Faculty Meeting Minutes

Minutes of the April 1, 2004 Faculty Meeting

 

President Thomforde called the meeting to order at 11:35 a.m. and Pastor Bruce Benson provided the opening blessing.   

Approval of the Minutes of the March 2004 Faculty Meeting. 

Moved and approved. 

President's Remarks 

President Thomforde began his remarks by reminding all that April can be rough and so we must continue to be kind and gentle.  He thanked to all faculty who supported students awarded Fullbright and Goldwater scholarships, especially Wendy Allen and David Van Wylen.   

He announced that the Class of '04 has 70% participation in their gift to the college.  The Mellon Foundation has awarded the Kierkegaard Library a 100,000 grant for their continued work. 

CEPC 

David Booth, on behalf of the Curriculum & Educational Policies Committee, moved for approval of CEPC 03/04-5, New Course Proposals for: Computer Science 125 Accelerated Principles of Computer Science; Chemistry 119 A Matter of the Environment; and Chemistry 124 A Matter of the Environment (with Lab).  Moved and approved.

David Booth, on behalf of the Curriculum & Educational Policies Committee, moved for approval of CEPC 03/04-6, Proposed Revisions to English Major Requirements.  Moved and approved. 

David Booth also announced the Mathematics Department has changed its name to the Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science.  Matt Richey spoke to this change and how it fit the present department. 

Nominating Committee 

Deborah Anderson, on behalf of the Nominating Committee, requested and received a wavier of the seven-day rule.    She provided a brief explanation and presented the Ballot for At-Large positions and those other positions that require a full faculty vote.  No nominations from the floor.  Ballots collected. 

Honorary Degree 

Alice Hansen, on behalf of the CEPC Subcommittee for Honorary Degrees, presented the name of a candidate.   Motion passed. 

Dean's Remarks  

Jim May, Provost and Dean of the College, spoke briefly of two meetings he recently attended:  The Teagle Foundation in New York; and the ACM Dean's Meeting.  ACM has received an 800,000 plus grant from the Mellon Foundation for enhancement of faculty careers for the next three years.   

In talking about April being 'a race of the finish', Dean May read from The Illiad, Book 23, and finished with three lessons:  1.  never underestimate the power of prayer;  2.  even though you are winning the race you always stand the chance of falling down and ending up with a face full of dung; and 3.  if you do end up with dung, you might still win a prize, and when you do so you will provide great amusement for your colleagues and yourself. 

Announcements 

Steve McKelvey and Ed Santurri addressed the issue of intellectual freedom on campus and  a group of conservative students disrespected for their social views.  Steve McKelvey asked  all to make a 'private introspection' on how our views might be effecting our teaching.  Ed Santurri read a prayer, Lord, deliver us,  From the cowardice that dares not face new truth,  From the laziness that is contented with half-truth,  From the arrogance that thinks it knows all truth,  Good Lord, deliver us! 

A formal deliberation on academic freedom will be planned.  Jim May would be glad to sponsor something.  Further discussion.  President Thomforde provided his thoughts and concerns about how St. Olaf has recently been represented in some of the websites. 

Further discussion.   

Meeting Adjourned at 12:20. 

Mary Sue Lovett

Faculty Secretary