Eric Cole, Faculty Life Committee, reported on the survey that 134 faculty completed on Professional Development Grants.  Based on the feedback, the Committee unanimously voted to fund pre-tenure leaves and have eliminated small grants.  Corliss Swain reported on summer funding.  There were 15 summer grants given to faculty; 9 for scholarly and artistic activity, 6 for teaching and curriculum development.  There were 7 given in the Fine Arts, 3 in the Humanities, and 1 in the Social Sciences.  There are 51 faculty members participating in the 15 projects.

David Booth, Curriculum Committee, discussed the Department Program-Level Assessment Projects.  Booth reported that the majority of departments are making good progress.  He explained the FAQ document further by explaining that the practice of assessment is tied to what we value.  It lays to rest the prevalent misconception that it must be a quantitative study.  The assessment is more like an intensification of natural conversations about what we are already doing.

VII.  New Business

Jonathan Hill, Faculty Governance Committee, moved to adopt the Election Ballot 08/09-05.  Names of candidates and current members of committees are listed in the document.  There are currently more women than men serving on committees and the Faculty Governance Committee sought more gender balance by having more men on the ballots.  Hill again thanked all who are running in the elections and noted that no one likes to lose an election.  He hopes that individuals not voted into office will replace the pain of rejection with the sweetness of relief.  Hill also explained that it was not possible to have the ballots ready for the individual Faculty elections at the current meeting.  Individual Faculty elections will be take place after the voting is finished for the general faculty elections.  The motion was passed.

Jim Hanson and Judy Kutulas, Student Life Committee, reported on the Academic Integrity Policy.  Kutulas first reported that the most important point the Committee learned was the need to educate faculty and students on the policy.  She also explained that the feedback from both students and faculty indicated confusion and dissatisfaction with certain aspects of the Honor Code.  Kutulas moved to adopt the Academic Integrity Policy.

Hanson explained that faculty would hand out and have students sign the Academic Integrity Policy in every class each semester students are at St. Olaf. He further explained how the proposed policy changes affects faculty. First, faculty will be asked to link to the policy in our course materials and provide some way for students to acknowledge have read and understood the policy.  The second part focuses on what faculty should do when encountering possible dishonesty (outside of examinations).  The proposed process is as follows:

a) An informal meeting with the student

b) Completion of Academic Dishonesty Form (This is a big change, previous procedures have varied.  The faculty member can further discuss the issue with the student or the Dean).

c) Student can sign the form and accepts responsibility and penalty for the violation; the completed form goes into their record.

d) If the student does not agree with the allegation, then the matter goes to a committee, which allows for an appeal process

A number of questions were posed about the proposed policy.  Many of the questions raised addressed were about the Academic Dishonesty Form and about the necessity of signing it in each course.  It was suggested that too much signing makes it lose its relevance and that it would be better to have students sign once at the beginning of their studies at St. Olaf.  There were also questions about what was on the form, where these forms would be kept, and the practicality of the process.

The faculty voted unanimously to send the motion back to committee.

David Booth, Curriculum Committee, put forward motion 0809-13, New Statement on Distinction in Majors and Concentrations.  The motion passed.

VIII. Remarks for the Good of the Order

Eugene Bakko thanked Bon Appetit for today's beverage service (pitchers on the tables instead of cans/ bottled water).

Jo Beld announced that the results of the research Practices Survey would be released April 27-28

Shelly Dickinson announced the event "This is your brain on Liberal Arts

Adjourn

The meeting adjourned at 12.30.