The faculty senate has approved criteria for distributing the pool of funds allocated to compensate non-tenure-track (NTT) faculty for service.   Many thanks to the senate task force for crafting these recommendations, and thanks to the UFWW for negotiating for the funds.  The full report of the task force can be found in minutes from the January 9, 2017 meeting of faculty senate.

Of all the members of our community impacted by the policies of the incoming presidential administration, it is our undocumented students who are feeling most at risk.

Do you know what DACA is?  If you don’t, you are not alone.  Now is the time to educate ourselves!

DACA is a government directive called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.  People who were brought to the United States as children can apply for benefits that allow them to stay, complete their education, and contribute as employees.

Here in Washington, undocumented students are eligible for in-state tuition, but there are some open questions about what will change for students who are DACA recipients if the incoming presidential administration ends DACA as it has pledged to do.

Here is some reading that I have found helpful as I educate myself today:

Basic facts at the American Immigration Council

Advocacy through the Immigrant Legal Resource Center

Everyone Has Rights!  National Immigration Law Center

Guide for Teachers Helping Dreamers (PDF) at United We Dream

The Case for Undocumented Students in Higher Education (PDF) at Educators for Fair Consideration

Do you know of other helpful resources for faculty? Please post them in the comments.  Stay tuned for much more action from Western on supporting these students, including opportunities for those wishing to become an advocate.

Have you heard about the new academic integrity policy?  You might have, because it has been in the works for a long time.  The policy was approved by the faculty senate on April 4, 2016, and can be found in the official policy document here.

Western’s contract with students is the university catalog.  Traditionally, Appendix D of the catalog has the relevant information for academic dishonesty.  For the 2016-2017 academic year, we will stay with Appendix D, but look for information later this year on implementation of the new policy starting Fall Quarter 2017.

Want to get involved?  See the Western Coalition for Integrity.

Update on the new student conduct code:

Here is a summary of the new policy provided by Michael Sledge in the Office of Student Life:

The code outlines prohibited student behavior and the process by which the university addresses alleged student misconduct. The code is intended to hold students accountable in an educational manner. Significant changes to the student conduct code include:

• New section on amnesty (WAC 516-21-055) that clarifies the current practice of encouraging students to seek medical assistance and/or report sexual violence without fear of punishment through the Code;
• Updated sections to better align with recent changes to state law that include alcohol (WAC 516-21-130), drugs and paraphernalia (WAC 516-21-140), and weapons and destructive devices (WAC 516-21-220);
• New sections that better define prohibited conduct (related to Title IX): dating violence (516-21-184), domestic violence (516-21-186), stalking (516-21-188), and discrimination and discriminatory harassment (516-21-115). 

Additionally, investigations of alleged sexual violence or discrimination will be conducted by Equal Opportunity Office, with results provided to the Office of Student Life for findings and sanctioning through the student conduct code. Therefore students wishing to make a report of sexual violence or discrimination should do so with the Equal Opportunity Office.

Changes and revisions were recommended by a code revision committee made up of students, staff and faculty. There are some remaining minor issues regarding the conduct process to be resolved during fall quarter with a final code to be completed in fall/winter quarters.

The faculty senate representative on that committee will be invited to a senate meeting later this fall.