Minutes of the 2006 February Faculty Meeting

The meeting was called to order at 11:33 a.m.

Pastor Benson opened the meeting with prayer.

Approval of Minutes

The minutes of the December 2005 meeting of the Faculty were approved.

President's Remarks

The President shared some letters his office has received. First, he read a letter from the Director of the Peace Corps, congratulating the College for its contributions. St. Olaf College ranks eleventh among small colleges in sending its graduates into the Peace Corps.

The President then highlighted a survey of faculty attitudes. Compared with numbers from 1995 and 1999, the survey indicates improvement of perceptions: however, faculty stress has increased and satisfaction with faculty meetings has decreased.

The President reported on a letter from the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities that focused on the fate of student loan support in the federal budget. The President urged the faculty to write to their representatives and senators.

President Thomforde welcomed back those members of the faculty who have been abroad.

The President reported that the College's endowment has crossed the $260 million mark.

Order of Business

SIS Update

Mary Cisar updated the faculty on the SIS, thanking the faculty for patience during the transition and for its willingness to try out the new system. Mary Cisar expressed appreciation for the IIT team for its work: Jeff Dixon, Bob Breid, Craig Rice, Tim Isom, Mike Strand, Lois Stratmoen, and Roberta Lembke. She also thanked the staff of the Registrar's Office for its work, especially Nan Schroeder and Kathy Granquist. April registration will be a good test for the new system but that registration will maintain the arena format for registration. She also reminded the faculty to plan ahead because during February and March the Registar's Office will be preoccupied with this transition. Finally, she announced that there will be a celebration for the final transfer to the new system.

Bob Hanson asked whether the new system would permit faculty to follow numbers online during registration. Mary Cisar responded that she would find an answer.

Athletic Committee

Wes Pearson moved that the faculty accept the spring athletic schedule for 2006. During discussion of this motion, President Thomforde thanked Wes Pearson for his role in resisting a red shirt rule for Division III athletics so that student athletes are undergraduates for only four years. The motion passed.

RPC

To consider RPC 05/06-3, Anne Groton requested a waiver of the 7-day rule, which passed.

Anne Groten introduced the motion by detailing its history. The College’s lawyer and Office of the Dean of Students rewrote the version of the motion before the faculty, the Registrar and the RPC Subcommittee have agreed with the rewritten form. RPC will continue to review the status of non-educational information.

During discussion, Kathryn Ananda-Owens desired that the paragraph marked "Nota Bene" be included in the faculty manual to remind faculty of FERPA regualtions. Mary Cisar reminded the faculty that FERPA information is on the Registrar's web site.

Joanthan Hill asked whether permission is needed to access student records. Mary Cisar responded that this motion concerns non-FERPA information. Anne Groten further responded that another section exists in the Faculty Handbook that concerns FERPA.

Bob Hanson suggested to the Registrar that there could be a FERPA Frequently Asked Questions (FERPA FAQ) composed.

L. DeAne Lagerquist asked RPC to consider whether the Faculty Handbook requires a section that concerns writing recommendations. Anne Groten noted that RPC will consider this request.

Ed Langerak also requested that the paragraph marked "Nota Bene" be included in the Handbook and asked whether there is any official position regarding non-educational information. Mary Cisar responded that the Counseling Center and the Office of the Dean of Students, and the College's lawyer would need to consider this question. Anne Groton responded that RPC would consider this with those offices mentioned. She also revealed that she wrote the "Nota Bene" paragraph herself.

After discussion, the motion passed.

Provost's Remarks

The Provost welcomed the faculty back to the semester, especially those who were abroad or on sabbatical. He also welcomed new members of the faculty. Next, the Provost reminded the faculty that January 2007 is the target date for groundbreaking for the new science center which implies preparations for moving and transitional housing. Next, he commented on the National Survey of Student Engagement, highlighting three areas of concern. The survey reports that first-years consistently report a higher level of academic challenge in their first year and that they receive a supportive campus environment. He reported a third area that is upsetting to him: since 2001, the College has ranked lower in items concerning the interaction between faculty and students. He urged the faculty to consider the study and how each member might improve this interaction.

Next, he reported an initiative from the Office of the Dean of Students concerning issues of academic integrity. The Offices of the Provost and the Dean of Students will be working together to address these.

Finally, Provost May reminded all faculty of the Honor Code. He exhorted members to speak with their students about the Code in order to remind students and themselves of its importance and the place it has in the College's life.

Announcements

Bob Entenmann invited the faculty to come to the Japanese Film Festival at the Southgate cinema each Tuesday at 7:00 pm. He indicated that more information about the Festival might be found by way of the link on the front page of the College's web site.

Mary Griep announced the opening of the St. Olaf College Art Department Exhibit that opens on Friday, 10 February at 5:00 pm.

Open Agenda

President Thomforde thanked faculty members for their congratulations and support for Kathy Chadwick's and his wedding.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:14pm.

Respectfully Submitted,

Gregory A. Walter

Secretary to the Faculty