Faculty Meeting Minutes
October 8, 2008
SEM II A1105 - 1:00 – 3:00pm
Sandy Yanonne from the Writing Center - handed out packets with the WC faculty pack, the Ink Well and a
Questionaire from the Writing Center as everyone entered the room.
Limericks
The faculty meeting agenda stated, “Faculty are invited to compose a limerick. Your colleagues will select their
favorite and a prize will be given.” Five limericks were presented. Limerick #5, written by Andrew Reece,
received the highest votes.
Call to Order:
Terry Setter (chair) called the meeting to order at 1:15p.m.
Announcements:
o CFR remains vacant and needs someone to step up. Faculty were encouraged to contact an Agenda
Committee member if they would like to volunteer or want more information.
o The Agenda Committee Website has a calendar faculty can access to post events on and/or see what’s
going on that’s interesting.
o Last Ditch, the workshop for students still seeking contract sponsors that was traditionally held at the
beginning of each quarter, is no longer being offered. Faculty were encouraged to contact Academic
Advising if they had questions or concerns.
Curricular Visions Implementation – Expressive Arts example of Fields of Study website:
Sally Cloninger and Todd Sprague presented the new Media Arts website.
Media Arts faculty have been working with Todd Sprague to create a website which provides further
information on the media arts field of study at Evergreen. The website link is
http://studies.evergreen.edu/mediaarts and provides a wealth of information about faculty teaching in media
arts, curricular pathways, and student/faculty work.. Todd’s charge was to make the site easy to navigate for
prospective students, current students and alumni. Faculty will need to keep the site updated. Todd invited
faculty to contact him if they would like to create other fields of study websites.
CARE Network:
Aaron Lee, CARE (Conflict Assistance, Resources and Empowerment) Network Student Coordinator, provided
an update on CARE and indicated the services are available for faculty, staff and students who want to problem
solve ways to address a conflict. He indicated the office is staffed by volunteers who can help navigate
resources. For more information go to evergreen.edu/CARE or e-mail carenetwork@evergreen.edu . CARE is
independent from the Civil Rights Office, grievance office, the Resolution Center and Counseling. They are
located in Library 2706 and are staffed from 8:00am – 5:00pm, Monday through Friday. Volunteers are also
available to meet outside these hours.
Collective Bargaining Agreement Update:
Chuck Pailthorp and Jose Gomez provided an update and indicated the management and UFE bargaining teams
met on September 26 & 27 and October 6 & 7. The next bargaining session is on October 15, with a potential
to work through the following weekend in order to complete the tentative agreement before the end of October.
They indicated they have reached agreement on many areas and that the work by both parties is an example of
the best of Evergreen’s collaborative manner. Chuck and Jose indicated there will be a UFE meeting on
October 17, from 5:00-7:00pm in SEM 2 C1107. The UFE will also hold additional faculty forums before
ratification of the contract by UFE members.
Re-Accreditation Commendations/Recommendations:
Les Purce indicated the re-accreditation visiting team concluded their 3-day visit this morning. Les said he met
with Carol Long, the chair of the re-accreditation team, this morning at 10:00am before she read the
commendations and recommendations at an open forum later in the morning. Les thanked the writers of the
Self-Study and others who helped make the re-accreditation process a success. He expressed special thanks to
lead writer Matt Smith; chapter authors Don Bantz, John Carmichael, Steve Hunter, Rita Pougiales, Sarah
Pedersen, Paul Smith, Collin Orr; and Laura Coghlan, and to Julie Slone, Linda Hohman, Mary Ann Steele and
Spencer Easton for their assistance throughout the process. Les indicated the evaluators were impressed with
everyone’s commitment and understanding of the College mission
Les then read the draft report that Carol Long submitted this morning on behalf of the re-accreditation team that
included 8 commendations and 3 recommendations for the campus (he stressed this is a draft, that will be
finalized at the NWCCU meeting in January):
Commendations:
1. The Evaluation Committee commends the students, faculty and staff of The Evergreen State College for the
innovative structure and effectiveness of its educational programs and for the resultant inspiring degree to
which the College’s students reflect institutional values focused on engaged inquiry, active learning, and
community service.
2. The Evaluation Committee commends The Evergreen State College faculty and staff for their studentcentered approach to learning, which provides broad access to campus resources and grants autonomy for
students to direct their educational experience. This philosophy is broadly understood and enthusiastically
embraced by the entire College community.
3. The evaluation committee commends The Evergreen State College for its significant investment in physical
resources to meet the needs of students, faculty and staff in support of their teaching and learning experiences.
The innovative hard work, the extremely collaborative process in planning and design of space, and the focus
on sustainability is one of the success stories at the College over the last ten years.
4. The Evaluation Committee commends the students, faculty, and staff of The Evergreen State College’s
Tacoma Program and their collective commitments to extending educational opportunity and service to
communities and students beyond the Olympia campus. The programs guiding philosophy – “enter to learn,
depart to serve” – represents the highest ideals of community-based education and service.
5. The Evaluation Committee commends the faculty and staff of The Evergreen State College’s nationally
recognized Master in Teaching program, the Evergreen Center for Educational Improvement, and the Master of
Education program for the careful consideration, long-term vision, and commitment to translating theory
into practice. Their efforts have created unique and powerful synergies among the triad, capably brought to bear
on teacher preparation issues of both state and national significance.
6. The Evaluation Committee commends the Washington Center for Improving the Quality of Undergraduate
Education as a national leader in the teaching, learning and assessment of interdisciplinary pedagogies. The
Center’s focus on the intentional design of integrative learning and its approach to faculty development
embody the Evergreen principles of collaborative learning and a commitment to educational equity. The Center
mentors campuses across the country in designing integrative approaches that support the academic
achievement of all students. The Center grounds this work in the use of data on student engagement, the
qualitative analysis of student work, and the cross-fertilizing of effective practices from
campuses across the country.
7. The Evaluation Committee commends the Writing Center and the Quantitative and Scientific Reasoning
Center (QuaSR) at The Evergreen State College for providing two student tutoring services of exceptional
quality. The centers support learning for the entire campus from their library home or in any location
for a program or workshop that is requested by the faculty or others. A commended goal of the Writing Center
is to give voice to a student in any stetting from a program assignment to a self-evaluation. A commended goal
of the QuaSR is to encourage students and faculty to utilize mathematics in a variety of settings
with clarity and confidence. Both centers contribute broadly to the intellectual lives of Evergreen students.
8. The Evaluation Committee commends The Evergreen State College for its support of programs and centers
providing access to quality education, research and support for tribal work for the Native American populations
of the Pacific Northwest and the nation. This commendation is extended to include the “House
of Welcome” Longhouse Education and Cultural Center, the Evergreen Center for Educational Improvement,
the Northwest Indian Applied Research Institute (NIARI), the Reservation-Based Community-Determined
Program, the Master of Public Administration in Tribal Governance, and the Native American and World
Indigenous Peoples Studies (NAWIPS) program.
Recommendations:
1. The Evaluation Committee recommends that The Evergreen State College develop a more streamlined,
systematic method of collecting curricular and co-curricular assessment data. Attention to analysis, storage, and
wide sharing of the data will better inform the College’s teaching, learning, and program-planning
practices. Though the College has demonstrated advances in assessment and has collected large amounts of
valuable information, it would benefit from more clarity and greater accessibility of this information. (Policy
2.2 Educational Assessment)
2. The Evaluation Committee recommends that The Evergreen State College strengthen the teaching and
documentation of the natural sciences, mathematics, and fine arts as parts of a substantial and coherent program
of general education. The College has made progress in documentation of general education since the
previous accreditation visit and has implemented a program entitled “The Six Expectations of an Evergreen
Graduate.” General education is well-documented specifically in the humanities and social sciences and in
critical thinking, writing, and speaking. Though some progress has occurred in fine arts, science and math,
more focused teaching and clearly embedded curriculum is required to fulfill these areas. (Policy 2.1 General
Education/Related Instruction Requirements)
3. The Evaluation Committee recommends that The Evergreen State College work carefully to assess its shared
governance structures as it responds to the changing conditions identified in the self-study: growth, workload
and compensation, succession, and complexity. The College should strive to retain and strengthen
cooperative working relationships, coordination across units, and open communication and goal attainment. In
the future it will be important to address the impact of collective bargaining on the quality and effectiveness of
the institution. (Standard 6.C.6, Policy 6.2 Collective Bargaining)
Extended Education – Solicitation of Questions in preparation for October 29th Faculty Meeting
Susan Preciso began by summarizing questions that have been brought up last year during Agenda Committee
and Faculty meetings on 2/21/08 and 5/7/08 respectively. Theresa Aragon then asked for additional questions
faculty want to be addressed in the 3-year review report that she is preparing. Questions for further
consideration included:
o Is EE self-supporting, including the Deans salary?
o What is the hiring criteria for faculty who teach in EE? Who is currently teaching in EE?
o Is compensation being provided to other areas for staff support and facilities usage?
o What percentage of EE offerings are for credit? Why are any EE offerings for credit? What is the revenue
break-down between the two?
o The original proposal said students could take a “limited number” of credits toward their degree. Who
decides how to interpret this? How many credits are students earning through EE towards their TESC
degree?
o What is the relationship between EWS, PT, Summer School and EE?
Theresa indicated that EE’s annual reports will answer many of these questions and are posted on the EE
website (www.evergreen.edu/extendededucation). The 3-year review will be e-mailed to faculty and staff prior
to the next Faculty Meeting on October 29.
Academic/Faculty Retreat Agenda
The Academic Retreat will be held November 5 - 7. A final count is needed today for Seabeck. Faculty were
asked what they would like to do at the retreat and presented with a sketch of the retreat planning to date (with
an invitation to submit additional ideas):
o Opportunity to break into small groups to talk about what they do in their professional life
o Faculty cameos where faculty members share pieces of their work.
o Mixers - to cross bridges.
o Several questions each day for small group discussion.
o Choices to do different activities.
o New faculty skit (with a question of timing to get broadest participation)
o Dinosaur faculty are being invited.
Faculty Priorities
As follow-up to the questions Terry asked faculty to consider at the first faculty meeting, there is a Zoomerang
Site up on the Agenda Committee website. Faculty were encouraged to take some time to fill out the survey to
help the Agenda Committee clarify its priorities for the year.
Resolution of Tobacco Sales on Campus
Last year, the faculty passed a resolution to ban the sale of tobacco products in the college bookstore. Terry
indicated that Vice President John Hurley and Business Services Director Collin Orr have authority over the
Bookstore, Aramark Food Services has authority over the Housing Community Center Store. The Geoduck
Union, faculty and others can be on Collin Orr’s committee to help make the recommendation. The committee
needs 2 faculty. Terry asked the faculty if anyone is interested in serving on this committee. John Hurley wants
a broad opinion from this group before making the final decision on tobacco sales on campus.
Cross-Campus Communications
Nancy Murray updated the faculty on a meeting that recently took place with a wide cross section of faculty,
staff and students regarding cross-campus communications. There were several tables set up. Each group was
asked to come up with a list of goals and share them with the large group. Groups were then given the
following question: “How can we deal with difficult issues on campus that come up?” Representatives from
each group presented their ideas. The ideas were posted and each person was given 3 dots to indicate their
favorite idea (a total of 147 dots). The ideas to improve communication across campus were ranked as follows:
1. Regularly scheduled campus forums (open or on specific topics)
23
2. All campus Convocation (students, staff and faculty)
20
3. Establishment of a group to develop strategies on how to engage large
groups in safe, productive discussions.
19
4. Campus pub
18
5. Personal conversation before public confrontation
13
6. Mandatory non-violence workshops during orientation
9
7. Musical chairs in meetings
9
8. Everyone sign off on the Social Contract
8
9. Administrators participate in academic programs
6
10. Personal accountability for behavior
(related to social contract?)
5
11. Liaison b/t GSU, AC etc
5
12. All 4 campus unions have a common meeting
5
13. Online campus polling
3
14. DTF to review Social contract
3
15. Information kiosks (real or electronic?)
1
Meeting Adjourned
Next Meeting – Wednesday, October 29, 1:00-3:00pm in SEM II A1105