Present: C. Hunter, D. Lopatto, E. Marzluff, W. Moyer, R. Osgood, T. Roberts, J. Swartz, E. Willis, J. Chenette (secretary)

The meeting came to order at 4:17 p.m. in the Nollen Conference Room.

President’s Remarks

No remarks

Dean’s Remarks

The Dean distributed a position description for a temporary Reference and Instructional Librarian position. Moyer moved approval. Lopatto seconded. Passed unanimously.

The Dean distributed a proposed process for selecting SEPCs for the purpose of student input into contract renewals for Librarians. Lopatto moved approval. Moyer seconded. Passed unanimously.

The History Department is working on an ad for a two-year term position to continue to replace Marci Sortor. The Department is considering proposing that the position, for various staffing reasons, be advertised as possible. The President noted that such an approach would require Frank Thomas¹s approval. A member of Council expressed discomfort with advertising this position as "possible." The Dean will talk to Frank Thomas and Victoria Brown about these concerns prior to giving the Department the go-ahead to propose the position as possible.

The Dean reported that our electronic job ad in the Chronicle has received 3736 hits – a comparatively large number, suggesting a high level of interest.

Council Remarks

Willis indicated that members of the Diversity Steering Committee (Erin Duran, Sollie Flora, Anna Gilbert, Raquel Greene, Kristin Lovig, Nate Monaghan, Ralph Savarese, Michael Sims, Frank Thomas, Marlys Upah, and Eliza Willis) held an organizational meeting recently and are getting underway with their work.

Hunter noted that there were security announcements about thefts from backpacks last year but that the rule is still in place that students must leave backpacks outside the dining halls. He asserted that the College should reconsider this rule, weighing the potential theft of food against the potential theft of belongings from backpacks. The President agreed to look into this and pointed out that the new dining facilities in the Rosenfield Center will have assigned space for backpacks.

Strategic Plan Implementation Draft

The President indicated that this draft is the same one the Trustees have in their packets for their upcoming meeting. After the Trustee meeting, he plans to post a version on the Web that reflects comments from Council and others and that he will announce to the faculty, introducing it at the October 3 faculty meeting. He described the process through which the implementation of the Strategic Plan will be assessed. He expects to write an annual report outlining progress in implementing the plan and assessing its success. This will be widely distributed and considered by a Trustee committee.

The President led a discussion of detailed comments on the plan by Council members. [The results of this discussion are reflected in the revised version of the plan dated September 27, 2005.]

Center Reviews

The Dean asked Council members how they would like to organize their discussion of the Center reviews. Lopatto indicated that he would appreciate assistance in understanding the role of the Centers and their relationship to the Expanding Knowledge Initiative. Moyer suggested three questions to guide discussion of the Centers:

1. What do the Centers really do?
2. Are the things done by the Centers essential to the mission of the College?
3. Could those things be accomplished without the Centers?

Hunter suggested that Council might consider what the difference is between the Rosenfield Program and the Centers. Roberts suggested that rather than focusing on the purpose of the Centers as a whole, Council should focus on the role of each of the Centers individually. Willis suggested that the discussion be divided into topics specific to each Center and topics common to all Centers (administration, leadership, etc.)

The Dean suggested that Council should consider the Centers one at a time, and the following order was agreed upon: Center for International Studies (9/28), Center for Prairie Studies (10/5), and Center for the Humanities (10/12).

Willis suggested an additional question beyond the three proposed by Moyer:

4. Should the Centers do something that they are not already doing?

The Dean formulated the following essential question:

5. What contributions are the Centers making, and is that contribution essential?

Moyer suggested one more question:

6. Should there be adjustments in the things the Centers are currently doing?

After discussion, the Council finalized the questions for discussion in the Center reviews as follows:

1. What are the major contributions that the center is making and how important are they to the mission of Grinnell College? Are they essential, important, or unimportant?

2. Are these contributions different from those of other program at the College?

3. Are there important contributions that the center could make which it is not now making effectively

4. What adjustments should be made in the operation of the center?

Department Reviews

Hunter asked what role Council plays in discussions of the German and Theatre Department reviews from last year. The Dean indicated that Council considers these primarily when departments ask for positions. Executive Council policy indicates that it should consider each review.

The meeting adjourned at 6:05 p.m.

Secretary
Jon Chenette