Present: C. Hunter, D. Lopatto, E. Marzluff, W. Moyer, R. Osgood, T. Roberts, M. Sortor (for two agenda items), J. Swartz, E. Willis

The meeting came to order at 1:32 p.m. in the Nollen Conference Room.

W. Moyer moved, T. Roberts seconded, approval of the minutes and excerpts of 12/7/05. Because Council members had not received the corrections from last week, E. Willis moved, E. Marzluff seconded, tabling of the motion. The motion to table was approved.

The next Council meeting will take place at 1 p.m. on Tuesday 12/20/05.

President’s Remarks

The President updated Council on the possible move of Information Technology Services to the Forum. The Dean attended an Instructional Support Committee meeting to outline the idea and invite discussion and recommendations concerning a media and computing area to be located near support personnel. We have investigated whether moving ITS to the Forum would trigger a requirement for ADA compliance and have learned that it would not. To facilitate patron access to basement bathrooms after hours, walls would be required separating basement office and storage areas from bathroom entry areas. We are exploring the feasibility of adding a second handicapped-accessible bathroom on the main floor.

The ACM Presidential search has led to identification of three finalists who are scheduled for interviews in January.

Update on College Budget

M. Sortor gave a progress report on College budget planning for FY07. The $3 million deficit from the early phase of the planning process has been reduced to approximately $470,000 through such steps as delaying added staff positions, trimming the carpool, postponing some campus projects, and adjusting the computer replacement cycle. We are now confirming the accuracy of faculty staffing estimates for next year and are considering the possible impact were we to request a 1% non-salary reduction in budgets of all departments that have requested increases. In order to achieve a balanced budget, we may need to look at adjustments in basic budget assumptions such as a small increase in the projected comprehensive fee.

The President indicated that we still need to make room in the budget for several strategic plan items and a modest increase in student wages. M. Sortor stated that we are trying to use restricted gift funds more aggressively where feasible. Donors want their gifts to be used, and it encourages more gifts when donors can see the impact of previous gifts.

E. Willis asked whether the budget situation has had an impact on projected faculty and staff salary pools. The President stated that so far we have not had to alter the salary pool assumptions. He explained the current Trustee Budget Committee working assumptions about our goals for faculty salaries – that we aim at 100% of our peer group average salaries across all ranks. We will know soon whether recent adjustments aimed at boosting junior faculty salaries have had the desired effect, as comparative data becomes available.

The President reported that need-based financial aid is projected to increase, and the total aid pool (need and merit) grows by 7.6%. We are working toward a more controlled merit aid budget. We are projecting the same discount rate for next year as for this year, which was slightly lower than the year before.

E. Willis asked whether outsourcing of photocopying or other College services has had a budgetary impact. The President indicated that satisfaction with photocopy services has improved and costs may be slightly lower, although the growth of electronic reserves makes it hard to assess how much of that savings is due to outsourcing. Carpool satisfaction is also higher since we began using Enterprise to help with our transportation needs. Outsourcing is worth considering when there is a programmatic rationale or a change of personnel that opens up an opportunity.

Update on the Expanding Knowledge Initiative

W. Moyer summarized the activities of the Interim Advisory Board. First, they have been working on identifying new curricular areas for development, such as “peace, sustainability, and social justice” and “media and cultural studies.” Second, they have organized interdisciplinary lunches bringing people together around specific topics. Attendees at these lunches are expressing a desire for more collaborative and team teaching opportunities but are unclear about how these will work out logistically. How will resources be allocated? How much of this interdisciplinary teaching will be done by existing faculty members and how much by new hires? What is the meaning of interdisciplinarity at Grinnell? Third, the IAB has conducted a survey of departments concerning current and desired involvement in interdisciplinary teaching. The survey results reveal substantial differences in conceptions of interdisciplinary teaching, and the IAB has begun to realize that focusing on that word may be counterproductive. Better to ask “What could we do that would strengthen our curriculum?” and “How will departments and majors change to accommodate interdisciplinary coursework?” Fourth, the IAB has fostered conversations on geographical studies at the College. M. Sortor described steps that have been taken toward developing a geographical studies initiative: convening a large interest group that held two meetings, dividing into two separate groups focusing on (i) human geography and (ii) physical geography, and writing proposals for positions in those areas. The IAB will bring these proposals together and convey them to Council in time for consideration in the spring.

T. Roberts asked where the humanities would fit in a geographical studies initiative. W. Moyer responded that the human geographer may be closer to interests of humanists. M. Sortor added that we would like these early EKI positions to represent a broad range of disciplines but cannot promise that there will be a specific link to the humanities.

E. Willis observed that the geographical studies initiative builds on a long history of proposals in this area and asked what other areas are emerging as possible emphases. M. Sortor indicated that interesting ideas are developing in the arts: art and science, interdisciplinary performing arts, and visual culture, including media studies and film. Religion and politics is another emerging emphasis. T. Roberts reported on a humanities gathering involving approximately 20 faculty members considering the possibility of developing an interdisciplinary humanities major or concentration as an umbrella curricular structure for a number of other EKI proposals. M. Sortor indicated that geography has seemed particularly promising, and a geographical studies focus for early hiring under the EKI initiative may provide a model for other emphasis areas to follow and will allow more time for other groups to flesh out proposals. There may be advantages in advertising two related positions in geographical studies at the same time.

E. Willis asked whether interdisciplinary position proposals are welcome from constituencies other than the Interim Advisory Board. The President replied that they are. W. Moyer indicated that the IAB is not a screening committee for proposals but views its role as stimulating development in new areas. T. Roberts suggested the IAB might want to seek information on position proposals likely to come from non-IAB sources so those working on such proposals are aware of the geographical studies initiative and aren’t disappointed if their proposals aren’t successful this year or are delayed. The President responded that we shouldn’t discourage other proposals because they may influence proposals coming from the IAB.

M. Sortor reported that she is working with students, Joyce Stern, Ann Gansemer-Topf, and the interdisciplinary faculty fellows on planning for the second-year retreat. They have settled on the last days of fall break as the most likely time for the retreat. Students have asked that there be no readings and none of the typical student affairs presentations. They would like to see the retreat focused on thinking about their futures, including such things as the Career Development Office, Off-Campus Study, and choosing a major. C. Hunter recommended that the planners think about the timing of the retreat carefully because of the increase in fall declarations of majors by students intending to go on off-campus study programs; is fall break early enough for the retreat to be helpful to them?

Dean’s Remarks

The Dean updated Council on the status of various faculty searches.

Council Remarks

Council members agreed to hold remarks until the next meeting in order to proceed with the agenda.

Request for Unpaid Leave

Council discussed a request for an unpaid faculty leave.

Request for Mellon Postdoc

W. Moyer moved, E. Willis seconded, a motion to grant the Department of Chinese and Japanese’s request for a Mellon Postdoctoral fellow for AY 2006-08. The motion was approved.

Hiring Recommendations

Council discussed several departmental hiring recommendations.

Staffing Request

Council considered a detailed position proposal for a part-time adjunct faculty member in Japanese from the Department of Chinese and Japanese.

Librarian Search Update

E. Marzluff asked the Dean for an update on the search for Librarian of the College. The search committee met after the interviews, taking into account input from library faculty and staff, the Instructional Support Committee, Council members, and others who provided input. The Dean will write a summation of the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate to inform the President. None of the candidates would be willing to consider an offer without returning to campus for further conversations. The Dean is likely to seek Council approval of an offer, contingent on further discussions.

Candidates for Promotion to Professor

Council discussed candidates to be considered for promotion to Professor this year.

The meeting adjourned at 3:37 p.m.

Secretary
Jon Chenette