The organization meets in the Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters every year, and we host a reception each year at the Assessment, Teaching, & Learning Conference hosted by the State Board of Community & Technical Colleges (SBCTC). We strive to share information from our respective colleges, seek solutions for common problems, provide an avenue for communication, and serve as a representative voice for faculty in the Washington community college network. We will post recent meeting summaries below, and please feel free to look at our minutes and agendas for a more detailed understanding of what happens at our meetings.
Winter 2026
Olympia
Fall 2025
Shoreline Community College, November 6 & 7
FACTC met at Shoreline Community College on November 6–7, 2025, to discuss systemwide challenges, faculty advocacy, and ongoing workgroup initiatives. Members and campus leaders emphasized the continued strain of budget cuts, program reductions, and increased faculty workload across the state. Workgroups reported out on progress related to teaching modalities and workload, bylaw and handbook development, legislative strategy, and professional development needs—especially around AI and accessibility. The group highlighted the need for improved pedagogical support for new teaching modalities, stronger communication channels for representatives, more coordinated statewide storytelling for legislative advocacy, and expanded professional development opportunities for faculty.
Updates from SBCTC leaders detailed the delayed but forthcoming funding allocation model changes, statewide accessibility requirements, Guided Pathways work, and legislative priorities amid a projected $960 million budget shortfall. FACTC unanimously voted to allocate $5,000 to co-sponsor the 2026 ATL Conference, and members shared faculty innovations, including inclusive assignment design supported by AI. The meeting concluded with plans for winter workgroup activities, including one virtual workday and an in-person legislative-session meeting in Olympia.
Spring 2025
Clark College, April 28
On April 28, 2025, the representatives had an important meeting at Clark College to determine the direction and goals of the organization. The organization welcomed seven new members and discussed strategy for ensuring all seats are filled for the fall 2025 meeting, which will be held at Shoreline College November 6 and 7. In addition to recruitment and retention of seats on FACTC, the group approved a new branding strategy to increase the visibility of the organization on our campuses and at regional conferences. After many years of discussion, the representatives decided to maintain their independence outside of the State Board of Community & Technical Colleges organizational chart, but all members recognized that the discussion would likely become relevant in the future as the organization evolves. As part of that evolution, the representatives voted to make several significant updates to the bylaws that better reflect how the organization functions and to create a procedural document for onboarding new officers and representatives.
Winter 2025
SBCTC Headquarters, January 30 & 31
On January 30th and 31st, 2025, the FACTC meeting covered several topics, including officer updates, discussions about a proposed statewide “virtual campus,” and organizational matters. President Tisha shared her perspective of conversations with Senator Slatter about a draft bill proposed by Dr. Kathy Cox to create a statewide virtual campus similar to California. Members present expressed significant concern about its impact on faculty, academic integrity, and funding, and they agreed more information was needed, especially perspectives and input from FACTC representatives. Vice President Sangha, raised concerns about how colleges managed promotions and salary increases and asked that members share information to compare practices at the next meeting. Additionally, the group discussed proposed changes to the bylaws and planning for the upcoming Spring meeting at the Assessment Teaching and Learning Conference at the end of April.
The next meeting will be held at Clark College on April 29, 2025 and a reception will follow at the Assessment Teaching & Learning Conference on April 30, 2025.
Fall 2024 Meeting
Renton Technical College, November 4
At the Fall 2024 meeting, the Faculty Association for Technical and Community Colleges (FACTC) discussed a variety of issues, namely, whether or not to join the State Board of Community and Technical College’s governance structure as a council underneath the Instruction Commission. After a planning session and a meeting with the SBCTC Deputy Director for Education, Joyce Hammer, the representatives discussed the matter and passed a motion to vote on it at the upcoming meeting. The representatives also reviewed the bylaws as a group and made collective suggestions to be proposed at the next meeting. In addition to these two major topics, the group reported that their membership is improving, dues need to be collected, the website has been updated (factc.org) and there will be a new listserv for communication between meetings.
The next meeting will be held in Olympia, location to be determined, on the afternoon of January 30, 2025 and morning / afternoon of January 31, 2025.