International and Domestic Off-Campus Studies Committee
Minutes for IDOCS meeting of October 4, 2006
Members in attendance: Katherine Baker, Jeane Delaney [Chair], Dona Freeman, Karil Kucera, Eric Lund, Kris MacPherson, Solveig Zempel [ex officio – Dean’s Representative]
- The meeting was called to order and the minutes of September 27, 2006, approved.
- Updates from Eric Lund on upcoming abroad programs
A) Term in Asia
- noted the interview with Kris MacPherson as leader for 2007-08 Term in Asian had been successful and her application now would move up to next level of approval. Bob Bruce would serve as her second on this abroad program.
B) Status of interims
- several did not have sufficient enrollment - the two that would not go were one theatre and one religion department interim
- Theatre in Russia was successful in recruiting students and appeared able to go.
- Holden Village also appeared to have sufficient students to make it a "go".
- Also no enrollment in non-St. Olaf Norwar programs
*Solveig Zempel noted the high degree of specialization made them hard to enroll.
- Students had been apprised of changes to costs for some of the interims and so far
there had been no negative feedback.
- Report for CCC and RPC
A) Eric summarized IDOCS duties per what was contained in the committee manual – it was ascertained that although changes had been made within IDOCS to our version of the duties, these had not been accepted or changed elsewhere in the faculty manual.
*Solveig points out that this is not the official wording re what is on the web and contained within the faculty manual [see appendix 1]
B) group discussion centered on benefits as well as possible pitfalls of the new committee structure being proposed; some concern was expressed over re-creating older less successful committee structures, as well as potential loss of elected representatives versus appointed ones. It was pointed out that the purpose of the new larger committee was to have a controlling group for the entire curriculum, to which sub-committees would report. Eric could also have the benefit of an advisory group to help with load. Jeane and Kris had divided IDOCS work into deliberative and actionable activities in order to clarify for the re-structuring committee how much work a regular year entails [see appendix 2].
C) Jeane noted upcoming meeting on October 11 th – all invited to attend. Asked if she should submit any specific recommendations to the new committee re-structuring working group.
- Interim proposal website information
A) Eric asked for clarification on the wording of this to be made as soon as possible.
B) Motion was made to vote on the new guidelines for the letter of intent as needed to be worded to make it consistent for publication on the IOS website [see appendix 3].
*motion was approved pending final revisions from Eric via email.
- Focus group report
A) Jeane asked about status of creation of focus groups for IOS review.
*Eric noted that second half of October, post fall break, would still be acceptable for the purposes of IOS.
- Meeting was adjourned promptly at 5:00 pm.
Respectfully submitted by Karil Kucera.
