Present: Dean J. Swartz, Associate Dean P. Smith, E. Dobbs, B. Ferguson, D. Smith, B. Voyles

The meeting was called to order by the Dean at 4:20 p.m. in Nollen House.

The minutes and excerpts of the meeting of March 1, 2000 were approved.

Remarks of the Dean

The Dean recognized D. Smith for the Grinnell-Nanjing Fellows Committee. D. Smith reported that the committee met on 3/7/00 to interview five candidates. Those proposed as Nanjing Fellows by the Committee were: Ann Pezzala, Jason Stohler, Megan Williams (first alternate), Angela Crowley-Koch (second alternate). D. Smith moved, E. Dobbs seconded, that Executive Council approve the Fellows and alternates as proposed by the Committee. The motion was approved.

The Dean reviewed the status of faculty searches.

The Dean mentioned that the President will be sending out a memo regarding a lunch with faculty on March 16th to discuss the Fund For Excellence.

The Faculty Organization Committee has finished the draft of the Faculty Handbook and it will be distributed to those Council members who wish to read it and provide comment.

B. Ferguson moved, E. Dobbs seconded, approval of a proposal by the Political Science Department to make a Consortium for a Strong Minority Presence appointment for next year. The motion was approved contingent upon the Department's receipt of a satisfactory transcript.

Russian Proposal

E. Dobbs moved, B. Ferguson seconded, approval of a proposal from the Russian Department to make an offer for a one-year replacement position. The motion was approved.

American Studies

There are two action items: 1)Kesho Scott leave request; and 2)proposed reorganization of American Studies.

The Dean stated that he had received a proposal from the American Studies Department. He noted that while Council did not have approval action, they should view it as a pathway to dissolution of the Department.

Council unanimously endorsed the recommendation of the Department of American Studies to restructure the major in American Studies as a concentration in American Studies and to dissolve the Department of American Studies. The Council calls upon the President and the Dean to collaborate with the Department to initiate by the end of this academic year the necessary steps to realize their proposal.

B. Ferguson moved, D. Smith seconded, approval of K. Scott's request for leave without pay for the 2000-2001 academic year. The motion was approved.

Mellon Post-doctoral Fellowship Program

The Dean provided the context for consideration of the Mellon post-doc proposals and reviewed the status of the departmental recommendations of candidates. Originally, seven departments submitted proposals for post-docs. Anthropology has withdrawn its proposal and English and History have proposed a joint project which effectively leaves 5 proposals from which Council must approve four. Two of those proposed appointments must be in the humanities in order to satisfy the terms of the grant with the Mellon Foundation.

B. Voyles asked how much consideration should be given to different capstone models separate from the issue of quality of the proposal and proposed candidate. The Dean replied that this is not the issue in the selection of candidates to be interviewed as Mellon Fellows.

A lengthy discussion ensued.

D. Smith moved, E. Dobbs seconded, approval of one Mellon Fellow in Sociology and one Mellon Fellow in English or History. The motion was approved. D. Smith moved, E. Dobbs seconded, that Council consider the remaining proposals next week. The motion was approved.

Council Remarks

B. Voyles asked when capstone and Committee for the Support of Faculty Scholarship decisions would be made known. The Dean said the letters were in process.

B. Voyles asked about the status of the audit in the Registrar's Office. The Dean stated that the Registrar had completed his check of the records.

B. Ferguson asked for summary enrollment statistics for Council's April 1 discussion of faculty allocation. The Dean stated that it is not now possible for the Registrar's Office to provide the level of information that is being requested.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:10 p.m.

Secretary
Karen Wiese