Present: R. Osgood, J. Brand, J. Swartz, H. Scott, P. Smith, B. Grey, D. Kaiser, K. Kamp, J. Mohan, J. Mutti, B. Voyles.

The meeting came to order at 4:15 p.m. in the Nollen House Conference Room. The minutes and excerpts of 10/10/01 were approved.

President's Remarks

The President noted that the Treasurer had done a study of composite fee increases for Grinnell and its peers for one, five, and 10 years. The data show that our rates of increase have remained very close to the other schools over time.

He noted that we are involved in a planning mode for the construction of new residence halls. It is planned to build five new dorms north of 8th Avenue on East Street. The Trustees are committed to building at least three dorms in the near term which will add 180 beds, though it is possible that we will proceed with all five.

Dean's Remarks

The Dean distributed information on education programs at peer institutions. He noted that he had spoken with the Provost at Macalester who indicated interest in having the education program faculty at the two schools discuss possible collaboration in secondary methods.

He proposed a change in the Council meeting agenda to enable a brief report from K. Kamp on the work of the Diversity Steering Committee, and then moving into a discussion of near-term plans for long-range academic planning.

Discussion of the Affirmative Action Statement

K. Kamp reported that the Diversity Steering Committee has been working on changing the language of the Affirmative Action Statement. The proposed changes eliminate the words "employing" and "staff" that some faculty find inaccurate for the faculty, while allowing for a single statement that can be used for any position being advertised. By adding retain to the statement, the new phrasing also stresses the desire of the college to provide a good working environment and the need for it to do so.
The old equal opportunity/affirmative action statement is:

Grinnell College is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer
Committed to employing a highly qualified staff that reflects the
diversity of the nation.

The new language the Diversity Steering Committee agreed upon is:

Grinnell College is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer
committed to attracting and retaining highly qualified individuals
who reflect the diversity of the nation.

K. Kamp moved, B. Grey seconded, approval for taking the new Affirmative Action Statement to the full faculty for their endorsement and then to the President for approval. The motion was approved.

Discussion of Long-range Academic Planning

There was substantial discussion of what guidance/instruction to provide to Carol Trossett so that she can develop the survey which will be provided to the faculty in order to arrive at the set of questions for discussion within the long-range academic planning framework. Three survey design approaches were set out for discussion:

· to ask faculty to rank order a preset list of areas
· to ask faculty to respond to five open-ended questions
· to ask faculty to identify immediate priority issues-Fund For Excellence activities

Council discussed how to structure and administer the survey within a relatively short period of time so that the synthesized information is available for Mr. Haas on November 10th. A lengthy discussion ensued regarding what level of information is being asked of the faculty. The President urged Council to seek identification of the most important areas of needed change within the realm of academic program at the outset and then seek to prioritize. He also stated that this process should not be held hostage to a fixed timeframe. It was agreed that if the survey results will not be pulled together prior to Mr. Haas' visit that would not really matter since he will be consulting to Council on process, not content. There was then a discussion of the agenda for the Haas visit and the best time during that day for the open forum with the faculty.

In response to a suggestion that Carol Trosset complete before Nov. 10 a two-stage survey, culminating in a rank-order preference from faculty, D. Kaiser asked why that level of information was necessary for Council to make use of Mr. Haas, whose ostensible purpose is to advise on the process, rather than the content, of long-range
planning. The President suggested that it will be important for Haas to be able to chart paths of progress during the first session and may need some content in order to have something concrete to talk about. J. Brand suggested that specific targets need to be identified so that he can help us chart milestones that will enable the decision-making to occur on a timely basis.

D. Kaiser expressed the view that, if long-range planning leads to making difficult choices, the faculty and the college as a whole would be better served if they were not locked into preferences at the outset. Along with determining priorities, he suggested, the process should help various groups within the college community better understand the choices, rather than simply defend their own turf. Developing this level of understanding would improve the likelihood of success for the planning process, he thought. D. Kaiser stated that in order to be successful in the long-run we must take the time necessary to develop consensus among the faculty body and not co-opt their full participation. B. Grey urged Council to work to find areas which the faculty can find ownership. He hopes that this first survey process will accomplish that.

D. Kaiser suggested that Council ask open-ended questions, such as "What things are we doing well at Grinnell College?" "What things are we doing poorly?" "What things are we now not doing, but should be doing?" "What things are we now doing that we should not be doing? The President added, "What topics do you think should be covered in the planning process?" K. Kamp noted that this is similar to the process that Council undertook in special session last year and which seemed to be evocative of interesting ideas then. J. Mutti agreed that this is a good idea since it gives the faculty a chance to engage rather than simply respond.

On a different subject, the President distributed a chart which could serve as a framework for discussing the major programs funded by the Fund For Excellence. He said that if it is agreed that this is a useful framework, he will continue to develop it. D. Kaiser asked if the President had done the same type of analysis with respect to future building costs on capital projects funded by the Fund. The President stated that the Glove Factory renovation was the only full building funded by the Fund. With regard to projections of maintenance costs of future buildings this type of analysis can only be done only when the actual square footage figures is determined in a final planning process.

The meeting adjourned at 6:05 p.m.

Secretary
Karen Wiese