After nearly an hour of debate, the Faculty Senate agreed by voice vote to approve a proposal for WSU Vancouver to create an independent program in digital technology and culture that will be housed in the College of Liberal Arts on the Vancouver campus.
The proposal calls for moving the DTC program out of the English department, where it has been housed since its inception in 2003, and renaming it the creative media and digital culture program. On the Pullman and Tri-Cities campuses, the DTC program will continue to be housed in English. Graduates from all campuses will earn a degree in digital technology and culture.
In response to senate concerns voiced at the April 1 meeting, the revised proposal presented on Thursday did not create a tenure home for DTC faculty. According to supporting documents, the three full-time faculty in the independent program will continue to have tenure homes elsewhere in the university. As is currently the situation, additional faculty in departments such as anthropology, fine arts, and sociology will also teach courses in the program.
Speaking via videostream from the Vancouver campus, Amy Wharton, director of the WSU Vancouver College of Liberal Arts, said the move makes sense because Vancouver should be allowed to develop a program that best meets the needs and interests of Vancouver students and best utilizes the expertise and interests of Vancouver faculty.
“Cloning Pullman in three different locations just does not make any sense,” Wharton said. “We are not trying to be exclusive, we are trying to deal with our reality in a way that makes sense to us.”
While the voice vote clearly went in favor of the Vancouver proposal, there was a smattering of no votes. Several in the audience said they still did not understand why the Vancouver program could not accomplish its goals and serve its students while housed in the English department.
“We’re seeking to liberate it so it can grow and flourish,” said Bruce Romanish, vice chancellor of academic affairs at WSU Vancouver. “It really is that simple.”
Phil Waite, head of the Faculty Senate Academic Affairs committee, said his committee worked through a series of concerns about the proposal, but ultimately decided that Vancouver should be able to create a program that could stand on its own. Still, he said, the issue of students enrolled at different campuses taking different courses, but graduating with the same degree, is troubling.
“These issues aren’t unique to DTC,” Waite said. “How do we feel as a (Faculty Senate) about the same degree titles being awarded to two different programs?”
New certificate in bioethics
In other matters, the senate approved a proposal to create a new graduate certificate in bioethics developed by the philosophy department. According to supporting doctuments, the main focus of the certificate program is on the ethical issues related to biotechnology applications, public health and healthcare policy, and the ethics of clinical practice in medical and allied health fields.
In other matters, the senate approved a proposal to create a new graduate certificate in bioethics developed by the philosophy department. According to supporting doctuments, the main focus of the certificate program is on the ethical issues related to biotechnology applications, public health and healthcare policy, and the ethics of clinical practice in medical and allied health fields.
Name change for criminal justice institute
The senate also approved a name change for the Washington State Institute for Community Oriented Policing. In keeping with its expanded focus, the center will now be called the Washington State Institute for Criminal Justice.
The senate also approved a name change for the Washington State Institute for Community Oriented Policing. In keeping with its expanded focus, the center will now be called the Washington State Institute for Criminal Justice.
Thursday’s meeting was the final meeting of the 2009-2010 academic year. Chair-elect Max Kirk will take over duties from this year’s chair, Michael Swan, when the senate meets again next fall. Cathryn Claussen was elected on Thursday to the position of chair-elect and will head the senate in 2011.