Faculty Meeting March 5, 2009
 
I.  Call to Order
The President called the March Meeting to order at 11.35.
 
II.  Opening Prayer
Pastor Bruce Benson opened the meeting with a prayer.

III. Approval of the Minutes of the February 2009 Faculty Meeting
The minutes were approved.

IV.  Report on the February Board of Regents Meeting
Karen Marsalek, Faculty Observer-Elect to the Board of Regents, reported that the mood of the February Board of Regents meeting was cautious but not gloomy.  At the meeting, the Regents considered four different budgets.  Although the preliminary budget is usually approved at the February meeting, this has been deferred until the Honors Day weekend meeting when some of the current uncertainties will be sorted out.

In budget planning for fiscal year 2010, the Regents are keeping three principles in mind: to preserve flexibility, to maintain focus on the quality of the educational and student life experience, and to maintain positive morale.

The Board approved modifications to the Faculty Manual that the faculty approved in the October, November and December faculty meetings.  They voted on tenure and promotion and enthusiastically approved the candidates for honorary degrees.  They had a substantial progress report on the Old Science/ New Main project.  No substantive decisions were made about funding, but the Board was enthusiastic about the project.

The last item of the meeting was a presentation describing integrated interim classes led by Mary Griep (Art) and Eric Cole (Biology).  The Regents were intrigued by the program's innovation and interdisciplinary structure.  The presentation offered a window on the imaginative and vigorous approaches that faculty and students collaboratively bring to the College.
 
V.  Remarks by the President
President Anderson reported that big decisions regarding next year are contingent on information yet to be received.  This includes how many students the College will enroll, what their average tuition discount will be, the results of annual giving, and how the endowment and the general economy will perform.

The President reminded the faculty that March 14th is Scholars Day and reported that there is record registration.  In addition, April 4th and 18th are Admitted Student Days.  Michael Kyle, Vice President and Dean of Enrollment, reported to the President that the response from faculty has been good and he extends his heartiest thanks. The President believes that involvement in these activities is the most concrete thing the College can do to ensure a bright future for the short and long term.

The President called attention to an e-mail Treasurer Allan Norton sent earlier in the week.  Norton emphasized that in the best case scenario the non-compensation part of the College's operating budget will remain flat.  Consequently, it would be good for the College to be anticipating ways in which we can reduce costs to deal with whatever contingencies might arise.  The point of the email was to ask everyone preparing budgets for next year to be thoughtful, reflective, imaginative, and hard-nosed about ways in which we can do the work of the College in the same exemplary fashion at less cost.  Reducing travel costs and negotiating better deals with distributors are two important examples of how we can save money.
 
VI.  Consent Agenda
Currcomm 08/09-10, New Course Proposals, David Booth
 
The consent agenda was moved to New Business.
 
VII.  Committee Reports
Curriculum Committee, David Booth

No report today.

Jonathan Hill, Faculty Governance Committee, reported on the upcoming faculty elections.  He thanked all who have volunteered to serve as candidates, but also reported that many other candidates are needed.  The Faculty Governance Committee will create a ballot for the April meeting.  After this meeting, faculty will have a seven-day period to cast their votes electronically. The five individual faculties will conduct a slightly different process and that is somewhat at the discretion of the individual faculties.  The Faculty Governance Committee encourages the five individual faculties to have their ballots available for public disclosure by the April faculty meeting so that the faculty are able to see the total range of those standing in the elections. The committee also recognizes that there are advantages to drawing up this list after the elections in April, since this would allow a candidate who is unsuccessful in the at-large election to stand again in individual faculty elections.  Positions within the five faculties will be voted on solely by members within the respective faculties and will take place after the April faculty meeting.

Each faculty will create its own three-person nominating committee.  Two of these three individuals are to be elected for a two-year term, and the third is the faculty representative to the Faculty Governance Committee, who will also chair the nominating committee.  The chairs of the nominating committees are: Robert Entenmann, Interdisciplinary and General Studies; James McKeel, Fine Arts; Wes Pearson, Natural Sciences and Mathematics; Paddy Dale, Social Sciences; and Jonathan Hill, Humanities.

Hill again thanked individuals who have already offered to stand in the at-large or faculty elections.  He also encouraged others to consider volunteering.

Eric Cole, Faculty Life Committee, reported on continued discussions on the structure of faculty development opportunities, which have the aim of coming up with a model of faculty development that is more flexible and useful.  It became apparent that the Committee wanted and needed feedback.  They are soliciting this through a form creator survey that all faculty will receive today.

In past years, the committee has granted $70,000 for faculty development.  Half of this has funded two release time awards and the other half has funded summer projects and other smaller projects.  They have also debated whether they should have a single large pot of money or abundant small pots.  A question was raised about a possible pre-tenure leave program.  Would such leaves be funded by faculty development money, or would additional funds be made available.  The response was that a pre-tenure leave program would be funded through existing sabbatical leave money.

Jim Hanson, Student Life Committee, reported on the Academic integrity survey.  The Committee is presenting the results in a forum on Friday, March 13th.  There will also be a draft of the results available online.  They will draft a proposal for a new policy for the April faculty meeting.
 
New Business
Curcomm09/01-10 was moved and seconded.  Ed Langerak asked whether the courses proposed in the English department in Currcomm08/09-10 reflect an increase in FTE.  Mary Steen answered that the new courses would replace other electives.
 
The motion passed.
 
IV.  Remarks for the Good of the Order
Eric Lund introduced this semester's international scholars: Karoline Niklasson (Norway) William Andindilile and Cosmas Mligo (Tanzania), Xie Wei (Vivian) and He Xiaojia (Amy) (China), Jamie Turnbull (England).  The faculty welcomed all with warm applause.

Kris Thalhammer reminded everyone about the upcoming Peace Prize Forum and thanked all who have volunteered to help.

Matt McDonald reported that while it was thought that Bill Thornton had suffered a serious heart attack, he is doing fine.

Bruce Dalgaard reminded faculty to submit proposals for the Lilly program.  Faculty will soon receive an email about another summer service learning program through the Lilly program as well.

The President congratulated recently tenured and promoted faculty.

The meeting adjourned at 12.33 p.m.

Minutes prepared by Kari Lie, Secretary to the Faculty

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