Present: S. Barber, V. Brown, L. Gregg-Jolly, M. Montgomery, R. Osgood, M. Schneider, J. Swartz, R. Vetter

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

The Dean introduced M. Sortor, who stood in as secretary for K. Wiese.

President's Remarks

The President made no remarks.

Dean's Remarks

The Dean distributed copies of the announcement for the position for Associate Dean. He invited people to apply for the position and to nominate candidates.

He also distributed a note from Frank Thomas regarding the Animal Welfare Assurances Act regarding the make-up of the Institutional Review Board. The Council recommended that the Dean, the Faculty Organization Committee, and Frank Thomas work together to propose a revision of the Committee duties and that, if possible, the Faculty Organizational Committee take on the duties of selecting the Institutional Review Board members rather than the President as is current policy. Council briefly discussed the procedure for selection of IRB members. J. Swartz will look into whether the process of selection may be changed.

Dean Swartz reported that, as of noon today, all foreign faculty members had received their visas. He went on to identify faculty on medical leaves this semester.

The Tutorial Committee will bring the new Tutorial end-of-course evaluation form to the September 15 faculty meeting.

Last year, Council requested that Dean Swartz look into revisions of the Faculty Handbook appendices. He will bring a proposal for revisions to Council in the near future.

Council Members' Remarks

S. Barber inquired into the status of SFS. President Osgood replied that there was a group looking into options for early retirement and the feasibility of extending health insurance (or helping with health insurance) to cover the gap between retirement at, say, age 62 and Medicare at 65. The Dean noted that, at present, there is no definition of retirement in the Faculty Handbook. For those who go on Senior Faculty Status the SFS contract defines retirement as occurring at the end of the contract. Reconsideration of the minimum retirement age should also lead to a reconsideration of the age at which faculty could go on to SFS. The Dean reflected on whether 62 years might be a better minimum age for SFS.

M. Schneider distributed a memorandum from Sam Rebelsky on proposed additional curricular requirements for students. Council will discuss this at a later time.

R. Vetter asked whether there might be a Divisional Representative's handbook and calendar, rather like the Chair's calendar provided on the Dean's Office website. J. Swartz volunteered the services of the Dean's Office in developing one.

Election of Representative to the Budget Steering Committee

L. Gregg-Jolly volunteered to serve. Council approved unanimously by voice vote.

Election of Representative to the Diversity Committee

R. Vetter moved to elect S. Barber as representative to the Diversity Committee. V. Brown seconded. Council approved unanimously by voice vote.

Consideration of Proposals for Searches to Fill Faculty Positions

Writing Lab
V. Brown moved to approve the search. S. Barber seconded. The motion was approved unanimously by voice vote. Dean Swartz asked if the Executive Council should participate in the on-campus interview process as it does for tenure-track searches. All agreed.

Diversity Issues and Faculty Searches
The Dean noted that last year the College lost two faculty of color through resignation. Both had been hired in a "non-regular way." Council discussed the benefits and drawbacks to keeping the position a Diversity Appointment. Council proceeded to discuss the process for making Diversity Appointments. M. Schneider requested information about the number of faculty of color in each division at Grinnell College.

S. Barber left the meeting at 5:55 p.m.

There was discussion of other matters related to diversity appointments and their possible impact on future position requests in departments who receive them.

President Osgood left the meeting at 5:57 p.m.

The Dean will put this matter on the agenda for the next meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:00 p.m.

Respectively submitted
Marci Sortor