Committees & members

Standing faculty committees, through their representative nature and through the work in which they engage, embody essential components of healthy shared governance at Fort Lewis College.

  • Members of faculty committees serve two-year terms with no limit on reappointment (Faculty Handbook, Part I, Article VI, §2).
  • Committee chairs are elected by the voting faculty of a committee and serve a one-year term which may be renewed up to four successive terms (Faculty Handbook, Part I, Article VI, §3). 
  • The Faculty Senate may provide special charges to standing faculty committees as necessary and may suggest to the College Administration special charges for College committees. 
  • As dictated by the Faculty Handbook (Part I, Article VI, §2) ex-officio members serve in an advisory, informational, liaison, but non-voting capacity.

Academic Standards Committee

Charge: This Committee advises the Provost through the Faculty Senate, to which it reports. Its charge is to maintain and improve the academic standards of the College. The Committee shall encourage and recognize outstanding scholastic achievement of students; review, initiate and recommend Academic Standards policies; determine what academic action (probation level 1, probation level 2, suspension, or dismissal), if any, is appropriate at the end of each term; monitor the progress of probationary students; hear and judge the cases of academic dishonesty brought before it by any member of the academic community; hear and judge the cases of students wishing to appeal academic suspensions or dismissals; and receive and consider proposals about academic standards from any member of the academic community.

Report: The committee will submit a one-page electronic report by March 31 summarizing accomplishments, major issues discussed, and recommendations, if any, for alterations to the charge. Additionally, the committee will submit a more lengthy report by June 1 summarizing relevant statistics on academic standings, etc.

View Academic Standards Committee website

Membership: Eight faculty members appointed by SEC as well as ex officio members from relevant administrative offices as needed.

Current Members

  • Erich McAlister - Math (co-chair) (24)
  • Erik Juergensmeyer - English (co-chair) (24)
  • Tapati Dutta - Health Sci (24)
  • Tyler Carlson - SOBA (24)
  • Mark Beattie – Health & Human Performance (25)
  • Paul Kuenker - History (23)
  • David Vasquez-Hurtado – Sociology (25)
  • Michele Malach - English (23)--sabbatical Fall 23
  • Christie Chatterley - Physics and Engineering (23)--sabbatical AY 23-24
  • Larenz Esplain (Circle Back) - ex officio
  • Jenn Wagnon (TRIO) - ex officio
  • Tessa Creatini (Provost's office) - ex officio
  • Ben Miller (Registrar) -- ex officio
  • Chiara Cannella (Graduate Academic Standards Committee) - ex officio

Assessment Committee

Charge: The Assessment Committee will work with the Office of Assessment to offer assessment aid to faculty, staff, and students and to serve as peer consultants to Programs/Departments, providing support and guidance regarding assessment. Committee members will also review comprehensive and annual assessment plans and work to request any significant missing information and/or clarifications, provide feedback, and validate final plans with the intention of aligning assessment efforts to program learning outcomes, the strategic plans of the college, and Higher Learning Commission (HLC) assumed practices.

Report: The committee will submit a one-page electronic report by May 31 summarizing accomplishments, major issues discussed, brief evaluations of members, and recommendations, if any, for alterations to the charge.

Membership: Any number of faculty members appointed by SEC as well as ex officio members from relevant administrative offices as needed.

Current Members:

  • Meg Alvardo-Saggese - NAIS (25) 
  • Jared Beeton - ENVS (24) 
  • Marnie Clay - Health (24) 
  • Tessa Creatini - ex officio 
  • Matthew Klema - P&E (24) 
  • Carl Lienert - Math (24) 
  • Tomasz Miaskiewicz - SOBA (25) 
  • Ryan Schwarz - Bio (25) (Chair) 
  • Cristian Sepulveda-Madonado - SOBA (24)

Committee on the Status of Women Faculty

Charge: The Committee on the Status of Women Faculty makes recommendations to the Faculty Senate on issues pertinent to the status of women faculty. The Committee will advise the senate and facilitate the implementation of policies, programs, and services that address issues of concern to women faculty.

Report: The committee will submit a one-page electronic report by March 31 summarizing accomplishments, major issues discussed, brief evaluations of members, and recommendations, if any, for alterations to the charge.

Membership: Any number of faculty members appointed by SEC as well as ex officio members from relevant administrative offices as needed.

Current Members:

  • Julie Korb - Biology (23) (chair)
  • Deborah Powers - Adventure Ed (23)
  • Mika Kusar – SOBA (24)
  • Faron Scott - English (24)
  • Joanna Casey - P&E (24)
  • Lacey Donley - SOBA (24)
  • Jennifer Gehrman-Seis - English (24)

Curriculum Committee

Charge: The Curriculum Committee assists and supports the faculty in development and oversight of the curriculum at Fort Lewis College. It initiates, receives, reviews and recommends actions on proposed curricula and curricular changes including the creation, elimination or alteration of programs and specific courses. The Committee proactively communicates to the faculty and the College Administration regarding its policies, procedures and deadlines. It facilitates fair and transparent curriculum processes and practices that embody the faculty’s roles and responsibilities for developing and overseeing College curricula in service to the College mission.

Report: The committee will submit a one-page electronic report by March 31 summarizing accomplishments, major issues discussed, brief evaluations of members, and recommendations, if any, for alterations to the charge.

Membership: The committee will have eight faculty members appointed by SEC: one from the LAC Council, one from the sciences, one from the social sciences, one from arts & humanities, one from teacher education, one from the library, one from the school of business administration, one from an interdisciplinary program, and ex officio members from relevant administrative offices as needed.

Current Members:

  • Liberal Arts Core: Lee Frazer – Adventure Ed (24)
  • Sciences: Don May - P&E (24) (chair)
  • Social Sciences: Rebecca Austin – Anthropology (24)
  • Arts and Humanities: David Cahoon - Art & Design (24)
  • Education: Jill Choate – TED (24)
  • SOBA: Liz Cartier – SOBA (24)
  • Interdisciplinary: Maggie Shields - Health Sciences (23)
  • At Large: Jerry Crawford - P&E (24)
  • Rosalinda Linares (Library) - ex officio

Faculty Handbook and Policy Committee

Charge: The Faculty Handbook and Policy Committee reports to the Faculty Senate. This committee is responsible for making recommendations to the Faculty Senate regarding both Handbook and faculty policy additions, deletions, revisions, and interpretations. Handbook and policy issues that concern faculty responsibilities and expectations, personnel review (including promotion, tenure, and post-tenure), salary and related processes, course load and size, teaching evaluations, grievance procedures, and college organization are the purview of this committee. The committee is also responsible for recommending which issues are addressed in the Handbook and which by policy. Handbook changes require a full faculty vote. Policies must be consistent with the Handbook, but may supplement these after Senate approval. Any committee, administrator, or faculty member can bring questions, requests, or concerns to the Handbook and Policy Committee via the Senate Executive Committee.

Report: The committee will submit a one-page electronic report by March 31 summarizing accomplishments, major issues discussed, brief evaluations of members, and recommendations, if any, for alterations to the charge.

Membership: Any number of faculty members appointed by SEC as well as ex officio members from relevant administrative offices as needed.

Current Members:

  • Andy Gulliford - History (23)
  • Jonathan Harvey - Geo Sci (23)
  • Justin Hubbard - Music (23)
  • Yiyan Li - P&E (Chair, 24)
  • Susumu Iwasaki - Health (24)
  • Cathy Gabro – TED (24)
  • Tony Holmquist - Art and Design (24)

Graduate/Post Baccalaureate Academic Standards Committee

This Committee advises the Provost through the Faculty Senate, to which it reports. Its charge is to maintain and improve the academic standards for the College for post-baccalaureate and graduate students. The Committee shall encourage and recognize outstanding scholastic achievement of students; review, initiate and recommend Academic Standards policies; evaluate alignment of those policies with federal student aid policies; determine what academic action (probation level 1, probation level 2, suspension, or dismissal), if any, is appropriate at the end of each term; monitor the progress of probationary students; hear and judge the cases of academic dishonesty brought before it by any member of the academic community; hear and judge the cases of students wishing to appeal academic suspensions or dismissals; and receive and consider proposals about academic standards from any member of the academic community. The Committee will submit a report by March 1 summarizing accomplishments, if any, for special charges or changes to the charge. The report will typically be a computerized file; however, the Senate may request an in-person report.

Report: The committee will submit a one-page electronic report by March 31 summarizing accomplishments, major issues discussed, brief evaluations of members, and recommendations, if any, for alterations to the charge.

Membership: Any number of faculty members appointed by SEC with at least one member from each department that offers graduate programs as well as an ex officio member from the Academic Standards Committee and from relevant administrative offices as needed.

Current Members:

  • Jay Dougan - Art (24)
  • Joseph Ortega - Biology (23)
  • Cathy Gabro - Teacher Education (23)
  • Chiara Cannella - Associate Dean - ex officio (convener)
  • Fred Rodriquez (Interim Registrar) - ex officio
  • NEW GRAD PROGRAM COORDINATOR TBD – ex officio

Honors Council

Charge: The Honors Council is to develop, approve and provide oversight of initiatives to enrich the experience of high-ability, high-achieving students at Fort Lewis College. These initiatives include, but are not limited to, the John F. Reed Honors Program.

Report: The committee will submit a one-page electronic report by March 31 summarizing accomplishments, major issues discussed, brief evaluations of members, and recommendations, if any, for alterations to the charge.

Membership: Any number of faculty members appointed by SEC as well as ex officio members from relevant administrative offices as needed.

Current Members:

  • Candace Nadon – Honors Coordinator
  • Ryan Schwarz - Biology (23)
  • Lisa Walters - Music (23)
  • Andrew Young - P&E (24)
  • Jeffrey McFarlane - Chemistry (24)
  • Gwang Yon Hwang - Exercise Science (24)
  • Larry Hartsfield - English (24)
  • Katherine Jetter - Music (24)
  • Nathanael Peach – Econ (24)
  • Ben Waddell - Sociology (24)

Liberal Arts Core Council

Charge: The primary goals of the Liberal Arts Core Council are: 1) To build a narrative between faculty, staff, students, and trustees about what constitutes the liberal arts, particularly at Fort Lewis College. 2) To educate the public about what constitutes the liberal arts, particularly at Fort Lewis College. 3) To design and implement our Liberal Arts Core. 4) To serve in an advisory capacity, making recommendations regarding the Liberal Arts Core and curriculum to Faculty Senate. 5) To collect baseline data and facilitate assessment of student learning in the Liberal Arts Core. 6) To evaluate and disseminate assessment data to inform curricular decisions within the Liberal Arts Core.

Report: The committee will submit a one-page electronic report by March 31 summarizing accomplishments, major issues discussed, brief evaluations of members, and recommendations, if any, for alterations to the charge.

Membership: The committee will include one member from each academic department as well as ex officio members as needed.

Current Members:

  • Adventure Education: Lee Frazer (23)
  • Anthropology: Marnie Thomson (23)
  • Art & Design: Tony Holmquist (24)
  • Biology: Kiesha Carlson (24)
  • Chemistry: Bill Collins (24)
  • English: Candace Nadon (24) (co-chair)
  • Environmental Studies: Michelle Larkins (24)
  • GSS: Sarah Roberts-Cady (24) (co-chair)
  • Health & Human: Susumu Iwasaki (23)
  • Geosciences: Carolyn Tewksbury-Christle (24)
  • History: Michael Fry (24)
  • Mathematics: Veronika Furst (24)
  • NAIS: Majel Boxer (24)
  • Performing Arts: Michael McKelvey (24)
  • Philosophy: Sarah Roberts-Cady (24) (co-chair)
  • Physics/Engineering: Nishatul Majid (24)
  • Political Science: Paul DeBell (24)
  • Psychology: William Mira (23)
  • SOBA: Kaori Takano (24)
  • Sociology: Ben Waddell (24)
  • Teacher Education: Ana Diaz-Collazos (24)
  • Erik Juergensmeyer - Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) Coordinator - ex officio
  • Felicia Arrendondo Perez – Assistant Registrar - ex officio
  • Pete McCormick - Associate Provost - ex officio

Committees Requiring Elections

Awards Committee

Charge: The Awards Committee is responsible for choosing the Alice Admire Outstanding Teaching Award, the Ginny Hutchins Teaching Award for New Faculty, the Kathy Wellborn Outstanding Teaching Award, the Roger Peters Distinguished Professor Award, and the Featured Scholar Award recipients. The Committee calls for nominations for these awards and notifies colleagues regarding when and how to apply for the awards.

Report: The committee will submit a one-page electronic report by March 31 summarizing accomplishments, major issues discussed, brief evaluations of members, and recommendations, if any, for alterations to the charge.

Membership: The committee will have five members corresponding to the five academic disciplines as defined for the College Personnel Committee: one from the sciences, one from the social sciences, one from arts & humanities, one from teacher ed or the library and one from the school of business administration. The members are elected by the faculty in the respective disciplines.

Current Members:

  • Library/Teacher Ed: Jill Choate – TED (24)
  • SOBA: Stephanie Owings- Economics (23)
  • Arts and Humanities: Tony Holmquist – Art & Design (24)
  • Sciences: Matthew Klema – Physics and Engineering (24)
  • Social Sciences: David Vasquez Hurtado (24) – Sociology

College Personnel Committee

Charge: The College Personnel Committee’s charge is to review all probationary faculty, tenure and promotion applications, sabbatical requests, sabbatical reports, and Post Tenure Reviews for Fort Lewis College faculty, and make an independent recommendation regarding each faculty member it reviews. The goal of the committee will be to ensure the process of probationary review, promotion, tenure, post tenure review and sabbatical recommendation and report is fair and equitable and adheres to the policy and procedure of the faculty handbook of Fort Lewis College. A simple majority will lead to a vote for recommendation.

Membership: Members will consist of nine tenured faculty-at-large and will be elected by the voting faculty. Membership will include at least one representative from the Sciences, one representative from the Social Sciences, one representative from Arts and Humanities, one representative from the Teacher Education department or Library faculty, and one representative from the School of Business Administration. The remaining four members will be elected from the tenured faculty at large.

Current Members:

  • Sciences: Devin Leahy – Physics and Engineering (24)
  • Social Sciences: Chuck Riggs – Anthropology (23)
  • Arts & Humanities: Faron Scott – English (24)
  • Education/Library: Elizabeth Dorman – TED (24)
  • SOBA: Mika Kusar – Management (24)
  • At Large: Ellen Paul – History (24)
  • At Large: Gary Gianniny – GeoSci (23)
  • At Large: Michael Valdez – SOBA (23)
  • At Large: Chad Colby – Art & Design (23)

Faculty Senate Executive Committee

Charge: The Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate shall function as part of the Senate. It shall function in a leadership and advisory capacity but shall not legislate. All members of the Executive Committee are voting members of the Faculty Senate with the exception of the President of the Faculty Senate. The Executive Committee may be convened whenever necessary by its Chair or whenever requested by two or more of its members.

Membership: The membership of the SEC is defined by the Faculty Handbook (Part 1, Article VI, §6) to include all and only the officers of the Faculty Senate.  This includes the President, Vice-President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Committees Officer, and the faculty representative to the Board of Trustees.  As dictated by the handbook, the President and faculty representative to the Board of Trustees are elected by the faculty at large.  The remaining officers of the senate are elected by the senate.

Current Members:

  • Ellen Paul, President (23)
  • Ruth Alminas, Vice President (23)
  • Cynthia Dott, Committees Officer (23)
  • Devin Leahy, Corresponding Secretary (23)
  • Liz Cartier, Recording Secretary (23)
  • Chad Colby, BOT Representative (24)

Grievance Council

Charge: This Panel is led by a College Grievance Officer and is tasked with the adjudication of formal grievances brought by faculty.  The adjudication process is defined in the Faculty Handbook (Part II, Article A, §20).

Membership: The membership of the Grievance Panel is defined by the Faculty Handbook (Part II, Article A, §20, paragraph d) as an elected group of twelve regular faculty.

Report: The committee will submit a one-page electronic report by March 31 summarizing accomplishments, major issues discussed, brief evaluations of members, and recommendations, if any, for alterations to the charge.

Current Members:

  • Erin Lehmer – Biology (23) – College Grievance Officer
  • Carolina Alonso – Sociology (23)
  • Keisha Carlson – Biology (23)
  • Maggie Shields - Health Sciences (23)
  • Andy Gulliford - History (24)
  • David Vasquez Hurtado - Sociology (24)
  • Michael Fry - History (24)
  • Aimee Morris - Chemistry (24)
  • Corey McCollough - English (24)
  • Paul Booth – Art and Design (24)
  • Laurie Williams – Physics and Engineering (24)
  • Becky Clausen – Sociology (24)

(Updated September 30, 2022)