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Faculty senate reports low morale, advances vaccination MOU and seeks engagement with extension faculty
Summary
The WSU Faculty Senate reported low faculty morale and described progress toward a memorandum of understanding on vaccination requirements for students; it also called for stronger inclusion of extension faculty in governance.
The Washington State University Faculty Senate briefed the Board of Regents on Jan. 24 about faculty concerns and recent work on academic regulations and campus health services.
"The faculty morale is low," said Dr. Tracy Klein, chair of the Faculty Senate and a professor in the College of Nursing. Klein told regents the sentiment reflects both internal concerns—staffing, salary and accommodation burden—and external pressures from changing policy and political debate.
The senate reported it finalized language for a memorandum of understanding with Cougar Health Services aimed at establishing equitable vaccination requirements and accommodations across campuses. Klein said the vaccine issue exposed differences across campuses in health‑fee structures and onsite health services, prompting the senate to seek a consistent, equitable approach.
The Faculty Senate also said it is working to improve inclusion of extension faculty—who are geographically dispersed—by increasing outreach and awareness of senate activities. Klein pointed to specific site visits and plans to highlight extension voices at future meetings.
The senate will circulate a systemwide survey on House Bill 1337, which would require changes to openness in presidential searches, and it will continue to publicize its meeting schedule and faculty forum to aid transparency and engagement.
