Present: C. Hunter, D. Lopatto, E. Marzluff, W. Moyer, T. Roberts, J. Swartz, E. Willis

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

The minutes and excerpts of 4/05/06 were approved.

President’s Remarks

The President was traveling.

Dean’s Remarks

The Dean updated Council on the status of faculty searches.

The Curriculum Committee has produced substantial revision of the Catalog dealing with Independent Study which will clarify and rationalize the various types of independent work which may be undertaken by students for credit. He noted that this draft proposes a limit of 12 credits for independent study which may be applied toward graduation.

He distributed a document which he had drafted with Jon Chenette proposing to establish a two day celebration of student accomplishments at the end of each year. The Committee on Academic Standing will be discussing it soon.

The Dean reported on his meetings in New York City earlier in the week. He met with program officials at the Ford Foundation to discuss diversity issues in higher education He also attended a meeting at the Mellon Foundation to talk about their significant investment in the liberal arts over the past decade on the eve of the departure of President Bowen.

The Dean distributed a list of agenda items for the April 17 faculty meeting and asked Council to prioritize them in view of limited time scheduled for the meeting.

Council Remarks

E. Willis reported on the wonderful experience of having Anthony Farley on campus this week. She has heard from many who would like him to come back to teach a three-week course next year.

Willis requested clarification of the ways in which administrative staff, who are tasked with making travel arrangements for candidates coming to campus for interviews, may book this travel. The Dean noted that staff are free to use the services of Hamilton Travel or may use a College credit card and book the travel online.

Diversity Policy

E. Willis would like to talk with Brad Bateman and the President about the draft document dated April 2006 and its relationship to the Diversity Statement. The Dean noted that the document that he distributed is limited to employment practices at the College. W. Moyer asked that comments from Council on the contents of this document be sent to E. Willis for her discussion.

First Round EKI Staffing Proposals

M. Sortor joined Council at 5:15 to present an overview of the discussion of EKI proposals received and reviewed by the Interim Advisory Board. She distributed the proposal guidelines that were distributed to the faculty several months ago. She also distributed a brief report on the IAB review of the proposals.

The Interim Advisory Board held a discussion of faculty position proposals on
April 7, 2006. In summary, they would like:

• to see real commitments to teaching interdisciplinary courses;
• to see communication with other potential partners; and
• to see if these positions might free up others to teach.

There was discussion.

Sortor left the meeting at 5:45 p.m.

Staffing Proposals

There was discussion of departmental staffing proposals.

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

Secretary
Karen Wiese