International and Domestic Off-Campus Studies Committee
Minutes of the May 2, 2007 IDOCS Meeting, 3:30 p.m.
Present: Brian Borovsky (Natural Sciences and Mathematics), Chair Jeane Delaney (Humanities), Dona Freeman (Fine Arts), Scott Johnson (ARP), Kelin Loe (Student Senate Representative), Karil Kucera (Interdisciplinary and General Studies), Eric Lund (Director), Kris MacPherson (Social Sciences), Cate Redman (student), Solveig Zempel (Designate of the Dean). Katherine Baker (Registrar's representative), joined the meeting at 4:00. (Kris MacPherson left the meeting at 3:40. Eric Lund left at 4:45.)
1. Approval of April 18th, 2007 minutes, with some revisions.
2. Director Eric Lund reports:
a. 788 interim 2008 applications were turned in by the 5/1 deadline.
b. Next year, a second semester program will begin before interim is over, causing participants to potentially miss the last week of January instruction. Discussion with a recommendation for clarification of policy. No immediate resolution is required, but a recommendation is made that next year's committee take up this issue
c. Applications for field supervisors have been made through 2010.
3. Solveig Zempel presents a review of the Washington Internship Institute (WII).
a. Information from her site visit in March, when she met with Mary Ryan.
b. St. Olaf Poliical Science department has responded to WII.
i. They are not opposed to approving the program for pilot status, but are not inclined to give credit toward the major
c. Bruce Dalgaard would serve as program supervisor.
d. Benefit of this program is its strong experiential component, and opportunities for students in all majors, not only those in government positions.
e. WII could provide a valuable internship venue for our students.
f. Eric reports that tuition, room and board is less costly for WII than for our other Washington D.C. program, Term in Washington (Jo Beld, supervisor)
g. Group discusses the importance of promoting the differences and advantages of both WII and our Term in Washington, so that students have a clear understanding of their options.
i. Solveig suggests that Mary Ryan would be open to hearing the STO Political Science department's concern.
ii. WII is approved for "pilot" status.
iii. After five students have particiated in the program, or at the end of two years, WII will need to be reviewed for "permanent" status.
4. Continuation of discussion regarding the pros and cons of adding more off-campus summer programming.
a. It is decided that this discussion be shelved for this year.
b. Eric stresses that summer programs raise a particular concern for the IOS staff.
i. The IOS office staff is working at capacity. Next year's committee should consider staffing issues when considering additional programming.
ii. Further discussion topics focusing on summer programming include:
1. Complexity of fees for such programs.
2. Opportunities for faculty to explore summer teaching in relation to such programming.
3. Ways in which various disciplines approach summer research and teaching.
5. Jeane asks for suggestions: What should be passed onto the new committee.
a. This year's minutes will be available in the archives.
b. Website is named as the best source for a guide to ongoing areas of focus.
i. Discussion of importance of keeping website current.
c. Committee advises that two lists be passed along:
i. List of ongoing issues
ii. List of location of various pertinent documents.
Meeting ended at 5:00.
Respectfully submitted,
Dona Werner Freeman
