Minutes of the March 2008 Faculty Meeting

I. Call to Order

II. Opening Prayer

Associate Pastor Jennifer Anderson Koenig opened with reflections on March as a difficult, transitional month, one in which fellowship, care, and moments of lightness all bring welcome relief. She offered a prayer on the theme of peace between peoples and nations.

III. Approval of the Minutes of the February 2008 Faculty Meeting

The minutes were approved.

IV. Report by the Observer to the Board of Regents , John Ferguson

A. Professor Ferguson offered the following observations from the most recent meeting of the Regents:

1. The Regents who visited classes were impressed by the faculty and by the level of student engagement in the classroom.

2. The Regents expressed concern about how well the College is prepared to deal with potential crises on campus. The Dean of Students, Greg Kneser, addressed these concerns, emphasizing that the College is well prepared and is pro-active in prevention efforts.

3. The Regents articulated their interest in improving gender and ethnic representation among board members.

4. Ferguson reported that 65% of the Science Center campaign came from former or current Regents. The Regents “modestly” and “reluctantly,” in Ferguson’s words, agreed to approve the Administration’s recommendation to name the Science Center in their honor. The building will be called the Regents Science Complex.

5 . The Board carefully considered and then approved the tuition and fee schedule.

6. The June meeting of the Board will assume a retreat format. Among other topics, the Regents will be thinking about various options for faculty retirement packages.

B. Ferguson concluded his remarks with two personal comments. He thanked the faculty for electing him to the position. He also expressed his support for the RPC proposals for committee restructuring, noting that the proposed changes would strengthen the position of the Faculty Observer.

V. Remarks by the President

A. Tenure and Promotion. The President invited Dean May to make an announcement. Dean May introduced the faculty, whom the Board of Regents recently ratified for tenure and promotion.

For tenure :

  • Jason Engbrecht, Physics
  • Rika Ito, Asian Studies
  • Karil Kucera, Art and Art History and Asian Studies
  • Jeffrey Schwinefus, Chemistry
  • Ariel Strichartz, Romance Languages

For promotion to Associate Professor:

  • Jason Engbrecht
  • Rika Ito
  • Karil Kuchera
  • Jeffrey Schwinefus

For promotion to Professor:

  • Mary Carlsen, Social Work and Family Studies
  • Julie Legler, Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science
  • James McKeel, Music
  • Meg Ojala, Art and Art History
  • Steve Reece, Classics
  • Janice Roberts, Dance

The Dean also thanked everyone who had a hand in preparing dossiers and in stewarding the process.

B. Tuition. The President reported that letters have gone out informing students and families of the tuition and fee schedule. For incoming first-year students, tuition will be $42,600 next year. This represents a 9% increase. The President explained that the increase represents the real and market value of an education at St. Olaf.

Continuing students will receive a returning student credit, reducing the increase that they will experience to 5.5%. This will be the lowest increase they will have experienced while at St. Olaf, but none-the-less, the President acknowledged, no one welcomes a fee increase. He encouraged faculty to refer concerned students to the Financial Aid Office.

C. Admissions. We are in phase 3 of admissions, or “regular admissions.” Four hundred students have been admitted. The College is now seeking to convert those admissions to enrollments. Of these 400 admitted students, 27% are domestic students of difference. If many or most of them choose to come, this will increase diversity on campus significantly. The President concluded this portion of his remarks by reminding faculty that their interactions with prospective students do make a difference.

D. Mellon Foundation Meeting of College Presidents. The President relayed several items of good news. First, St. Olaf was invited to this meeting, which indicates the College has a place at the table, the President noted. Second, the College was encouraged to apply to the Mellon Foundation for support. Third, the topic of “branding” animated the conversation among college presidents. President Anderson was pleased to note that St. Olaf does not face this problem, but rather the already enjoys a unique identity or brand in the marketplace.

E. Questions from Faculty. In response to a question on financial aid and the new comprehensive fee, the President explained that St. Olaf repackages every student’s financial aid every year in light of circumstances. Thus, the College will continue to consider the financial needs of its students each year.

VI. Consent Agenda

A. CurrComm07/08-04 , revisions to Environmental Studies, David Booth

B. CurrComm07/08-05, new course proposals, David Booth. Booth requested that this item be moved to New Business.

The faculty voted to accept the Consent Agenda.

VII. Committee Reports

A. RPC , Dan Hofrenning

Professor Hofrenning began with an overview of the process that led to the proposals under consideration today. Then, he explained that Proposal RPC 07/08-02 establishes the new committees of Faculty Life and Faculty Governance. The Proposal RPC 07/08-03 is then a housekeeping motion that will change the language of the Faculty Manual to reflect the new structures. Hofrenning then outlined and explained the proposed committee and sub-committee structure. Each committee has 10 members, 5 tenured members and 5 at large. In response to questions, Hoffrenning explained that many of the details concerning sub-committees will be left to the committees and their new members to decide in order to allow for flexibility.

B. Curriculum Committee , David Booth

No report today.

VIII. New Business

A. RPC/0708-02, establishment of Faculty Life and Faculty Governance Committees, Dan Hofrenning

The faculty voted and the motion carried.

B. RPC/0708-03, modifications to the language of the Faculty Manual, Dan Hofrenning

The faculty voted and the motion carried. Hofrenning thanked his colleagues on RPC for their work, with special acknowledgment accruing to Jonathan Hill for drafting the motions.

C. CurrComm07/08-05, new course proposals, David Booth.

The Art and Art History Department offered a friendly amendment to the proposal. The faculty voted and the motion carried.

IX. Remarks for the Good of the Order

A. Michael Kyle, Vice President and Dean of Enrollment, asked that a few more faculty members consider participating in Scholars Day, when Buntrock Scholarship finalists will be on campus, March 15.

B. Eric Lund introduced visiting International Scholars. From East China Normal University, Wei Baulin is working with Margaret O’Leary. choral music and Opera, working with Chris Aspaas. The faculty greeted them with applause. Lund also invited faculty to consider acting as a mentee on an off-campus interim program. Lund also noted that Bob Entenmann will be attending at CIEE workshop in China.  

C. Corliss Swain announced upcoming lectures on virtue and happiness by University of Arizona Professor of Philosophy Julia Annas.

D . Lily Program. Funds have been secured for summer service-learning trips. Please contact Bruce Dalgaard.

E. In response to a query, the President stated that he would ask Greg Kneser to consider how members of the campus community might be apprised of public health issues, such as the number of confirmed flu cases.

F. Mary Cisar reminded faculty that the advising period is beginning.

G. Steve Hahn reminded faculty of the upcoming Melby Lecture by Professor Anne Walter, Department of Biology.

A sound recording of this meeting has been filed in the College Archive.

Minutes prepared by Anna Kuxhausen, Asst. Professor of History.

Printable Version of March Minutes