The Faculty Council on Faculty Affairs got an update from APF about the FCGEJ legislation on faculty leave. They then discussed legislation on EFC bylaws in Section 23-46 and it was approved with minor changes. There was then discussion of what the council should work on throughout the rest of the year.
The Faculty Council on Academic Standards discussed the Undergraduate Learning Outcomes legislation and if the council had the bandwidth/want to push the options legislation through this year.
The Faculty Council on Information Technology and Cybersecurity met and听discussed a situation where an administrator accessed a previous (Summer 2024) Canvas course, seemingly out of the blue. There was discussion of if that should be allowed, why they may access the course, and how admin could be more transparent about the process. They also had two guests in to discuss the Husky OnNet VPN service.
Faculty Council on Student Affairs met and discussed their Generative AI survey which should be distributed in the Fall of next year.
Faculty Council on University Libraries received a libraries Budget Update from Denise Pan & Simon Neame, along with a presentation on AI literacy in the libraries and university as a whole.
Faculty Council Teaching and Learning received a presentation on Libraries Open Education Resources and approved the undergraduate learning outcomes legislation; however, they will not be bringing it to the SEC since Senate leadership decided it fell into FCAS’s purview.
Faculty Council on Faculty Affairs passed legislation on EFC bylaws and Sections 23-45 and received an update on merit, promotion, and sabbatical from the Office of Academic Personnel and Faculty.
Faculty Council on Academic Standards passed the undergraduate learning outcomes legislation and there was discussion of the rationale and how the chair would present to the Senate.
Faculty Senate Meeting Summary, 4/2/26
Dear Colleagues,
I鈥檓 writing with a report on the Senate meeting held on April 2, 2026. As always, full text of remarks and reports can be found in the agenda.
Senate Chair鈥檚 Remarks
Chair Bhat gave updates on these initiatives:
President Jones鈥� Remarks
The President highlighted several key updates, including the release of the campus climate survey by VP Hall and his team. He noted that releasing the data is not the final step, but rather the beginning of a process to analyze the findings and determine actions to improve the campus environment. Although participation in the survey was lower than anticipated, the data is still considered meaningful, particularly in identifying whether members of the community may not be thriving. VP Hall is expected to present the survey results to the Senate Executive Committee. The President also expressed appreciation to the team that led the development of the strategic plan, noting that a draft has been released and now requires further structure and refinement. Units across campus are encouraged to engage in discussions about the plan, with a timeline leading to a presentation to the Board by April 17 for endorsement, after which implementation can move forward.
New Business
Nomination and Presentation of Candidates for 2026-2027 Faculty Legislative Representative: Professor Beth Ebel and Professor Jacob Vigdor were the nominees for Faculty Legislative Representative. They both gave a presentation at the Senate and the election results will be announced on April 10.
Nomination and Presentation of Candidates for 2026-2027 Deputy Faculty Legislative Representative: Professors Jonathan Medverd, Jonathan Warren, Dana Raigrodski, and Mike Teodoresecu were the nominees for Deputy Faculty Legislative Representative. They all gave a presentation at the Senate and the election results will be announced on April 10.
Class A Legislation 鈥� Chair鈥檚 or Dean鈥檚 Designee in Discussion of Allegations against Faculty Member: Senators passed this legislation on second consideration and it was sent to faculty for vote on April 3. This legislation permits the chair (or dean in an undepartmentalized school of college) to designate an administrator with a faculty appointment to hold the meeting with the faculty member who is alleged to have violated a rule or regulation.
Class A Legislation 鈥� Aligning the Faculty Code with Executive Orders, Faculty Governance, and Appointment Procedures at UW Bothell and UW Tacoma: Senators passed this legislation on first consideration and it will now go back to the Senate Executive Committee for another review. This legislation aligns the Faculty Code with Executive Orders 71 and 72.听
Class B Legislation 鈥� Updating Grading Definitions. Senators passed this Class B legislation and it was sent to faculty for objections on April 3.. The legislation updates grade definitions for the School of Medicine, School of Dentistry, School of Law, School of Pharmacy, and Graduate School.
Digital Accessibility
Whether you鈥檙e just getting started or well on your way, please take advantage of webpage and upcoming events organized by Accessible Technology Services.
The Faculty Senate will meet again on April 30. The meeting schedule can be found on our website.
Legislation passed and under consideration can also be found on our website.
With appreciation for all you do,
Rania Hussein, Vice Chair, Faculty Senate
Faculty Council on Research met and discussed the survey that had been sent out. They also received multiple updates from the office of research on the NSF secure center, internal activity policies for international collaboration, and restricted party screenings. There was also discussion of the Shared Research Admin Services initiative. They also approved two restricted research proposals.
Faculty Council on Benefits and Retirement did not meet quorum.
Faculty Council on Campus Planning and Stewardship received a presentation on the Welcome Center planning process. They also had directors from all three campuses to discuss their individual classroom space utilization plans.
Faculty Council on Gender, Equity, and Justice met and passed the Class B on Parental Leave! They also received an update from Jillian Morn regarding the climate survey and FCGEJ’s previous and continual work in collaboration.
Faculty Senate Meeting Summary, 2/19/26
Dear Colleagues,
I鈥檓 writing with a report on the Senate meeting held on February 19, 2026. As always, full text of remarks and reports can be found in the agenda.
Senate Chair鈥檚 Remarks听
Chair Bhat gave updates on these initiatives:
UW President鈥檚 Remarks
President Jones reported on his recent visit to Olympia, where he advocated for funding for the 痳豆在线. He described a framework presented to the House and Senate emphasizing that the University is not seeking additional funding beyond what is necessary, while also expressing strong opposition to the proposed budget cuts. He indicated continued advocacy around the state budget framework. He reported a 1.1% increase in State revenue (approximately $27 million more than anticipated), expressed cautious optimism about improvements in the budget outlook, and indicated hope that potential cuts could be kept to under 3%.
The President addressed the Class C resolution regarding the TIAA transition and reaffirmed his commitment to shared governance and to addressing concerns that have been raised. He noted that there will be a meeting with the Senate Chair and Vice Chair to better understand what went wrong and how to move forward constructively.
President Jones also stated that there have been no confirmed incidents of ICE activity on any of the three campuses. In response to questions, he noted that he met with the mayor to discuss the city鈥檚 preparedness.
He also provided an update on the University鈥檚 strategic planning process, indicating that the plan is beginning to take shape. The Board will be walked through the plan in the coming weeks, with the goal of having it finalized and voted on at a Board meeting, and potentially moving into execution planning over the summer for implementation in the next academic year.
New Business
Nomination and Presentation of Candidates for 2026-2027 Faculty Senate Vice Chair: Professor Amanda Kost was the nominee for Faculty Senate Vice Chair. Professor Kost gave a presentation at the Senate and there was an electronic vote after the meeting.
Class A Legislation鈥� Faculty Legislative Representative Responsibilities and Election Procedures: This legislation changes the timing of election for the Faculty Legislative Representative (FLR) and the Deputy Faculty Legislative Representative (DFLR), revises the beginning date of the FLR and DFLR term, outlines a procedure for filing a vacancy for FLR and DFLR, and describes removal procedures for those positions.
Class A Legislation 鈥� Chair鈥檚 or Dean鈥檚 Designee in Discussion of Allegations against Faculty Member: Senators passed this legislation on first consideration and it will now go back to the Senate Executive Committee for another review. This legislation permits the chair (or dean in an undepartmentalized school of college) to designate an administrator with a faculty appointment to hold the meeting with the faculty member who is alleged to have violated a rule or regulation.
Class C Resolution 鈥� Requesting the Establishment of a Full Tuition Program at the 痳豆在线 for Students Who Are Citizens of Federally Recognized Tribes. Senators passed this Class C resolution and it will be shared with faculty. The resolution requests that the Washington State Legislature establish and fund a full tuition program at the 痳豆在线 for undergraduate students who are citizens of Federally Recognized Tribes. The program shall not be funded through a student fee.
The Faculty Senate will meet again on February 19. The meeting schedule can be found on our website.
Legislation passed and under consideration can also be found on our website.
With appreciation for all you do,
Rania Hussein, Vice Chair, Faculty Senate
Faculty Senate Meeting Summary, 1/22/26
Dear Colleagues,
I鈥檓 writing with a report on the Senate meeting held on January 22, 2026. As always, full text of remarks and reports can be found in the agenda. Of particular and timely note is Class A legislation on Promotion and Tenure: Elected Faculty Council Voting Hierarchy and Equitable Deliberation, which is currently out for faculty vote (see below).
Senate Chair鈥檚 Remarks听
Chair Bhat gave updates on these initiatives:
UW Provost鈥檚 Remarks
President Jones was unable to attend the meeting, so Provost Serio provided remarks. She provided updates on strategic planning, noting that five listening sessions were held, a first draft was delivered before the break, and revisions are underway with a second draft expected by the end of the month. She stated that UW values were reflected in the planning process.
She also shared legislative updates from Olympia, noting that the current session runs from January 12 to March 12 and that the team is advocating for increased funding for the university.
Regarding ICE activity, the Provost stated that there are no confirmed incidents on campus and that circulating reports are rumors. She emphasized leadership鈥檚 engagement on the issue, encouraged faculty partnership to maintain community calm, and noted that resources are available to guide responses to federal agency requests.
Finally, she reaffirmed the President鈥檚 and Provost鈥檚 commitment to shared governance, while conveying appreciation for faculty as an important part of the university community.
Reports
There was a report from Dean Joye Williamson-Lott on Graduate Programs, which can be found in Exhibit F of the agenda. The Senate also received an update on the Digital Accessibility Initiative (Exhibit E).
New Business
Class A Legislation鈥� Promotion and Tenure: Elected Faculty Council Voting Hierarchy and Equitable Deliberation: Senators passed this legislation on second consideration and it is now out for faculty vote (deadline to vote is February 6). The legislation allows schools, colleges, campuses to use non-hierarchical voting at the Elected Faculty Council (EFC) level and permits associate professor who serve as department chairs to evaluate candidates for promotion to full professor. Schools, colleges, and campuses that want to continue using hierarchy at the EFC level will have the option to continue. The decision on voting hierarchy in the FC will be made at the local level, based on the bylaws.
Class A Legislation 鈥� Faculty Legislative Representative Responsibilities and Election Procedures: Senators passed this legislation on first consideration and it will now go back to the Senate Executive Committee on February 9 for another review. This legislation changes the timing of election for the Faculty Legislative Representative (FLR) and the Deputy Faculty Legislative Representative (DFLR), revises the beginning date of the FLR and DFLR term, outlines a procedure for filing a vacancy for FLR and DFLR, and describes removal procedures for those positions.
Class C Resolution 鈥� Concerning Lack of Faculty Consultation in 痳豆在线 Decision to Change Retirement Vendor/Advisor, Recordkeeper, and Retirement Funds. Senators passed this Class C resolution and it will be shared with faculty. The resolution details the lack of consultation with faculty and shared governance bodies before the decision was made to change the retirement vendor. The resolution calls for better consultation in the future, for faculty appointments to the Fund Review Committee, and for the resolution to be read aloud at the next Board of Regents meeting.
The Faculty Senate will meet again on February 19. The meeting schedule can be found on our website.
With appreciation for all you do,
Rania Hussein, Vice Chair, Faculty Senate
Faculty Senate Meeting Summary, 12/4/25
Dear Colleagues,
I’m writing with a report on the Senate meeting held on December 4, 2025. As always, full text of remarks and reports can be found on the agenda. Of particular and timely note is Class A legislation on Elected Faculty Council Hierarchy for Promotion and Tenure, and a Class C resolution on any potential agreement between UW and the federal government (see below).
Senate Chair鈥檚 Remarks
Chair Bhat gave updates on many initiatives:
UW President鈥檚 Remarks
President Jones emphasized the essential role of shared governance, particularly during critical and uncertain times for the university. He also reaffirmed the university鈥檚 strong commitment to protecting academic freedom.
President Jones provided an update on the strategic planning process. Extensive listening sessions are being held across campus with a focus on three pillars: access and affordability, research and innovation, and community engagement.
Reports
There was a report from Jason Campbell, Interim Senior Vice President for Finance, Planning and Budgeting and Chief Financial Officer. The report can be found in Exhibit E of the agenda.
New Business
Class A Legislation鈥� Elected Faculty Council Hierarchy in Promotion and Tenure: In faculty-wide votes on promotion and tenure (P&T), the Faculty Code requires the use of hierarchy by rank and title. In Elected Faculty Council (EFC) votes on P&T, schools, colleges, campuses used to have the option to use non-hierarchical voting, but Senate legislation in 2021 resulted in an inadvertent change that removed that option. The current legislation reinstates the right of schools, colleges, and campuses to choose whether or not to use hierarchy at the EFC level. The largest units, including the School of Medicine and the College of Arts and Sciences in Seattle use hierarchy at the EFC level, but some smaller units may choose not to use hierarchy. The primary purpose of the legislation is to allow a choice at the local level. The legislation has three secondary purposes, described in Exhibit G of the agenda. Senators passed this legislation on first consideration and it will now go to the President and Code Advisors for review. After their review, it will go back to the Senate Executive Committee and Faculty Senate for second consideration.
Class C Resolution 鈥� Concerning Any Potential Agreement Between the 痳豆在线 and the Federal Government. Senators passed this Class C resolution and it will be shared with faculty shortly. The resolution states that the Faculty Senate calls upon the University administration and the Board of Regents to support academic freedom and to join other institutions of higher education in their shared commitment to preserving academic autonomy.
The Faculty Senate will meet again in Winter Quarter. The meeting schedule can be found on our website.
Wishing you a meaningful and smooth remainder of the quarter.
With appreciation for all you do,
Rania Hussein, Vice Chair, Faculty Senate
The Faculty Senate of the 痳豆在线 concluded its 2024-2025 session in June 2025, with the Senate Executive Committee (SEC) continuing to represent the Senate over the summer per Faculty Code. The Senate consists of over 150 elected senators from all 3 campuses and 16 schools and colleges, who held 7 full sessions of at least 2.5 hours, some in continuation, with more work behind the scenes. The SEC also met for 10 full sessions and 1 special meeting. Another critical site of shared governance is made up of our twelve faculty councils, who meet monthly or bi-monthly to advance specific areas of concern for faculty. A conservative estimate of hours spent on meetings alone comes to 4,200 hours over the academic year. All our faculty colleagues volunteer their time in these 鈥渆ngine room鈥� spaces of governance, for little recognition, and they take institution-building seriously. The institution is better off because of colleagues who step into these roles in the spirit of service, and we are very grateful to them.
Senate officers serve one-year terms, except for the Secretary of the Faculty, and (as of 8/1/25) the Chair of the Senate Committee on Planning and Budgeting. This can create continuity pressure, as officers invest significant time in learning their roles only to cycle off after one year, unless re-elected as has been the case for our recent Legislative Representatives whose longevity of service has been of great benefit to senate leadership and the faculty at large. The Vice Chair-Elect serves one year as Vice Chair, a year as Chair, and (as of 7/1/25) a year as Immediate Past Chair, the latter being a new role that should help with institutional memory and continuity of work. The Office of the Provost provides partial buy-out support for each of these roles, for which we are grateful. It is essential for excellence in shared governance that these increasingly challenging leadership roles be incentivized and supported in ways similar to official administrative roles. One welcome development has been the eligibility of Senate leaders for 鈥渃onflict engagement鈥� training workshops offered by OAP, an opportunity taken up by most Senate leaders this past year.
The full report can be found here.
A few facts about the Washington State legislature and its support for higher education and the 痳豆在线 campuses:
叠耻迟鈥�.
The Faculty Senate is grateful for strong UW federal advocacy leaders, members of the administration who are navigating the rapidly changing federal environment and working hard behind the scenes.
We look forward to working together with each of you, to lend our support to UW faculty in an era of change and uncertainty.