Present: J. Cummins, B. Ferguson, K. Jacobson, J. Meehan, R. Osgood, S. Rebelsky, J. Swartz, E. Willis.

Paula Smith was in attendance in her role as the new Dean beginning in July, 2008. Mark Schneider was in attendance in his role as the new Chair of the Faculty beginning in August, 2008.

The meeting came to order at 4:15 p.m. in room 226 of the Rosenfield Student Center.

The minutes and excerpts of April 16, 2008 were approved.

President’s Remarks

The President reviewed facilities planning for the foreseeable future.

He thanked all faculty members who have participated in recent activities with prospective students.

He noted the Trustees will be meeting in Grinnell this week.

Dean’s Remarks

The Dean thanked Sam Rebelsky for his excellent presentation of the complex issues surrounding faculty voting to a mostly receptive audience at the most recent faculty meeting.

The Dean updated Council on the status of faculty searches.

Council Remarks

J. Cummins spoke to clarify his position, which he expressed at the last meeting, about voting in Executive Council. He made clear that it is his personal position that members should abstain from voting on matters that involve their department. He asked the Dean if this is an established practice. The Dean replied that there has been a variety of options exercised by previous members of Council.

J. Meehan suggested that the Dean reconsider the way in which professional development travel is allocated to faculty members. She suggested perhaps allocating a set amount to each faculty member over a two-year timeframe which would allow longer term planning for conference attendance, which is particularly necessary in cases where the faculty member is presenting a paper.

S. Rebelsky requested that the Dean take action to specify in the Faculty Handbook that the contract term for regular faculty is nine months, regardless of the allocation of pay periods over the calendar year.

Voting

S. Rebelsky reviewed the issues remaining from the faculty meeting discussion of proposed Faculty Handbook amendment which would clarify faculty voting rights. There was further discussion. It was decided that Rebelsky would revise the current language to specifically add term full-time faculty in voting in the faculty as a whole and continue to exclude term part-time faculty members, although some may or could be given the vote through faculty action. When revised, he will pass the document to the Dean for final review. The proposed amendment would be submitted to the full faculty for a preliminary vote at the next meeting and review over the summer and a final vote in the fall.

Position Proposals

Council continued its discussion of position proposals.

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

The meeting was adjourned at 6:05 p.m.

Secretary
Karen Wiese