Chair Hensler noted for the record that the board has acknowledged receipt of the Vote of No Confidence petition, and it has started a very productive conversation on campus. Trustees are learning a lot about the institution. Now that the petition is public, the board would like to report that they disagree with several of the items in the petition, and based on the listening that has been happening, the board has developed a plan to move the institution forward. The board hopes and expects everyone to be part of the plan to move forward. Public Comment Professor R. Shaffer Claridge, Department of Law and Justice, made public comment on student success at CWU. Dr. Dominic Klyve, Department of Mathematics, made public comment about the ongoing need for focused leadership and a clear plan going forward. Shared Equity and Belonging Leadership Update Elvin Delgado, Interim AVP for Faculty Success, and Ruben Cardenas, Interim AVP for Student Development and Belonging, explained that the work of the Shared Equity and Belonging Committee aligns well with CWU’s vision and mission, specifically the unifying value of student success in the strategic plan. The committee will have a couple of new members due to folks leaving. AVP Cardenas reiterated that although people come from different divisions and departments within the university, members are being asked to show up in a way that they are thinking institutionally. Infusing equity and belonging into the entire campus community is a big undertaking. The committee revisited their charge letter at their March meeting and focused on trust building, vulnerability, and reaffirming their shared purpose. One key practice that was introduced was beginning each meeting with cultural introductions. These introductions allowed members to share who they are outside of their roles or titles. This helps dismantle the stories we sometimes tell ourselves. The committee has one remaining meeting this spring, where they will meet with the Supervisor Summit facilitators: Dr. Elizabeth Holcombe and Dr. Angel Gonzalez. The goal is to share the committee’s perspective with the facilitators to help them maximize their time on campus during the Supervisor Summit. The Summit will provide an opportunity to engage supervisors across campus in professional development on shared equity leadership. The facilitators will also deliver a keynote and lead a workshop. Additionally, the facilitators will meet with shared governance groups including ASCWU, exempt and classified staff, union representatives, ADCO, the Faculty Senate Executive Committee, and the Executive Leadership Team. To move this work forward, we need to accept differences and different perspectives and opinions and start thinking about what is best for the institution and students. The committee’s overarching goal is to develop a path forward for CWU where equity drives institutional decision-making, where students, staff, and faculty all feel a strong sense of belonging. Leading into the next academic year, the committee hopes to develop a deeper understanding of CWU’s current culture and begin to identify and shape capacity-building opportunities with a potential opportunity to present at the Academic Affairs Forum and to continue engaging in shared equity leadership work during the State of the University Address.
The morning session adjourned at 11:38 a.m.
Board members attended lunch with ASCWU Board of Directors at 12:10 pm. No business was conducted.
3 Board of Trustees Minutes May 21-22, 2026
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