Supporting Efforts To Improve Faculty Harassment Reporting Procedures

On January 13, 2025, Ira Hyman, chair of the IRB, raised the issue of increased harassment of faculty by external actors on the basis of scholarship and identity, whether through social media, direct message, or open records requests. He said that he does not know how much of a problem this is at WWU and said that a possible action would be to collect information about the extent of harassment at WWU, including public records requests, and at a minimum implement the best practice of creating a central contact source and consider working with the legislature to ensure that open request laws are updated to protect researchers. Since then, Senate Executive council has worked with University administration in improving response procedures for faculty experiencing job-related harassment or threats from outside the University. Steps already taken include gathering data, presenting the findings to the Senate and administration, and communicating with stakeholders. At the February 24, 2025, Senate meeting, the Provost announced that the Faculty Relations office will work on a web-based faculty harassment reporting form. Before it is rolled out, there will be meetings with the Chief of UPD, the Executive Director of Student Life, and the Vice President of Business and Financial Affairs to finalize the reporting process.

On February 25, 2025, the Senate adopted by consent a motion from Senate Executive Council to continue supporting efforts to improve the procedures surrounding the reporting of faculty harassment.