Minutes of the August 29, 2002 Faculty Meeting

(approved at the October 3, 2002, faculty meeting)

President Thomforde opened the meeting at 9:34 a.m. and called upon Jennifer Anderson Koenig, Associate College Pastor, who provided the opening prayer.

Approval of the Minutes of the May, 2002 Faculty Meeting.

Moved and approved.

President's Remarks

President Thomforde reiterated the seven goals that he introduced at the chapel service proceeding the opening banquet on August 28, 2002:

  1. Engage our students in excellent teaching and learning, scholarship and performance;
  2. Finish the work on Fram Fram Forward St. Olaf with success and enthusiasm;
  3. Complete the planning for the new science facilities and begin the process of securing funds for this most important project. President Thomforde thanked David Van Wylen and the work of the all the science and mathematics faculty.
  4. Complete the North Central Report and prepare for the campus visit of April 28-30, 2003.
  5. Complete a strategic plan for the College which will provide the guiding principles for our life together for the next five years. The College Council (planning council) continues to meet and has some specific goals and is clarifying a set of guiding principles.
  6. Clarify procedures for faculty governance and administration in light of the GRECO Report.
  7. Continue to move forward in our efforts in "institutionalize" diversity so that we might be a community that can and will embrace all who benefit from the multiple gifts of this College.

He concluded by adding an eighth goal, "enjoyment."

Announcements

Barb Lundberg, Vice President and Dean of Enrollment, reported on the 785 first-year students, 44 transfer students and 10 international exchange students. The total projected enrollment is 2,993. She thanked the St. Olaf Community for all the support.

Gordon Soenksen, Vice President for Advancement, reported on fund raising activities. Fram Fram Forward St. Olaf will complete its run on December 31, 2002 and as of this week we are at 131 million dollars. He projected 140 million by the end of the year. The fundraising for the Science Facility will begin in 2003 and he thanked those who are working on this project. Partners in Annual Giving, funded in part by the Tostruds, in well underway. He reported that we are also in the early stages of searching for the Director of Alumni and Parent Relations.

Alan Norton, Vice President and Treasurer, reported on the budget. Unrestricted revenues exceeded the goal by 800,000. Government grants added in this surplus, as well as some unfilled faculty and administrative positions which had been planned and budgeted. Savings were also gained from low interest rates. He anticipates that some of the savings will be saved for capital expenditures. This coming year we should meet but not exceed our net revenue. He will provide a further update at the next faculty meeting.

Pete Sandberg, Director of Facilities and Special Assistant to the President, provided an update on construction. He thanked all the crews for all the summer projects, including Melby Hall, Manitou Field, and the Tostrud Center. NSM planning is moving along. He thanked all involved, including Anne Walter, Dave Metz and David Van Wylen. A framework plan will be put together shortly.

Greg Kneser, Dean of Students, welcomed everyone back on behalf of the students, highlighted our new faculty who are St. Olaf Alums, and acknowledged all faculty who were students at St. Olaf. We are full, but the staff is ready for them and committed to doing a good job. Better than 96% of our first year students from last year are back. He encouraged us all to keep thinking of ways to keep students from slipping through the cracks, and to recommit ourselves to the judicial use of our CRS system.

Dean's Remarks

Jim May, Dean of the College and Provost, began his remarks by welcoming the new faculty and those returning from leave or sabbatical. He also took the time to congratulate all those who just completed their PhD. His personal comments included emphasizing President Thomforde's eighth goal of "having fun," and stressing our commitment to giving our students the best possible experience we can. He thanked all for their continued support, prayers and indulgence.

Dean May spoke of his goals:

We are working on the response to the GRECO report and during the course of the year we will fulfill the six recommendations made in the report;

We will work on clarifying what it means to focus the academic program;

We will work on honoring the achievements of faculty and staff;

We will make an effort to invest in department and program leadership.

All of these goals will aid in the NCA report and will be connected with our overall strategic plan.

Additional Announcements

Gary Gisselman requested that Barb Lundberg's report be available online. She indicated that it will be available and announced that a simplified paper version is available today.

Meeting adjourned at 10:48 a.m.

Mary Sue Lovett
Faculty Secretary