President Russell K. Osgood called the meeting to order at 4:17 p.m. in ARH 302.
Approval of
Minutes-Russell Osgood
Minutes from the August 25, 2004, meeting were approved.
Announcement
of the 2004 Educator of the Year-Chamber of Commerce Rep.
The Grinnell Area Chamber of Commerce awarded Associate Professor of Theatre Pip Gordon the 2004 Educator of the Year Award for her work in the community with Grinnell Productions, including presenting technical theatre workshops and providing funds and consultant services for GHS's new auditorium.
Strategic Planning
Presentation-Russell Osgood and Wayne Moyer, Faculty Chair
Osgood gave an informal presentation broken into three major sections: defining the current procedural situation of the development of the strategic plan, explaining the theory of the strategic plan document, and revealing the major choices communicated in the strategic plan document.
The current procedural situation is as follows: The Strategic Planning Steering Committee drafted a document that was transmitted to the Board of Trustees. In May, the Board of Trustees referred the document to Osgood for evaluation and a recommendation. During this time of evaluation, he hopes to present a draft of a final plan to students and support staff, while continuing to receive faculty and other feedback, to gain full campus insight and to eventually create a true strategic plan. There is no imminent deadline for this plan, however the hope is to reach a broad agreement on the content of the document to present to the Trustees in February.
This proposed plan is a distillation of the major recommendations of the subcommittees. Osgood discussed the positioning statement and the choice of language in the document. He invited faculty feedback. He also communicated that the Trustees intend to be kept apprised of this project, but they want the document to come from the College community.
Professor of Political Science and Faculty Chair Wayne Moyer addressed a major choice of the proposed strategic plan document. The document calls for the launching of a curricular initiative, which will require additional new faculty to allow for the development of interdisciplinary courses, strengthening of concentrations, and to reduce the need for leave replacements. Moyer emphasized that the plan heavily calls for a commitment of new resources and not a redistribution of old resources over a period of five or six years.
Osgood discussed the costing out of the strategies and also how to measure progress.
Osgood stated that the Executive Council will develop strategies to talk with faculty about the proposed plan.
Professor of Philosophy Alan Schrift asked about the expanding faculty quota of 5-12 additional faculty members in the expanding knowledge initiative in the document. Schrift asked if the faculty-student ratio would change if the student body is to increase from 1,300 to 1,500. Osgood responded that the ratio will not change.
Associate Professor of Anthropology Katya Gibel Azoulay asked about the reality of engaging in a discussion of diversity in community and curriculum when the faculty has yet to converse about the issue comfortably. Osgood responded that a definition of diversity that we are seeking to further in our programs must be agreed upon and educational objectives furthered by diversity must also be identified and articulated.
Osgood concluded the discussion with a reminder of how absolutely crucial it is for everyone to work together to get this document right so that the Trustees will look freshly at the issue of investment that should be made in the base budget of the College.
Approval of
winter sports' schedules-Emily Moore, Physical Education Committee
The 2004-05 winter sports schedule was approved.
Approval of
mid-year degree candidates for Bachelor of Arts-Jim Swartz, Dean
The mid-year degree candidates for Bachelor of Arts degree were approved.
Report from
the Faculty Organization Committee-Jon Andelson, Chair
Professor of Anthropology Jon Andelson reintroduced the Committee's functions. The Faculty Organization Committee runs elections on the spring semester, fills other committees with faculty members based on individual preferences, and occasionally addresses issues of committee structure and composition. Members of this committee are Associate Professor in Library Rebecca Stuhr, Associate Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science Sam Rebelsky, Assistant Professor of French David Harrison, and Assistant Professor of History Sarah Purcell.
Andelson announced that the Heath Professorship Committee, which was a committee seeking to bring international visiting professors to the campus, has been disbanded and reassigned to the Center for International Studies. There will be three faculty members (one from each division) to assist the International Studies advising committee of six faculty members.
Center for
International Studies' Announcements-Todd Armstrong, Director
Associate Professor
of Russian Todd Armstrong introduced the three international scholars visiting
the campus for the 2004-05 academic year.
1. Professor Michiko Nakahara of Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan, hosted by the Department of History, will teach a short course entitled "Women and the Emperor in Modern Japan."
2. Professor Verkijika Fanso of University of Yaoundé, Cameroon, also hosted by the Department of History, will teach "Central African History."
3. Professor Hein Willemse has taught at numerous institutions of higher education in Southern Africa. He will teach "Constructing Identity: the Case of South African Culture" and "The Politics of 'Miscegenation' in the United States and South Africa" with Gibel Azoulay.
Armstrong invited the faculty to attend a welcome reception on Thursday, September 23, 2004, at 4:30 p.m. in Mears Cottage to meet these valuable visitors for informal conversation. He also encouraged faculty to read upcoming mailings from the Center, including reports on South Africa and announcements about open meetings.
Remarks-Russell
Osgood
GRMC Hospital approached the College about co-running the MICA food drive twice a year, which would require a commitment of 25 bodies. Osgood expressed concern with committing others' time and asked the faculty to email him with opinions about the idea.
Remarks-Jim
Swartz
Swartz reported updates from the Registrar's Office. As of Friday, September 17 (final day for add/drop), 1,407 full-time degree seeking candidates are on-campus, compared to last year's 1,389. There are 109 students studying off-campus and 13 ninth semester students in the student teacher program in the Education Department.
Swartz also acknowledged
faculty accomplishments:
1. Professor of French Susan Ireland published Textualizing the Immigrant Experience in Contemporary Quebec. Edited with Patrice J. Proulx, Westport: Greenwood Press, Praeger Press, 2003. 256 pages.
2. Associate Professor of Physical Education Erin Hurley and Assistant Professor of Physical Education Heather Benning received an NCAA Division III Initiative Grant of $8,051 for an Advanced Mentoring Program that will assist in mentoring student athletes in the second semester of the first year through their second year.
Remarks-Wayne
Moyer
Moyer made no remarks.
Announcements
and new business
Harrison announced that the satellite voting station would be available in The Forum on Tuesday, October 5. This station will allow voting to occur early and also allow individuals to register to vote. Please pass this information on to students.
Osgood adjourned the meeting at 5:26 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Shannon C. Harman
Secretary to the Faculty