Minutes of the December 2005 Faculty Meeting

The meeting was called to order at 11:33 am.

Pastor Benson opened the meeting with prayer.

Approval of Minutes

The November faculty meeting minutes were considered; corrections were proposed and the minutes accepted as corrected.

President's Remarks

The President encouraged the faculty in its work in the last weeks of the semester.

Order of Business

CEPC--Honorary Degrees

Kathy Chadwick moved that Dr. Binnaz Toprak, chair of the political science department, Bogazici University in Istanbul, Turkey, and Dr. Zafer Toprak, director of the Ataturk Institute for Modern Turkish History, Bogazici University, be awarded honorary degrees for their work as internationally recognized scholars. No discussion followed; the motion passed.

Nominating Committee

Bob Hauck presented a ballot to the faculty to vote for a replacement position on FRC.

Maggie Odell asked whether the ballot was made available seven days prior to the meeting. Bob Hauck stated that he was assured that it was.

RPC


Matt Richey asked for a waver of the seven-day rule of RPC 05/06. It was seconded and passed. Anne Groton moved RPC 05/06. After introducing the document, it passed.

Matt Rohn asked RPC to include summarizes of changes or additions in its proposed documents.

Matt Richey announced the next topic of RPC: research on human subjects. He then spoke briefly about the larger concern of faculty governance and RPC's proposal, inviting questions and conversation. Three areas of concern emerged in the discussion: the responsibilities of each of the four areas, the role of the College Council, and the nature of the transition from the current governance to its future incarnation. First, Mark Schelske and L. DeAne Lagerquist addressed how the proposal concerns student life. Matt Richey responded that though there are committees who concern themselves with student life, it is clear that faculty governance does have an effect on student life. Second, Kathryn Ananda-Owens, Mark Schelske, and Alice Hanson asked about the proposal's relationship to College Council. The College Council does not figure into this proposal because its existence stems from the President's office, as emphasized by President Thomforde and Matt Richey, stating additionally that redundancy is sometimes important. Third, L. DeAne Lagerquist, Mark Schelske, Karl Fink, and Dan Hofrenning asked questions about the transition to this proposed form of governance. A related question was raised by wondering how there are appointments to these committee areas and how ad hoc committees are formed and who has the authority to create such committees. Matt Richey responded that this all must be sorted out. The current committees will be important in the transition in determining their responsibilities. Kris MacPherson, Robert Entenmann, and Dan Hofrenning urged RPC to consider the history of committees and their responsibilities, especially the responsibilities charged senior members of the faculty. Matt Richey concluded by noting that RPC will be asking in the spring for an endorsement of this process. Thus, the process will begin in the 2006-07 academic year--those committees will organize around the areas proposed. RPC will do the writing and synthesis with a view to implement the proposal in the 2007-08 academic year.

Provost May's Remarks

Provost May urged the faculty to practice charity in the last weeks of the semester. He announced that there were four proposals for the theme of the next academic year. Since the four themes proposed relate to each other well, the next theme will focus on global citizenship for the next two years with a subtopic each semester. Next, the he reported that planning for next year will include less FTE, because of many factors. The Bush Foundation awarded funding to the College. Funding for CILA will continue for the next three years. Finally, the Provost announced that Gregory Walter successfully defended his dissertation and that Anton Armstrong was awarded the Robert Foster Cherry Award.

The faculty's parliamentarian, Kathryn Ananda-Owens, asked whether the seven-day rule was met or not to present the nominating committee's ballot to the faculty. The President asked if there was a motion to wave the seven-day rule retroactively. Such a motion was made; it was seconded, and passed.

Announcements


Jo Beld announced the results of the National Survey of Student Engagement. She also announced that the initiative to study GE outcomes is underway and that the Teagle grant supported a study of first year students.

Mary Griep announced that Heather Brooks-Shirey successfully defended her dissertation and that the American Institute of Architects recognized the Dittmann Center for its distinction in architecture.


Jeanine Grenberg announced that Colin Wells and Jeff Schwinefus were awarded release time grants for the next academic year.

The meeting adjourned at 12:33 am.

Respectfully Submitted,


Gregory A. Walter