Shared governance: Council tackles faculty affairs - everything from salary to tenure

By Bob Holzworth, chair
Faculty Council on Faculty Affairs

The Faculty Council on Faculty Affairs (FCFA) shall be responsible (as described in Section 42-33) for all matters of policy relating to the interests of the faculty, such as appointment, tenure, promotion, professional leave, compensation (including salary and fringe benefits), academic freedom, standards of academic performance, and professional ethics.-FACULTY CODE Section 42-38

If you would like to learn the real meaning of “shared governance,” then consider volunteering for the Faculty Council on Faculty Affairs (FCFA). Since the University is not a democracy, the President has veto power over every piece of Class A or B legislation passed by the senate. However, the Faculty Senate has achieved a powerful position in the governance of this tri-campus University through collegial consideration of issues affecting the UW.

Bob Holzworth

The President cannot operate without the advice and consent of the faculty: the RCW 28B.20.200 says that the “... faculty [defined as the president and the professors] shall have charge of the immediate government of the institution...” Thus, over the years we have developed a set of policies to guide the operation of the UW. The development of the parts of this “policy book,” which directly affect faculty, is the part of “shared governance” of concern to the FCFA.

The FCFA has the job of overseeing and managing the faculty employment contract we call the Faculty Code. The Code covers everything from the overall organization of the faculty, establishment of colleges and schools, tenure and promotion procedures, salary policy, as well as how to resolve disputes over these issues.

FCFA is very active, meeting every other week, all year long. Last year alone found the senate approving legislation we wrote, which revised the Adjudicative Procedures (Chapter 28), developed new initiatives for openness in tenure and promotion proceedings (Chapter 24) and more clearly defined the rights and responsibilities of faculty without tenure (WOT). In the previous year we developed legislation for a new salary policy (also in Chapter 24).

The FCFA keeps a high standard of collegiality in council meetings. All voices are heard on all issues before the Council. The FCFA membership is drawn from all faculty groups on campus. Additionally we have active support from the provost, the secretary of the faculty, the faculty legislative representative and from the ASUW.

Although we have wide representation, we do not conduct business in an isolated manner. Rather, for most issues considered, such as the recent resolution on Enabling Legislation, we invite additional voices, such as representatives of the AAUP. We know that the senate and the President will not approve any legislation we write unless we have carefully considered all sides of the issue.

How do we decide what issues to discuss? Input comes from many sources including the Faculty Senate officers, the SEC (Senate Executive Committee), the Provost’s and President’s Offices, as well as from individual FCFA members. We are not limited in any way as to which issues we consider, or from what direction they have come. If you have a concern you wish to be considered by FCFA, please contact any FCFA member or me. Once an issue is decided it is generally assigned to a subcommittee where much of the real work of the FCFA is done.

Faculty leadership often comes through the FCFA. Both the present senate chair (Prof. Mary Coney) and vice chair (Prof. Brad Holt) served on the FCFA. Leadership of the FCFA puts you right in the spotlight (hot seat?) at the senate since the chair is asked to present new FCFA sponsored legislation on the floor of the senate.

This year is no different than any for FCFA in that many issues have already been passed and are now before the senate. For instance at today’s senate meeting we will (1) continue the debate on Class A legislation, proposed by the FCFA, for Voting Rights for Research Faculty, (2) debate a Class C resolution of the FCFA about collective bargaining enabling legislation, and (3) have an initial discussion of restructuring the Faculty Code, as proposed by the FCFA, to allow our UW Bothell and UW Tacoma campuses better representation in the senate.

Each of these items represents literally years of prior evaluation and consideration by the FCFA. Nearly all of the legislative items we compose require a development time of months to years before fair legislation, which is good for the UW, is put forward.

At the UW, shared governance works because many on our faculty feel it is in our best interest for the senate and its councils to have a carefully considered position on every faculty issue. These individuals volunteer to work on the councils such as FCFA. Our service ensures that the faculty, and not presidential edict alone, governs the UW.