Fort Lewis College Committees

Advisory Committee on Accessibility of Information

  1. Developing, maintaining, and updating the Standards for the Accessibility of Information Technology and Digital Content
  2. Developing a plan for the implementation of these standards
  3. Identifying and distributing best practices and resource information regarding accessible information technology and digital content
  4. Reviewing and making recommendations to the Vice Presidents to grant exceptions to the policy
  5. Determining the content and frequency of trainings and assessing the quality and effectiveness of these trainings
  6. Reviewing and updating the policy

The Information Technology and Digital Accessibility Review Committee includes faculty, staff, students, and administrators. The Vice Presidents, Faculty Senate Executive Board, Associated Students of Fort Lewis College, or their designees shall appoint committee members.

View the Digital Accessibility website.

Advisory Committee on Facilities

Description of Activities: In consultation with the Provost and Vice Presidents, the committee will develop, implement and communicate policies and procedures as necessary to achieve the purposes of Policy 5-5, the Facilities Use Policy. In consultation with the affected parties, the Advisory Committee on Facilities will review all i) uses of new facilities, (ii) changes in uses of existing facilities, (iii) changes to existing facilities, including structural and equipment changes, and common areas, including displays. The committee will make recommendations as requested. The VP of Finance and Administration and the Provost makes all decisions on the use of college facilities. Members are appointed in consultation with the VP of Finance and Administration and the Provost. It has one representative from each of the following departments: Conference Services, Information Technology, Physical Plant Services, Records, and Facilities Scheduling.

Members:

  • Steve Elias, SOBA - Chair
  • Olivia Burkhart, Registrar's Office
  • Brian Foster, Information Technology
  • Amber Grenhart, Student Union & Event Services
  • Jeff Miller, Physical Plant
  • Greg Weiss, Student Housing & Conference Services

College Taskforce Structure

This “College Taskforce” structure will answer the need for a short-term committee structure that can address a focused topic within a set timeframe. Taskforces will typically work on a clearly defined topic to provide a clearly defined outcome, such as a recommendation, solution, assessment, set of guidelines, or plan. Rather than create a new standing Faculty or College Committee, or add additional work to an existing Faculty or College Committee, the Taskforce structure allows a short-term working group to be formed quickly, provide valuable service, and disband when the project is completed.

A Taskforce will be defined by the project it undertakes. The parameters of a Taskforce are purposefully flexible, allowing it to meet the needs of the project:

  • Timeline: a Taskforce can be created at any time during the year; it typically will complete its work within a semester or academic year.
  • Size: a Taskforce size can be defined by the project’s needs, but will typically have four or more members, including a Chair
  • Composition: a Taskforce will typically have appointed members, asked to serve on the Taskforce based on experience or expertise. As needed, Taskforces can also put out a call for members
  • Charge: the Taskforce will have a clearly defined charge, making sure that the parameters of work, the outcomes, and any deadlines are clear

Campus Sustainability Committee

Description of activities:

The Campus Sustainability Committee is vital in raising campus awareness and keeping sustainability issues at the forefront of campus culture. Sustainability is the collaborative action of meeting the needs of current and future generations of humans and ecosystems through conservation, regenerative use of resources, action for social justice, and attention to a vibrant economy. At Fort Lewis College, we are committed to an integrated model of sustainability that includes academics and research, student leadership and campus culture, the physical campus and its structures, planning and administration, and service to our community and planet. To learn more about FLC’s sustainability work, please visit the webpage.

This committee is advisory to the FLC Sustainability Coordinator and is charged with the following:

  • Develop annual objectives for environmental sustainability work at the College
  • Assist the FLC Sustainability Coordinator in strategically dividing roles and responsibilities to achieve these objectives
  • Track the progress of the College’s sustainability commitments
  • Serve as the campus forum for communication on sustainability
  • Raise funds for campus sustainability work

Members:

  • Michelle Larkins, Environment and Sustainability, Sustainability Coordinator—Chair
  • Amber Grenhart, Student Union
  • Artemis Eyster, Environmental Center 
  • Bethany Grant, Student
  • Carl Gregg, Physical Plant
  • Carolyn Cummins, Water Center 
  • Christie Chatterly, Engineering
  • Gary Gianniny, Geosciences
  • Jamie Johanntoberns, Student
  • Kaity Mattos, Environment & Sustainability
  • Kathy Hilimire, Environment & Sustainability
  • Kiki Hooton, Event and Conference Services
  • Marc Huber, Physical Plant
  • Maggie Magierski, Environmental Center 
  • Mark Boespflug, Philosophy
  • Michael Rendon, Sociology and Political Science
  • Sadie Magnifico, Environmental Center
  • Stella Zhu, Grub Hub 
  • Tre Obregon, Compliance and Community Standards 
  • Tommy Frederico, Physical Plant

Center for Southwest Studies Advisory Committee

CAMPUS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES

The Campus Advisory Committee consists of faculty and staff from various fields. The committee supports CSWS staff, students, and volunteers in all museums, archives, and library activities in alignment with the Center’s mission, emphasizing academic engagement and building campus partnerships. Committee duties include, but are not limited to:

  • making recommendations related to the Center’s programs and services;
  • serving as a liaison between the Center and the rest of the College community, expanding the Center’s outreach and presence on campus;
  • advising CSWS staff on matters about the Center’s strategic plan;
  • providing input on the implementation of CSWS policies and procedures;
  • supporting CSWS staff with additional advice and expertise as required.

Committee Members:

  • Meg Alvarado-Saggese, Assistant Professor, Native American & Indigenous Studies
  • Majel Boxer, Chair & Associate Professor, Native American & Indigenous Studies
  • Liz Cartwright, Senior Lecturer, Teachers Education Department
  • Tyler Dunn, Interim Director, Reed Library
  • Gretchen Gray, College Records Manager and Library Specialist, Center of Southwest Studies
  • Paul Kuenker, Assistant Professor, History
  • Corey McCullough, Assistant Professor, English
  • Candace Nadon, Associate Professor, English
  • Cory Pillen, Associate Professor, Art & Design; Director, Center of Southwest Studies
  • Cristian A. Sepulveda, Assistant Professor, Marketing
  • Heather Shotton, Vice President for Diversity Affairs

Digital Learning Strategy Advisory Committee

The DLS Advisory Committee was convened in 2023 to fulfill the requirements outlined in the Department of Ed Digital Learning Grant, specifically pertaining to the creation of an institutional digital learning strategy.

Description of Activities: The primary goal of the Digital Learning Strategy Advisory Committee is to create an institutional strategy that includes goals and performance indicators for each of the five DLS elements:

  • student success
  • enrollment & academic planning
  • faculty & staff
  • digital learning design
  • technology

This committee will meet monthly, unless otherwise determined by the members.

Members

  • Steve Elias, Academic Affairs
  • Elvira England, CTL
  • Patrick Gaughan, IT
  • Clint Jacobsen, CTL
  • Doug Lyon, Faculty
  • Pete McCormick, Academic Affairs
  • Matt McGlammery, IT
  • Orien McGlammery, IR
  • Dawn Mulhern, Academic Affairs
  • Candace Nadon, Faculty
  • Cheryl Nixon, Academic Affairs
  • Jennifer Rider, CTL (Chair)
  • Jess Savage, Student Enrollment
  • Heather Shotton, Diversity Affairs
  • Jenni Trujillo, Academic Affairs

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee

Description of Activities: The Faculty/Staff Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee works with the Provost to ensure that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion plays a central role in campus activities, with a special focus on Academic Affairs initiatives. The DEI Committee will support campus-wide DEI structures, including the new Diversity Leadership Council. The charge to this Committee will be to work with the Provost on topics of substance that will improve campus DEI, especially in curricular and co-curricular areas. The expectation is that the Committee will undertake specific DEI projects each year, design solution-based and action-oriented plans, and define and enact project implementation. The committee also serves as a resource for faculty and staff who have questions or concerns with regards to DEI at FLC.

The Council will consist of 5-6 faculty and 4-5 exempt staff.

Members:

  • Carolina Alonso, Sociology
  • Nancy Cardona, English
  • Lorien Chambers Schuldt, Teacher Education
  • Kain Eggler, Residence Director
  • Jeff Jantz, Advancement
  • Joslyn Lee, Chemistry
  • Elizabeth Quinn, Center of Southwest Studies
  • Faculty Member TBD
  • Staff Member TBD
  • Jesse Peters, Dean of College of Arts & Sciences, ex officio

Faculty Development Grants: TIPA

Description of Activities: The primary objective of the Teaching Innovation, Pedagogy, & Assessment Committee is to fund proposals that focus on teaching innovation, pedagogy and/or assessment. The TIPA Committee develops guidelines for faculty grant proposals, reviews proposals, and votes as a Committee to award funding for worthy activities. Strong TIPA proposals are new projects that result in sustainable, long-term professional development of a faculty member with respect to teaching innovation, pedagogy, and/or assessment. This fund is not intended to be the source of continuous or ongoing funding for any project or activity. Activities should relate to responsibilities in one’s teaching load (assigned courses and other responsibilities that count toward your credits of teaching load). This committee does not consider proposals focusing on faculty members’ scholarly or service responsibilities (see TS/R). Funding priorities are recommended to the Provost.

Members:

  • Lorraine Taylor, SOBA—Chair
  • David Cahoon, Art and Design
  • Shawn Fullmer, English
  • Kal Miah, Physics and Engineering
  • Rick Mull, SOBA-Finance
  • Natasha Tidwell, Psychology
  • David Vasquez Hurtado, Sociology
  • Ruth Alminas, Political Science—ex officio

Institutional Review Board

Description of Activities: The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is an administrative body established by the College to implement the Code of Federal Regulations established by the Office of Health and Human Services, which provides guidance to ensure that human subjects are protected according to federal (Health and Human Services) guidelines. The IRB works with principal investigators from college departments that do human subject research to ensure that they understand, and are in compliance with regulations regarding protections. The IRB reviews applications for human subject research needed to meet federal requirements regarding the use of human subjects in research. The IRB is also responsible for maintaining IRB application records and documentation on all project applications. The IRB notifies applicants of the disposition of their research proposals in a timely manner.

Membership: Law requires that all Institutional Review Boards have at least five members. Law also requires that each IRB must include both males and females, people from varying cultural backgrounds, people from varying professions, at least one member whose primary concerns are scientific, at least one member whose primary concerns are nonscientific, and at least one member who is not affiliated with the institution. The Fort Lewis College IRB has a self-imposed goal of having a representative from each of the departments that conduct human subject research. All members of the Board are required to take a two-hour online tutorial to help them understand the laws governing the Committee.

Members

  • Alex Borgella (psychology) - Co-chair
  • Jennifer Lowell (public health) - Co-chair
  • Elizabeth Cartier (business)
  • Paul DeBell (political science)
  • Beth Dorman (teacher education)
  • Cristián Sepúlveda (business)
  • Majel Boxer (NAIS
  • David Blake (biology)
  • Janice Templeton (psychology)

Public members

  • Kip Boyd (MD, Hospital Administrator)

Non-science members

  • Nancy Cardona (English)

Learn more at the IRB website

Faculty Development Grants: Traditional Scholarship/Research

Description of Activities: The primary objective of the TS/R committee is to fund research and scholarship, with publication and/or public presentation the expected outcome. The committee is charged with developing guidelines for faculty grant proposals, reviewing proposals, and voting to award funding. Historically, the TS/R committee has typically funded requests that facilitate primarily scholarly activities, research, or travel to academic conferences where the faculty member is presenting their work. This committee also considers proposals that support initial research that may lead to external funding in the future. This committee is unable to fund requests for stipends or salaries. This committee does not consider proposals that focus on faculty members' instructional responsibilities; please see TIPA for such requests. 

Members: 

  • Ruth Alminas, Political Science - Co-Chair 
  • Michael Grubb, Chemistry - Co-Chair 
  • Carolina Alonso, Sociology 
  • Marnie Clay, Health Sciences 
  • Felicia Meyer, Performing Arts 
  • Candace Nadon, English 
  • Joseph, Nibley, Music 
  • Lorraine Taylor, Katz - ex officio
  • Carl Leinert, Mathematics

Media Cener Advisory Board

Authority, Mission, and Purpose: The Media Center Advisory Board (MCAB) operates under the authority granted by the President of Fort Lewis College and is responsible for advising the Provost and the Dean of Student Engagement on matters related to the Ballantine Media Center and student publications.

The Ballantine Media Center states its mission as “a student-centered, college-community hub for collaborative storytelling that provides access to and space for students to engage with dynamic forms of media.” The MCAB facilitates and supports this mission through its various responsibilities and functions.

The MCAB facilitates communication and addresses issues regarding the Ballantine Media Center and Studio, its occupants and the community at large. The Board reviews and advises the Provost on allocating Ballantine Media Center space, including offices and studios. The Board manages scheduling of the Ballantine Media Center and Studio. The Board will work to resolve local issues at the Media Center and Studio, such as policies for the production lab usage and training.

The MCAB also oversees the appointment of editors-in-chief of The Independent and IMAGES, and it handles complaints and disputes concerning them, if they cannot be resolved internally. The MCAB Chair functions as de facto liaison to the Provost on Ballantine Media Center and Studio issues.

Media Center Advisory Board (MCAB) Membership 

  • Candace Nadon, faculty advisor of IMAGES (Chair) 
  • Faron Scott, faculty advisor of The Independent 
  • Michele Malach, KDUR radio practicum director 
  • Bryant Liggett, KDUR Station Manager 
  • Mia McCormick, Editor-in-Chief of The Independent. 
  • Analise Gates, Editor-in-Chief of IMAGES.

Staff Council

The Staff Council was started in January of 2019. The members represent staff from five areas: President, Academic Affairs, Advancement, Finance & Administration, and Student Affairs.

What we do

  • This Staff Council is responsible for advocating on behalf of staff members on areas of shared concern or interest as well as provide for exchange and dissemination amongst staff members at the College. 
  • The Council can facilitate communication between staff, students, faculty, administration, and the Board of Trustees. Already, we have created a staff e-mail listserv, and this year the council plans to solicit more feedback and active engagement from College staff members.  
  • Stay tuned for e-mails and an anonymous suggestion link coming soon from your Staff Council.

Visit the Staff Council website.

Teaching & Learning Committee

Description of activities:

In consultation with the Center for Teaching and Learning, Faculty Senate, the College Personnel Committee, and the faculty body at large, the Teaching and Learning Committee supports faculty in the teaching evaluation process established in the Faculty Handbook. This includes creating and sustaining resources for faculty related to teaching effectiveness; supporting faculty during the promotion and tenure process; facilitating peer feedback of teaching upon request; and advising faculty, CTL and other campus departments on professional development opportunities that support the Dimensions of Effective Teaching. 

The Teaching and Learning Committee is charged with the following:

  • Collaborate with CTL to create and sustain resources (web-based, info sessions, etc.) for faculty to use toward teaching effectiveness and evaluation.
  • Consult with CTL staff and faculty fellows to recommend and/or facilitate professional development opportunities associated with the Dimensions of Effective Teaching and the Framework for Teaching Evaluation.
  • Develop and implement strategies to increase faculty participation in teaching development programming.
  • Facilitate peer feedback for faculty as requested.
  • Consult with faculty on ways to process student and peer feedback.

Members

  • Jennifer Rider, Center for Teaching & Learning - Co-chair
  • Brian Burke, Psychology - Co-chair
  • Sarah Roberts-Cady, Philosophy
  • Keisha Carlson, Biology
  • Kenny Miller, Chemistry
  • Mark Beattie, Health & Human Performance
  • Rennee Beeton, Chemistry
  • Joanna Casey, Physics & Engineering

Tuition Appeals Committee

Description of Activities: The Committee meets as needed to hear student appeals of tuition classification.

Members:

  • Michele Peterson, Chair (Budget Office)
  • Melanie McLean (Accounting Office)
  • Theresa Rodriguez (Registrar’s Office)

Undergraduate Research Committee

Description of Activities: The primary objective of the UGR Committee is to equitably provide funding for students to carry out research, design and creative activity projects across campus. The committee oversees the application process, and committee members provide scores and comments on multiple criteria for each proposal narrative and budget submitted. Supply Grant proposals are submitted twice per semester and are reviewed within 10 days of each submission date. In addition to evaluating grants, this committee provides guidance on other UGR activities, including Travel Grants, the Speaker Series, Fall and Spring Research Symposia, the Grad Plus Fair, and the FLC415_Communicating Your Research course.

Members: 

  • Bernice Asante (Math) 
  • Nora Fluke (Public Health) 
  • Nathanial Peach (Economics) 
  • Corey McCullough (English) 
  • Jay Dougan (Art & Design) 
  • Marnie Thomson (Anthropology) 
  • Christine Smith (Undergraduate Research Coordinator)

Work-Life Wellness Committee

Description of Activities: The mission of the Wellness Committee is to inspire, motivate, and validate the well-being and morale of the whole self within the Fort Lewis College community. The committee serves as an advocate and advisory group for work-life policies and programs, including those which support a healthy balance between work and family.

Members:

  • Doug Ewing, Co-Chair (Recreational Services)
  • Melissa Stordeur, Co-chair (Human Resources)
  • Elizabeth Calagias (Center for Innovation)
  • Joshua Coon (Athletics)
  • Regina Curry (Athletics)
  • Peyton Deal (TRIO Talent Search)
  • Brandon DenHartog (Recreational Services)
  • Staci Ewing (Budget Office)
  • Ally Gee (Academic Affairs)
  • Gyana Bandy Gomar (El Centro)
  • Amber Grenhart (Student Union)
  • Barb Hembree (Health Center)
  • Katherine Jetter (Music)

Go to the Work-Life Wellness website.