MEETING OF THE
President Russell Osgood called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. in ARH 302.
Approval of minutes – Russell Osgood, President
Minutes from the meeting on May 7, 2007, were approved as submitted.
Announcement – Tom Moore
Moore announced a volunteer opportunity with Kids Against Hunger on September 30 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Those interested in forming a faculty team should contact Moore.
Introductions – President Osgood
President Osgood introduced the following new administrators:
Kathleen Powell, Associate Dean/Director of Career Development & Graduate Service
Charlie Powell, Director of Development, College and Alumni Relations
Elena Bernal ’94, Special Assistant to the President for Diversity & Achievement
Seth Allen, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid
Introductions – Jim Swartz, Vice-President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College
Dean Swartz recognized four faculty members formerly in temporary positions who have converted to tenure-track positions: Lee Running (Art), Asani Seawell (Psychology), Stephen Sieck (Chemistry), and Shawn Womack (Theatre and Dance). Swartz then introduced faculty members new to Grinnell. There are 11 new tenure-track appointments and 19 new term appointments. Finally, Swartz introduced the Noyce Visiting Professors, Fermin Capitan-Vallvey (Chemistry) and George Cobb (Mathematics and Statistics).
Introduction of International Scholars – David Harrison, Director, Center for International Studies (CIS)
Harrison encouraged faculty members to utilize the Center for assistance with travel abroad and for assistance in bringing international speakers, scholars, and artists to campus. Harrison introduced Richard Bright, Director of Off-Campus Study, and visiting international faculty: Tong Yali (Chinese & Japanese), Wang Yunjun (Political Science), and Chang Jinhwa (Chinese & Japanese).
The CIS will hold a welcome reception for all international guests on Friday, September 7, at 4:15 p.m. in Mears Lounge.
There will be a CIS Interest Group meeting on Friday, September 7, at noon in ARH 302. The Center’s advisory board will be elected at that meeting.
The Center is assembling a database detailing faculty members’ international expertise and experiences. A note to all faculty members concerning this database is forthcoming.
Announcements – Dan Reynolds, Director, Center for the Humanities
Reynolds invited faculty to participate in this year’s faculty seminar which meets weekly on Wednesday afternoons. This year’s theme is “Thinking Interdisciplinarity.” The Center is bringing four scholars to campus as Distinguished Visiting Professors in the Humanities. The first of these visitors is Robert Richards, Morris Fishbein Professor of History of Science, University of Chicago. Richards will present “Darwin’s Evolutionary Theology” on Thursday, September 6, at 4:15 p.m. in JRC 101. The other Distinguished Visiting Profe3ssors are Lawrence Goldberg, Lennard Davis, and M. Jacqui Alexander. Reynolds encouraged everyone to check the Center’s webpage for additional information.
Remarks – President Osgood
• There is extensive renovation underway at 1205 Park Street. The building is being prepared to house the Center for International Studies, the Center for the Humanities, the Rosenfield Program in Public Affairs, International Relations, and Human Rights, and the Center for Prairie Studies.
• The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has tentatively indicated approval of the constitutional amendment proposed by the Midwest Conference. This should not interfere significantly with the norm of faculty governance in our conference. Emily Moore will report when this is finalized.
• Osgood thanked everyone for their assistance with the opening of classes. He recognized Kathleen Skerrett and Jennifer Krohn for their contributions toward making orientation more focused on academics.
• The Grinnell Herald Register interviewed Osgood regarding his views on the annual college rankings made by the U.S. News and World Report. Copies of this article are available from Susan Schoen. It has not been determined whether the College will participate in the boycott of the rankings.
• Nominations for Dean of the College are due September 15.
• Osgood recognized Tom Crady, Vice President for Student Services, for his years of service to the College. Crady has accepted a position as dean at Dartmouth College. Jim Swartz will chair the search committee.
• Osgood reported that he and the Board of Trustees expect a larger-then-usual increase in the base budget of the College in the next couple of years with support from the College’s endowment.
• Osgood thanked Marci Sortor and the staff in Facilities Management for their hard work on the Science Center and other ongoing campus projects. An update on these projects will be made available in September.
• The Board of Trustees attended a summer retreat in June. Osgood provided a written description of the Board’s retreat summary. Topics discussed at the retreat included:
1. Creation of a faculty in Washington, DC, which might be used for the proposed policy studies program as well as Grinnell-in-Washington.
2. Endorsement of the “no-loan promise.”
3. Enhancing the College’s profile in the area of international education.
4. Creation of an “academic venture fund” for faculty development.
5. Continued use of Mark Edwards for public relations.
6. The College’s Department of Education and minority issues in K-12 grades.
Osgood invited faculty to send comments regarding these issues and noted that, additionally. The Board of Trustees is particularly interested in hearing faculty members’ aspirations and new ideas.
Remarks - Jim Swartz
Swartz provided an update on construction and renovation of the science building. New AV equipment with a standardized, user-friendly interface is being installed in the science building, ARH, Carnegie, and BCA. Old chairs have been replaced in all but one ARH classroom. The College has a new computerized system to synchronize clocks campus-wide.
This year’s enrollment is higher than planned. In addition to a higher than expected yield from the incoming class, this appears to be a product of higher student retention and a lower number of students studying off-campus.
Swartz welcomed Kathleen Skerrett to the Dean’s Office. A chart indicating each dean’s responsibilities is available on the Academic Affairs and Dean of the College’s website.
Work on the College’s self-study for reaccreditation continues under the direction of Henry Reitz. An update will be provided later in the semester.
The Department of Education is refocusing part of its curriculum on secondary science education and English as a second language (ESL). Next year will be the final year that elementary education is offered.
Faculty Awards and Accomplishments – Jim Swartz
Keri Kornelson and Karen Shuman have been awarded a grant by the National Science Foundation.
Publications:
David Arseneault, “The Running Game: A Formula for Success,” Reedswain Books, 2007.
Will Freeman (and Scott Simmons), “Take the Lead,” 2006.
Tammy Nyden-Bullock, “Spinoza’s Radical Cartesian Mind,” Continuum International Publishing Group, 2007.
Jeremy Youde, “AIDS, South Africa, and the Politics of Knowledge,” Ashgate Publishing, 2007.
Remarks – Eliza Willis, Chair of the Faculty
The report of the Chair of the Faculty for the 2006-07 academic year has been posted on the Dean’s website. Willis previewed some of Executive Council’s agenda items for the coming school year as follows:
1. Increase efforts to make faculty salaries more in-line with peer institutions.
2. Resolve voting rights issues.
3. Determine evaluation process for EKI appointments.
4. Determine future direction of EKI.
5. Consider proposal to require departments to share departmental interim and complete review letters with colleagues under review.
6. Revision of merit review system.
7. Issues from survey on MAPs.
Willis stressed her availability to meet with divisions, departments, and individuals adding that she would personally like to focus on developing the mechanisms for faculty governance and would like to implement an increased level of faculty deliberation regarding important issues.
Announcements and New Business
Sam Rebelsky encouraged faculty to join the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), a national organization dedicated to protecting the rights of academics. Please contact Rebelsky for more information.
Willis reminded faculty that Parent’s Weekend is September 28-30. Families are invited to attend classes on the 28th. Please notify the Alumni Office if an exam is scheduled that day. Faculty members are encouraged to attend the poster session on Saturday, 9/29.
Pablo Silva announced the school board election on September 11. Please contact Silva for information regarding voter registration.
President Osgood recognized Henry Walker for his work on the Science project.
President Osgood will be delivering the Convocation on Thursday, September 6.
Scott Cook introduced Nobu Asaoka, Lecturer in Japanese, who was omitted from previous introductions.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:40 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Angela Winburn
Secretary to the Faculty