Minutes of the May 5, 2005 Faculty Meeting

President Thomforde called the meeting to order at 11:33 a.m. Pastor Benson led the opening devotions, giving thanks for the privilege of being part of the whole.

President’s Remarks

After thanking all who have been teaching or leading various parts of the College, President Thomforde waived his remarks in the interest of time. Instead, Michael Kyle reported on recruitment. As of May 5, there were 740 first-year students, the same number as last year at that time.( The target is 755-765 first-year students.) They came from 41 states; 56.5% were from Minnesota, 45% were male, 49% Lutheran, and 16% were first-generation college students. At that point, about 8.2% were multicultural. Average weighted GPA was 3.8; 27 ACT, 1280 SAT; average class rank was in the 85 th percentile.

Approval of the April 7, 2005 Minutes

Moved and approved.

Motion to graduate the Class of 2005

Registrar Mary Cisar introduced a motion that the 692 candidates for the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music who satisfactorily complete all degree requirements be awarded their diplomas with appropriate honors at Commencement exercises on Sunday, May 29, 2005; also, that those members of the Class of 2005 who have a minimum GPA of 2.00 and who come within two full (1.0 credit each) courses of completing degree requirements be permitted to participate in Commencement exercises, and that their diplomas be awarded upon completion of the remaining requirements.

Moved and Approved.

CEPC

David Booth moved CEPC 04/05-9, Statements of Intended Learning Outcomes for G.E. Requirements. The G.E. task force met through last spring and summer, and CEPC convened four working groups. The objective is to add a new focus to how we define our requirements by stating explicitly the intended learning outcomes. Further motions clarifying learning outcomes will be forthcoming. After some discussion of the criteria for proficiency, Matt Rohn moved to table the section on the Foreign Language Requirement. The motion to table was approved. Ed Langerak moved to replace “confidence” with the word “competence” in section 3 of the statement on Oral Communication. After some discussion, this motion failed. Corliss Swain raised questions about the intended audience for the guidelines. David Booth replied that we ourselves, the faculty, are the principal audience. The main motion was approved as amended.

Nominating Committee

On behalf of the Nominating Committee, after requesting and receiving a waiver of the seven-day rule, Deborah Anderson presented a supplemental ballot to elect representatives from Natural Sciences and Mathematics and Social Sciences to the Regents-Faculty Conference Committee, and to elect representatives from Fine Arts and Natural Sciences and Mathematics to the General Education Committee.

RPC

Bob Hanson moved RPC 04/05-3, some technical changes for revision of the Faculty Manual. This passed with no amendments. He then moved RPC 04/05-4, a proposal to revise the Faculty Manual in relation to termination of faculty positions and creation or discontinuance of departments. The main purpose of the proposed changes is to ensure that the faculty is informed and consulted before departments, and their associated tenured or tenure-track faculty appointments, are created or discontinued. After some discussion of the background of the proposal, Matt Rohn suggested a friendly amendment to the first sentence of section 4.XXA.3 (not on the green sheet), after “based on clear and convincing medical evidence,” to append the phrase “that the medical condition makes it impossible for the faculty member to meet minimal work-related levels of achievement even with reasonable disability accommodations.” After discussion of severance language (to be addressed next year), College by-laws and procedures, reasonable disability accommodations, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), RPC 04/05-4 was approved as amended. (There clearly was a quorum: 124 voting members were present.) At this point President Thomforde announced that the time was up, but a motion to extend the meeting was approved. Hanson then moved RPC 04/05-5, a proposal to revise the Faculty Manual in relation to the significance of dates and time frames. This motion passed without amendment. Finally, Hanson moved 04/05-6, to revise the Faculty Manual in relation to faculty grievance procedures. After a motion to postpone discussion of RPC 04/05-6 failed, a friendly amendment was made to insert the following phrase (after “for future action, if any” at the end of section E1): “, and its reasons for such recommendations.” A motion to add a further amendment to section D.3 failed. RPC 04/05-6 then passed, with the friendly amendment noted above.

Announcements

Since the meeting had already run overtime, announcements were curtailed. Jim Farrell reminded people to pick up the “Boxes and Walls” handout concerning Angela Lau’s Senior Social Work Project.

Fall 2005 Sports Schedule

After requesting and receiving a waiver of the seven-day rule, Wes Pearson moved the Fall 2005 Sports Schedule. This was approved. Pearson added an announcement about the Annual Science Symposium, “Emerging Infectious Diseases: The Unseen Threat,” beginning at St. Olaf on May 6.

Dean’s Remarks

Since the meeting had already run overtime, Dean May waived his remarks.

Registration Task Force

Mary Cisar offered to send the report via e-mail.

Text Requests

Victoria Beussman said she would send the requests via e-mail.

Boxes and Walls

Angela Lau spoke briefly about her Senior Project.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:50 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Vicki Lynn Harper