Provost’s website under
initiatives in the spotlight feature. http://www.washington.edu/provost/
In addition to participating in person, you should be able to participate via the wiki.
A faculty member asked what the timeline was.
Dr. Wise responded that there was no fixed timeline, but she hopes to present a report to the Regents at
their November 15, 2007 meeting. Dean Bare has agreed to serve two more years. It is her hope that a
plan is in place well before the end of his tenure as Dean. A lot depends on money. Nothing will
happen until we have significant money in place.
A faculty member stated that it was his opinion that every student should take an environmental literacy
class.
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Dr. Wise responded that a group is working on curricula. She suggested that this faculty participate in
the curriculum discussions.
The Provost spoke about establishing an institute on advance research in the environment. She brought
up the Miller Institute at Berkeley where post doctoral researchers are taken on as Miller Fellows and
are selected after presenting a plan for interdisciplinary research. The fellows are paid twice what most
postdocs are paid. She also said the Miller Institute engages with external faculty. She would love to
find a donor that would fund an institute on the environment.
She mentioned that the Bothell and Tacoma campuses, the Arboretum and the Burke Museum are part
of the discussions that are being undertaken. She holds that this will not be a traditional silo-like
college. It is her hope to appoint a Dean and be able to provide at least 40 FTE. She said that other
faculty members will be part of the College through joint appointments. It was her opinion that we
engage in interdisciplinary research at the University of Washington through force of will, but that
interdisciplinary work often falls through the cracks making it difficult to make promotion.
How can we make this happen now?
The UW has been invited by the state to start a fourth campus. There is no funding in place for this
campus although development meetings have been taking place and sites for the campus are under
consideration and public meetings are taking place. We have requested funding for the College of the
Environment on the interim budget request.
How does this filter down to the students?
She hopes the reorganization will provide a richer more in depth yet broad education.
The president of the College of Forest Resources Alumni Association spoke about his being a third
generation forester prepared by the University of Washington College of Forest Resources. He said the
alumni want to support the Colleges but they also want the College of Forest Resources to have impact.
He expressed fear that the College of Forest Resources would go away.
Dr. Wise responded by saying that she wants to enlarge what the College of Forest Resources does.
How will faculty be redistributed?
She said she couldn’t answer this question right now because it is too specific, that she needs more
information to answer this question and the information is being developed and discussed now.
A faculty member stated that the faculty need to have more information in order to support her?
She suggested that this faculty participate in the committees, in particular the organization and structure
committee. She did say if the College of the Environment doesn’t work out financially, it won’t work
out academically.
How does the name “environment” address regional and national changes that need to happen?
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Dr. Wise answered that “environment” is a broad term that many understand. She believes using this
name would help clarify our role, what we are trying to do. She stated that the members of the College
of Forest Resources should lead the reorganization discussions. The passionate faculty of the College of
Forest Resources should be the foundation for the new college.
What will happen to the existing colleges?
She restated that we need a vision that uses existing resources in a creative way. Currently, the basis for
the curriculum being considered is the Program on the Environment curriculum may form the
foundation for the undergraduate curriculum and the Conservation of Living Systems Program out of
Oceanography might form the basis of the graduate curriculum. This program has not yet been
approved.
The Provost wrapped up by encouraging anyone who wants to participate in the discussions to contact
Stephanie Harrington, stephah@u.washington.edu, 206 543-0878.
Dr. Bradley thanked everyone who attended.
FACULTY ACTIONS
No action items were considered.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Next Faculty Meeting will be October 29, 2007 in our regular location, Anderson 22 at 10:30 a.m.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 11:37 a.m.
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