Faculty Meeting March 14, 2024
Quorum was established at 163 attendees.
Call to Order
President Singer called the meeting to order at 11:40 AM and wished the attendees a Happy Pi Day.
Opening Prayer – Katie Fick, Associate College Pastor
Pastor Fick shared an insight from My Grandmother’s Hands (Resmaa Menakem, 2017) regarding the power of collective humming. She invited us to hum from deep in our diaphragms collectively prior to a brief prayer.
Approval of the February 8, 2024 Faculty meeting minutes
Minutes voted on and Approved, Yes: 142, No: 3, Abstain: 9
Consent Agenda
Curriculum Committee Resolution 23/24-08 – New Course Proposals – Art 257-The Expanding Renaissance; BUS 266 – Business Modeling in Excel; CHEM 363 – Environmental Chemistry; CHEM 381 – Biophysical Chemistry; GSS 175 – Introduction to Trans Studies; GSS 255 – Hip Hop Feminism; HIST 111 – History of Witchcraft in Europe; HIST 233 – Sexualities & Empire; KINES 291 – Topics in Kinesiology; REL 268 – The Ethics of War.
Curriculum Committee Resolution 23/24-09 – Modifications to January Term Policy
Curriculum Committee Resolution 23/24-10 – Posthumous Degree Policy
Consent agenda voted on and Approved, Yes: 149, No: 3, Abstain: 11
New Business
Curriculum Committee Resolution 23/24-11 – Modifications to the Intended Learning Outcomes of the Social Sciences OLE Core Requirement
Prof. Merritt (Music) briefly explained the nature of the OLE Core and noted that Social Sciences is the first OLE Core attribute to be reviewed and modified since the program’s adoption. Future review and modification will follow the workflow established for Social Sciences.
Prof. Ziegler-Graham (MSCS) further noted that this modification came out of the experience of a recent scoring workshop. Scorers concluded that the Social Sciences OLE Core standards were too rigorous for students experiencing a first/only social science course. There was no further discussion.
Resolution voted on and Approved, Yes: 142, No: 4, Abstain: 11
Curriculum Committee Resolution 23/24-12 – Modifications to the Russian Area Studies Major and Discontinuation of the Russian Language Major
Prof. Merritt introduced this resolution, noting that world languages is a distinctive and important element of a St. Olaf education, even compared to its role at other liberal arts colleges. Presently, we have a Russian Area Studies major and a Russian Language major. The proposed change would not alter Russian language offerings. Instead, the change was proposed in response to a variety of factors, including the current infeasibility of studying abroad in Russia (a requirement of the Russian Language major).
Prof. Swain (Philosophy and Dept. Chair of Russian Language and Area Studies) further described the process leading up to this proposal. She noted that the proposed changes are designed to stoke and respond to interest in English-language Russian courses; increase flexibility; and align with other language/area majors at St. Olaf and Russian majors at other liberal arts colleges.
Prof. Cherewatuk (English) asked whether there would be a new tenure-line hire in this area. President Singer responded that the process of deciding which tenure-line hires will occur next year is underway. She noted that 15 hires were made both this year and last year and expressed confidence in our current process. At this point, she was not able to answer regarding hiring of a tenure-track faculty line in Russian.
Prof. Schillinger (Religion and Middle East Studies) shared that he supports the proposal for administrative reasons, but expressed concern about the study of Russian at St. Olaf. He expressed hope that we will remain committed to Russian and feels that there is a retraction of interest/support for the Department and the area of study. He observed that there are no tenured or tenure-track faculty in the Department. President Singer responded that, generally speaking, such imbalances in staffing can be interpreted as a direct response of Covid and noted that Provost Sortor and her team are currently working on rebuilding tenure lines.
Prof. Hofrenning (Political Science and Environmental Studies) expressed strong support for the continuing teaching of Russian at St. Olaf. He noted that demand for Russian courses matters, but, at a liberal arts college, we teach things because they are important, not just because there is demand.
Prof. Medina (Spanish) shared that it is hard for her to imagine how this Department will look without any tenured lines in Russian. Prof. Merritt responded that he understands these concerns, but that this matter is not the one we are voting on. Instead, we are considering revisions to the Russian Studies majors.
Prof. Halpern (History) expressed support for offering critical language programs (as defined by the US State Dept.) at St. Olaf College. Russian is a critical language and elimination of instruction in Russian would only further decrease local demand for study of this important language. Prof. Merritt rejoined that we should remind first-years to take Russian courses because they lead to remunerative and stable employment.
Prof. Kucera (Art and Art History and Dean of IGS) noted that the new proposal creates a track specifically for students interested in pursuing upper-level Russian classes. This allows us to offer upper-level Russian classes only when students need/want to take them. She also reminded those present that Prof. Kuxhausen (History) is a tenured member of the Russian Department.
Resolution voted on and Approved, Yes: 120, No: 19, Abstain: 20
Faculty Governance Resolution 23/24-07 – Faculty Chairperson pro tempore
Prof. Groton (Classics) introduced the Resolution by way of an entertaining reference to Pi Day and a request that faculty continue to share a piece of the pie when it comes to shared governance. She observed that, if the resolution is approved, a Faculty Chairperson Pro Tempore will be selected shortly.
President Singer noted her full support for this Resolution and expressed confidence that the resolution is aligned with faculty bylaws.
Resolution voted on and Approved, Yes: 153, No: 5, Abstain: 4
Prof. Groton greeted the passage of this Resolution by offering a reading of her signature classical allusion, included, as usual, in the written FGC report: “antae molis erat Romanam condere gentem.” (Vergil, Aeneid 1.33). Translated, this passage reads: “So great an effort it took to establish Rome as a nation.”
Faculty Governance Resolution 23/24-08 – To Revise Faculty Manual References to Academic Freedom
No further discussion took place following Prof. Groton’s brief introduction of this Resolution.
Resolution voted on and Approved, Yes: 146, No: 5, Abstain: 6
Faculty Governance Resolution 23/24-09 – To Endorse Statement of Principles
Prof. Groton noted that our vote on this resolution only pertains to the Statement of Principles, not to the extensive FAQ appended to it.
Prof. Kwon Dobbs (English) thanked those who assembled these Principles and observed, as a poet, that artistic freedom is not explicitly addressed in the document. Prof. Casson (Political Science) replied that artistic freedom has been considered by the subcommittee, that it is explicitly addressed in the faculty manual, that the FAQ addresses artistic freedom, and that the current Statement and the AAUP documents giving rise to it implicitly address artistic freedom. He opined that this Statement is oriented toward shaping of a culture of academic freedom and is inclusive of all types of expression, not only research.
Prof. Becker (Economics) asked whether the bold type in the Statement will be retained if and when the Statement is added to the faculty manual. Prof. Casson responded that this Statement will not be added to the faculty manual, but reassured the faculty that it will not disappear and that it will be made available on the St. Olaf website in a stable way. Formatting issues will be addressed at that point. President Singer added that this matter provides an example of ongoing College efforts to put together a website centralizing College policies and statements currently stored in different places.
Prof. Fuerstein (Philosophy) asked whether the President is supportive of the Statement and how the principles enumerated in it will come into play in conflict resolution around academic freedom concerns. Pres. Singer responded that she not only supports, but is enthusiastic about both changes to the faculty manual around academic freedom and this Statement of Principles. She continued that work around academic freedom is one of the most important things we can do at this moment in the history of higher education. Further, she noted that the Board of Regents is fully supportive of this Statement and wants to uplift and honor academic freedom at St. Olaf.
Kathryn Ananda-Owens (Music) asked how this Statement will be communicated to the Board of Regents and asked Prof. Casson whether the faculty could appeal to the Board of Regents to affirm their support of this statement in a formal way. Prof. Casson responded that the Board will vote to approve changes to the faculty manual related to academic freedom. But they have communicated to him that they view this Statement as a matter particular to the faculty and so will not vote formally on it. Pres. Singer responded that the Board’s decision to decline to consider the Statement formally reflects a reasonable and desirable unwillingness to intervene in matters of day-to-day faculty governance.
Prof. Muir (Psychology and Neuroscience) asked whether this Statement, once and if endorsed, would be shared with students. Prof. Casson responded that next steps might include assembly of an academic freedom advisory committee, which would act as a custodian of this document, train new faculty, and, potentially, share this information with students via SOAR, etc. Prof. Chapp (Political Science and Institute for Freedom and Community) noted that the IFC is fully supportive of this work and that the Student Life Committee is working on development of a syllabus statement regarding academic freedom.
Resolution voted on and Approved, Yes: 146, No: 6, Abstain: 8
Faculty Life Committee Resolution 23/24-01 – Guidelines on Remote Instruction for the Faculty Handbook
Prof. Cunningham (Philosophy) introduced the Resolution, noting that it is a recommendation for additions to the faculty handbook related to remote instruction under necessary but occasional circumstances. He shared that there is not a perception that faculty are engaging in exceptional remote teaching, but instead that the resolution is meant to respond to the greater availability of remote instruction.
Resolution voted on and Approved, Yes: 149, No: 10, Abstain: 2
Committee Reports
Faculty Life Committee – Arthur Cunningham – report
Prof. Cunningham asked us to nominate a deserving colleague for the Melby lecture
Curriculum Committee – Justin Merritt – report
Prof. Merritt made a correction to the written report: the proposal to award a posthumous degree described therein was made by a group of interested parties, not by Provost Sortor alone.
Faculty Governance Committee – Anne Groton – report
Prof. Groton noted that we will receive an email from Prof. Gittins (Chemistry) regarding our service preferences for next year.
Assessment Committee – Katie Ziegler-Graham – report
Prof. Ziegler-Graham had no further comments in addition to the written report.
Student Life Committee – Chris Chapp – report
Prof. Chapp had no further comments in addition to the written report.
Remarks by the President
Pres. Singer asked Prof. Epstein (Music) to preview our work on retention (postponed to next month). He drew attention to Provost Sortor’s written report and asked us to submit Early Alerts under the conditions described there. The more early alerts we fill out, the better. Retention is a metric of thriving, he noted. Pres. Singer also encouraged us to read Provost Sortor’s report.
Remarks & Report by the Provost
Prov. Sortor did not make any oral remarks given the absence of time to do so.
Remarks for the Good of the Order
Prof. Fuerstein reminded us that the Eunice Belgum Memorial Lectures will be delivered by Dr. Simon Critchley on April 15-16th.
Prof. Dickinson (Psychology and Neuroscience) drew our attention to workshops (advertised by email) about appreciative advising. She also, on behalf of the Wellness Committee, highlighted an email from Laura Turek about stress management.
Adjourn
President Singer adjourned the meeting at 12:30 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jake J. Grossman, Secretary to the Faculty