Minutes of the March 2, 2006 Faculty Meeting

President Thomforde called the meeting to order at 11:31 a.m.

Pastor Benson opened the meeting with prayer.
Approval of Minutes

The minutes for the February 2006 Faculty Meeting were accepted.

President's Remarks

President Thomforde noted that he misreported the results of the faculty survey in the February meeting, that faculty express satisfaction with meetings and morale is high.

President Thomforde announced two forums concerning new construction on campus: Monday, 6 March at 4 pm and Thursday, 9 March during community time. Both meetings are in the Viking Theater. The president encouraged the faculty to honor the chapel time and refrain from regularly scheduling activities then. He next noted that James May would respond to the questions posed by Jonathon Hill regarding the new endowed chairs.

The President then introduced students Tova Patterson and Katie Jadin of SARN. They discussed how the faculty and SARN work together, noting that members of the faculty are non-confidential resources and therefore must report sexual assaults to the College. Faculty must report incidents to the Dean of Students Office, Human Resources, and Fred Behr. They will place information about SARN in department offices. They invited further questions.

Order of Business

CEPC

Corliss Swain moved CEPC 05/06-5 for vote. Margaret Hayford O'Leary inquired why these courses are being proposed if they have been offered before. Corliss Swain responded that they were offered under the topics and seminar rubric. The motion passed without opposition.

Kathy Gardner Thomforde moved CEPC 05/06-6. She introduced this motion, which describes the outcomes of the BTS-B requirement. In discussion, Kathryn Ananda-Owens noted that the motion referred to BTS-T in its second paragraph. As a friendly amendment, this reference was corrected to read "BTS-B." After discussion closed, the motion passed without opposition.

Jill Dietz moved CEPC 05/06-7, which proposed amendments of the AQR requirement. This motion passed without opposition.

Office of the Registrar

Mary Cisar first answered Bob Hanson's question from the February meeting of the faculty, stating that the new SIS registration system will allow one to follow the registration process from one's own office.

The Registrar's Office and CEPC will propose a five-day exam period for the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 academic years because Memorial Day is very early those years. Three exams would be held per day; Sunday would interrupt exams. Shortening the semester would get students out earlier. The Registrar will post calendars on the web and invite feedback before the April faculty meeting.

Mary Cisar finally mentioned that the Registar's Office is getting an extreme makeover, so personnel will be dispersed in various locations.

Dean's Remarks

Dean May announced that Heather Campbell successfully defended her thesis in January and offered congratulations to her.

Honorary degrees will be conferred on Binnaz and Zafer Toprak on 4 April. They will be on campus from 3 - 6 April. Each will give a public lecture and be available for class visits. Contact Wendy Allen or Shiela Crowley about class visits. Exact times will be disseminated on the College's calendar and email.

Next, Dean May addressed a question posed by Jonathan Hill and related how the recent WCAL endowed chairs were funded, selected, and named. These funds were designated for the renovation of the Boe Chapel organ and three new chairs. The endowed chairs were named for outstanding professors from the history of St. Olaf College, assistance provided by the college archivist and historian. The board selected these professors according to their accomplishments as instructors, citizens, and scholars. Those named to these chairs were considered according to the same criteria. All, the professor appointed to the chairs and the professors for whom the chairs were named, were selected because they transcend disciplinary lines. Other professors will be named to these chairs regardless of field or department as current holders of the chair retire. Academic fields and departments were not matched with the names of the chair. President Thomforde further invited suggestions for other ways to honor WCAL at the College.

Eric Nelson asked about the state of funding for the Boldt chair. Dean May responded that funding for the chair depends upon money drawn from the endowment and increased costs, such as benefits and salaries, have conspired to make funding it at its present configuration difficult. President Thomforde noted that not all of the thirteen endowed chairs at the College are fully endowed. Charles Wilson noted that the Boldt chair would likely suffer loss in the amount of release time for the faculty member who holds the chair as well as release time for Boldt seminar participants. Dean May reported that the Boldt foundation does not stipulate certain activities though there is a tradition and that they have been very pleased with St. Olaf’s use of the funding. He has spoken with the Boldt family and they reported they are not attached to any one model for the use of those funds. Mary Carlsen asked to what party one would nominate new Boldt chair occupants. President Thomforde asked that such nominations be made to the dean's council and the president would then act on them. Kathryn Ananda-Owens asked where one should direct comments about these situations. Dean May asked that comments be given to the President and the Dean's Office.

Matt Rohn asked how positions are funded for the Great Conversation. Dean May responded that the FTE's for teaching in the Great Conversation or other programs come out of the total FTE and that in most programs there is an FTE set aside.

Announcements

Matt Richey announced that a salmon colored sheet would be distributed about RPC's proposed restructuring of committees. RPC will also consider the salary distribution formula. RPC will also hold a few public forums on the restructuring of committees, which he will announce in the near future. He further noted that RPC would distribute its documents electronically. Several current department chairs noted that this might shift printing costs to departments so several faculty members suggested that the a document projector be present at meetings of the faculty so all could see the text of the motion under question without printing out motions.

The meeting adjourned at 12:22 pm.

Respectfully Submitted,

Gregory A. Walter