Colleagues,
What a year this has been! When I think about all we’ve made it through I’m exhausted, yet exceedingly proud of everyone here at WCU. And, this semester will be no different. It will be difficult and we will face new challenges. But, given the fact that we’ve survived COVID thus far and made it through an insurrection, I am confident we can make it through the Spring 2021 semester. Keeping things in perspective, I’m reminded of the words of my 7th grade teacher Mr. B. who said “it could be worse”!
Now, turning to key agenda items on the Faculty Senate’s radar for Spring ‘21 which we aim to achieve:
1) Vote on the Resolution Recommending the Continuation of Electronic TPR process for ‘21-22;
2) Issue early guidance or Resolution on S/U and SAI for Spring ‘21;
3) Finalize, present, and put to a vote a new instrument to assess student learning (the SPL [Student Perceptions of Learning] instrument would replace our existing SAI effective Fall ‘21);
4) Present a plan for continuous and long-term improvements to Faculty compensation (with recommendations from the Standing Committee on Faculty Salaries); and,
5) Continue to broaden our understanding of one another by offering Parts 4-6 in our six-part Culture in Conversation Series (in conjunction with Staff Senate, Office of Diversity, and Student Government) to be held from noon-1pm EST on zoom and will be recorded. Dates are set, so mark your calendars; zoom links, forthcoming. Working titles are as follows:
Part 4: Feb. 16 – Body Type/Image & Societal Impact
Part 5: Mar. 16 – LGBTQ+
Part 6: Apr. 16 – Allyship & Bystander Intervention
In closing, and in the spirit of breaking through our worry and stress in exchange for an easy smile or laugh, I leave you with an excerpt from, none other than, the Bee Gees Stayin’ Alive (1977):
Feel the city breakin’ and everybody shakin’
And we’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive;
You know it’s alright, it’s okay
[We’ll] live to see another day
[We]’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive…
All my best,
Kadie
Chair of the Faculty Senate
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