Academic Senate

The Academic Senate was reconstituted effective Fall 2010 using the provisional handbook language approved by the full faculty 29 January 2010. More permanent language was adopted by the full faculty on 28 January 2011, though the Academic Senate was charged by the faculty and the faculty council to live with the structure for another year and then recommend structural and procedural changes and best practices to the faculty via faculty council in the next year. Current members of Academic Senate include:

  • Humanities Division
    • Deborah Dunn, Professor of Communication Studies (2013)
    • Greg Spencer, Professor of Communication Studies (2014)
    • Jim Taylor, Professor of Philosophy (2015)
  • Natural and Behavioral Science Division
    • Russell Howell, Professor of Mathematics (Chair, 2014)
    • Warren Rogers, Professor of Physics (2013)
    • Michael Sommerman, Professor of Physics (spring replacement for Tom Fikes, 2014)
  • Social Science Division
    • Chandra Mallampalli, Professor of History (2015)
    • Chris Milner, Professor of Kinesiology (2014)
    • Marianne Robins, Professor of History (2013)
  • Administrative and Student Representatives
    • Mark Sargent, Provost
    • Tatiana Nazarenko, Dean of Curriculum and Educational Effectiveness
    • Michelle Hardley , Registrar (Secretary)
    • Lauren Burson, WCSA Student Representative (2013)

Senate Action (Spring 2013)

  • Met jointly with Faculty Council and E-team to discuss the rising cost of a Westmont education.
  • Academic Actions.
    • Approved the OCP committee report.
    • Recommended a posthumous degree for Nick Davis.
    • Approved changes to the Kinesiology and Computer Science majors.
    • Changed the name alternative major to interdisciplinary major.
    • Recommended and received faculty approval for a “Northern European” semester.
    • Approved a “syllabus guidelines” document as a recommended resource for faculty use.
    • Approved Mark Sargent’s proposal for faculty dialog this summer with an educational technology expert.
  • Upcoming “big picture” items.
    • Discussion of GE Committee recommendations: first-year seminar; GE revision.
    • A Westmont presence in downtown Santa Barbara.
    • Blended learning.

Senate Action (Fall 2012)

  • Gave recommendations to the Provost concerning new and replacement faculty position requests; agreed on a modified procedure suggested by the Provost for future years.
  • Met with the President (twice) and Dean of Students to discuss comments made during forum presentations that relate to the academic program.
  • Dialogued with the Provost regarding a better merging of strategic planning with academics.
  • Endorsed the Provost’s recommended template for diversity reports.
  • Approved GE committee recommendations for certification criteria of Common Context courses: Biblical and Theological Canons; and “Philosophical Reflections on Reality, Knowledge, and Value.”
  • Approved reports from the GE and Program Review committees.
  • Ongoing and upcoming discussion items.
    • A “First Year” seminar?
    • Other GE modifications: Writing for the Liberal Arts; P/NC grading option for first year.
    • GE overhaul?

Senate Action (Spring 2012)

Program Review at Westmont College: Mission-Driven, Meaningful, & Manageable. ProgramReviewWestmont30Mar2012

Senate Action (Fall 2011)

  • Definition of an Academic Unit Unit Definition Approved by Senate 29 Sept 11
  • A Clock in Every Classroom. Formal request for working clocks in all classrooms (clocks were all installed Spring 2012).
  • Faculty & Institutes at Westmont College. Senate request to Strategic Planning teams to consider certain issues and processes.
  • E3 Center: Creativity of Concept Acknowledged; Senate requested a more detailed and formal proposal from E&B department.

Senate Action (Spring 2011)

  • New Handbook Language for Newly Constituted Senate. Approved by Faculty Spring 2011.
  • Approved Off Campus Programs: Westmont in Istanbul & Westmont in Jerusalem (with request for periodic updates from both programs and caveat that future off campus program planning occur in consultation with senate earlier in the process). Approved by Faculty Spring 2011.
  • Approved Honors Program, Catalyst (Senate responsible to call for and discuss the results of a review of the pilot program in its fifth year; the Provost would provide incentives for faculty to supervise major honors projects).
  • Agreed that Senate will review Westmont sponsored off-campus programs, that the OCP committee will review other OCPs, and that the OCP Committee will submit a set of principles for making such decisions. See resulting Principles here.