Present: R. Osgood, J. Brand, J. Swartz, P. Smith, D. Caulkins, W. Ferguson, B. Grey, K. Kamp, T. Moore, M. Pillado Miller (joined at 5:15), B. Voyles.

The meeting came to order at 4:20 p.m. in the Nollen House Conference Room.

Discussion of Institutional Assessment

The Dean noted that during the mid 1990s the Executive Council was very involved in developing an assessment plan with a view toward being prepared for reaccreditation with the North Central Association and was central in the approval of a plan which was very departmentally focused. The Council made itself the body responsible for overseeing implementation of that plan and it is now time for a review. The Director of the Office of Institutional Research, Carol Trosset, has joined Council today to provide an overview of progress to date and answer Council questions.

Trosset noted that the North Central Association has gotten better over time in explaining what they want to see resulting from assessment and many institutions have found that assessment is a useful tool in improving their academic programs. She noted that it is the elite private liberal arts schools are not good at doing this because they have become complacent in relation to their perceived status and ability to recruit the best students. She has circulated two documents to Council members prior to this meeting.

B. Voyles noted that it is clearly the view of the majority of faculty at Grinnell that this is an imposed burden rather than something that can help us do a better job, but that it can actually be helpful. There was some discussion of the nature of curricular change at Grinnell. The President suggested that a full discussion of this subject be rescheduled for a later date since the agenda is very full today. Trosset asked Council what structure and with what authority she could approach the departments to gather information on progress to date. The Dean suggested that she should approach departments as agent of Council. Trosset left the meeting at 4:50 p.m.

The minutes and excerpts of the 4/25/01 were approved.

President's Remarks

The Welcome Center committee met this week to review the plan and were very pleased with it. The goal is for the new Welcome Center to be completed by fall 2002. After much review it seems certain that Fell House will need to be destroyed. The Board of Trustees is due to arrive and will take up various facilities issues, including 1)location of the heating plant on Tenth Avenue, 2)construction of three new dorms on the East Street practice fields, 3)selection of a Campus Center architect, and 4)adoption of the concept of a multi-year, flexible facilities plan.

The President handed out a sheet with College census data as reported to the Higher Education Data Service over the past three years for various classes of employees. There was some discussion of the data.

Dean's Remarks

The Dean updated Council on the status of faculty searches. He handed out a chart showing the percentage of faculty by sex and minority status in regular continuing positions over six years. Minority faculty has doubled. The ratio of men to women has remained roughly the same (60-40) over the period. He handed out departmental proposals for diversity hires in political science, human geography, sociology, and religious studies.

Discussion of Proposals for Faculty Positions

The Dean reiterated from previous meetings that the budget situation for next year. He stated that as a fraction of the budget, faculty salaries are claiming a higher and higher proportion each year.

B. Ferguson stated firmly that the faculty consider the five proposed positions in biology, English, history, psychology, statistics and an orchestra position in music as important priorities for the academic program and the faculty want to see them all funded. K. Kamp also stated that Council should approve all of these proposals. M. Pillado Miller noted that it is important to consider that as the number of faculty increases we will need to increase holdings of the Librairies and commit additional funds for fully supporting faculty scholarship and curriculum development. There was a wide-ranging and, at times, contentious discussion of various options.

B. Grey handed out a new draft College mission statement prepared by a faculty subcommittee for Council consideration and then by the full faculty.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:25 p.m.

Secretary
Karen Wiese