Do you know faculty members who always seem to have the right figures about Western at hand?  This post reveals some of their secrets!  For your enjoyment and edification, I present the following:

“The Green Book” from the WWU Budget Office

https://budgetoffice.wwu.edu/operating-budgets/

“Annual, on-campus publication of the University’s operating budget which highlights the fiscal year budget plan and departmental allocations.”

What it includes:   Lots and lots of pages, nearly 400 of ’em.  Salary data, although not always accurate.

What it does not include:   Most of the NTT faculty

“Fact Book” from WWU Office of Institutional Research (OIR)

https://wp.wwu.edu/ir/fact-book

What it includes:   Information about instruction.  Courses, enrollments, retention, degrees, and so much more.

What it does not include:   Some sensitive data about students and employees.  See the handy two-page tutorial for info.

Are you more of a visual person? Do you understand that a picture is worth a thousand spreadsheets?  OIR puts some of our most interesting data on Tableau, which allows users to engage with the numbers in creative ways.  I highly recommend a visit.

Other interesting links:

http://www.collegeportraits.org/aag/WA/WWU/templates

http://www.chronicle.com/interactives/student-diversity-2016

Faculty Senate Executive Council is engaging in the important work of connecting with the committees that are the extensions of faculty governance throughout the University.  One of our current exciting projects seeks to enable and strengthen shared governance at the college level.  To this end, the Faculty Senate Executive Council created an opportunity for the chairs of the college-level faculty governance committees to meet with each other to share insights and experience.

Initiated by one of the faculty governance chairs, the first meeting saw a lively conversation about how the different colleges work, exploring diversity in our practices and finding common ground in our shared purpose.

At the conclusion of the meeting, faculty governance chairs expressed a renewed commitment to develop, maintain, and communicate the policy and procedures that genuinely protect academic quality and integrity.

The college-level faculty governance committees go by various names: FAC, PPBC, FGC… You can find the name of your college committee on this annotated Faculty Governance Organization Chart from the Faculty Senate web page.  Stay tuned for more opportunities to learn about faculty governance, and to engage with your college-level committees.

OK, I’ll admit that spreadsheets and pie charts are not everybody’s cup of tea, but if you are looking for a concise picture of the University’s financial position, then the annual Financial Report from Accounting Services is a good place to start.

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This post is part of my “Do you know?” series on resources around Western of interest for faculty.

Have you encountered food insecurity among our students?  Chronic hunger can inhibit learning, and feeding members of our community in need is surely part of the Western Way.

Eileen Coughlin, Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services, says that she and her staff always start with a referral to Financial Aid counselors, who are authorized to immediately put the $100 on a declining fund card as they assess the student’s need.  Western provides $10,000/year in free food credits that can be used at on-campus dining services with a Western Card.  Students who receive benefit of Viking free food credits (up to $100/quarter) are not required to live on campus or even have a current food service plan. The food credits are intended to serve the same purpose of a food bank for when a student suddenly finds themselves in a difficult financial situation or while Financial Aid finalizes their aid eligibility.  For several years, Western has provided this simple, confidential, and quick method to ensure that students will not go hungry.  Financial Aid can also help get students access to local resources or benefits associated with their federal financial aid.

Generally, Financial Aid counselors learn of students needing extra help from students themselves but can also reach out to students upon referral from other areas within the University.  If you learn of hunger among your students, please let Financial Aid know.  Together we can keep our community fed, both body and mind.

Washington State Capitol, by Onasill ~ Bill Badzo via Compfight

One of the officers of the Faculty Senate Executive Council is the faculty representative to the legislature.  This year, our faculty representative is Sara Singleton, and you may have seen her reports in the senate minutes.

But did you know that Western also has an office of State Government Relations?  A part of the  University Relations and Community Development division, the office of State Government Relations works to pursue and promote Western’s policy objectives to the Washington State Legislature. The Office works closely with state legislators and Western administrators, faculty, students and staff.  The Office also educates the campus community of legislation affecting the University.

To learn more about State Government Relations Team does down in Olympia, subscribe to their blog, the Western Legislature Review.