Minutes of the February 10, 2005
Faculty Meeting

President Thomforde called the meeting to order at 11:30 a.m. Back from his global semester, Pastor Benson shared an e-mail from the grateful parent of a student and prayed that, as teachers, we might be sustained by grace in our “calling of wonder.”

Approval of the November 4, 2004 Minutes

Moved and approved

President’s Remarks

President Thomforde began by welcoming back those returning from programs abroad: Bruce and Carol Benson, Pat and Kathy Quade, and Bruce and Barbara Nordstrom-Loeb. He then reported that the proceeds from the sale of WCAL (10.1 million dollars) have been invested in the college endowment. The principal will not be spent down, but interest and appreciation accruing from the principal will be used to enhance the academic program of the college. During the first couple of years funds will be used to provide a new organ for Boe Chapel, and the chancel area will be renovated to accommodate it. Pete Sandburg and John Ferguson will oversee this project. The college will also work on setting up a distinguished professorship, to be named after a long-term professor of the past whose teaching and service to the college was exemplary. Suggestions as to whom can be made to President Thomforde or to Dean May. The Dean of the College, in consultation with the President, will name the recipient of the new position. Holders of the professorship will be expected to carry a full standard load. Those named for this honor will be recognized with an enhancement of compensation and/or funding for professional development. The replacement value of the salary of the recipient will be directed towards the faculty salary pool in general, thus working to achieve the goal for faculty salaries set out in the strategic plan. In response to a question from Ed Langerak, President Thomforde remarked that, while those holding the professorship should be living, the person for whom it is named should not.

IDOCS

Wendy Allen, Chair of IDOCS moved IDOCS 04/05 – 3, that three pilot programs (France: IES Paris, HECUA Northern Ireland, and Social Work in Mexico) be approved by the faculty and granted full status. Seconded. Two editorial amendments were made to the green sheet: In the rationale at the end, “listed below” was changed to “listed above” and “thereby” was changed to “therefore.” Approved as amended. Next she moved IDOCS 04/05 – 4, that three pilot programs in Japan be approved by the faculty and granted full status. Seconded. A few changes were made to the green sheet: The first sentence of the introduction should read “St. Olaf students must have completed two years of Japanese (the equivalent of Japanese 232) before applying….” In the paragraph on Japan: Nagasaki, the statement that “students must complete two semesters of Japanese” was changed to read “two years of Japanese.” Similarly, in the paragraph on Japan: Nagoya, the word “semesters” was replaced by “years.” Finally, in the rationale at the end, “listed below” was changed to “listed above” and “thereby” was changed to “therefore.” Approved as amended. The next motion was IDOCS 04/05 – 5 concerning Art ME 258. Seconded. There was one amendment: The phrase “and granted full status” was dropped from the first paragraph, so that the motion was simply that the course “be approved by the faculty.” The amended motion was approved.

CEPC

David Booth, Chair of CEPC, moved CEPC 04/05 – 3 for approval of revisions to the nursing major, together with certain new courses entailed by those revisions. Seconded. After some discussion of the number of prerequisites for the major, and their relation to general education requirements, the motion was approved. After obtaining a waiver of the seven-day rule, Booth moved CEPC 04/05 – 4 for the approval of three new courses, English 123 (Introduction to Poetry), English 124 (Introduction to Drama), and Biology 263 (Limnology). Seconded. After some discussion of the difference between the study of drama in the English Department or another language department, and in the Theatre Department, the motion was approved.

New Computer System / Registration Mode

Mary Cisar noted that the recent breakdown of the old system highlighted the need for a new one. The new machine is in the computer center, and data may be moved to it in two to three weeks. The Registrar’s Office has been testing the new student information system. By March 1 they hope to go live with two parallel systems. Data will be entered twice, both in the old and in the new systems. A plan is in place for the transition to the new system; this will require some staff changes and affect how staff will use their time.

The Music Department will start using live parallel systems at about the same time, and International Studies will follow suit this summer. Interfaces will also be uploaded for the Admissions and Alumni Offices, and a web interface will go up this summer that will change the way students, faculty and parents access information. Plans are to cut off the old system in September, after the tenth day of the new term. Cisar also reported that, at the end of Interim, seven faculty members piloted the on-line submission of grades, a procedure that will be implemented more broadly next fall.

Matt Richey reported that a transcript has actually been run on the new system, though the result was not entirely correct. The new hardware is in place: smaller (about the size of the podium) and faster (140-150 times faster than the old computer system). A task force comprised of Matt himself, Mary Cisar, Margaret O’Leary, and some students will work on a document—which they hope to present by the end of this semester—articulating a detailed proposal for a new registration system. The enhanced registration system will use the web more efficiently, and help to reduce the level of stress associated with our current system of registration. In closing, Richey expressed gratitude to members of the IT staff who are working closely with them on this project.

Spring Sports Schedule

Wes Pearson moved for approval of the spring sports schedule. Seconded. After some discussion of the golf schedule, and conflicts with classes, the motion was approved.

Survey and Binder Project

Kathy Chadwick reported that tabulation of the results for the recent customer satisfaction survey is nearly complete. The response rate was over 40 % and will provide valuable feedback for the thirteen departments surveyed. A summary version will be presented to the regents when they meet on campus next week, and general results will be shared with the community as a whole later.

Jeff Allen reported on the new binder project for Admissions. This is an attempt to consolidate all summer mailings to incoming students in one binder. The consolidated information should ready to mail by June 15 of the student’s senior year in high school. Kurt Stimeling displayed a binder from Colorado College. In response to questions, Allen said that the cost of the project should be equivalent or less than that of our current procedure. Stimeling reported that the first year the binder was used at Colorado College they enrolled 30 more students than they had the previous year. There will be a meeting about the project at 2:00 on February 24 in the Viking Theater.

Dean’s Remarks

Dean May complimented David Booth on his judicious choice of words. Ancient masters of rhetoric such as Quintilian or Cicero would have approved. He joined President Thomforde in welcoming back those returning from abroad, including Eric Lund, our newly-appointed Director of International Studies. (Apparently, the first thing he did when he got the job was to leave the country.) He also welcomed back those returning from sabbatical leave, and congratulated three faculty members on completing a Ph.D: Paul Niemisto, Jamie Schillinger, and Stephen Dyson. He reported that the college is almost at the end of the current tenure-track hiring cycle; there are two positions yet to fill. So far we have attained our top choices. He thanked the Tenure and Promotion Committee for their work. The Board will consider the recommendations when they meet on campus on February 16-17. In closing he mentioned some up-coming events: Jolene Barjasteh’s Melby lecture on February 24, John Barbour’s Marty Chair Inaugural Lecture on March 1, and the NCAA Wrestling Meet the first weekend in March. Volunteers willing to help with this event should contact Cindy Book.

Announcements

DeAne Lagerquist expressed her pleasure with the revision to the nursing major: a creative continuation of an excellent program. She requested that before receiving the hockey schedule we might have a general conversation abut the relation between sports or other activities and the academic class schedule.

Kris MacPherson announced that applications for faculty development grants for scholarly and artistic activities, as well as for curricular development, are due February 25. Guidelines are posted on the web

Matt Rohn announced a Leraas event on February 19, the Africana Colloquium, conversations about art and objects in everyday life, as well as the opening of Teresa Church’s exhibit, Quilts and Poetry, on the evening of February 18.

Steve Soderlind announced the Globalization and Social Responsibility Conference on February 17-19 and, on a consonant theme, the new theater production, Nickel andDimed.

Steve McKelvey, a member of the task force reviewing the physical education requirements, announced a forum on February 24.

The Admissions Office still needs volunteers to help with Scholars’ Day on March 5.

Open Agenda

There were no items for the open agenda.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:29

Respectfully submitted,
Vicki Lynn Harper