{"id":10197,"date":"2024-03-04T11:35:35","date_gmt":"2024-03-04T17:35:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/provost\/?page_id=10197"},"modified":"2024-03-04T13:22:20","modified_gmt":"2024-03-04T19:22:20","slug":"minutes-of-the-st-olaf-faculty-meeting-of-february-8-2024","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/provost\/minutes-of-the-st-olaf-faculty-meeting-of-february-8-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Minutes of the St. Olaf Faculty meeting of February 8, 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Faculty Meeting February 8, 2024<\/strong>
Quorum was established at 147 attendees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Call to Order<\/strong>
Provost Marci Sortor called the meeting to order at 11:35 AM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening Prayer \u2013 Matthew Marohl, College Pastor<\/strong>
Pastor Marohl offered a prayer in the memory of Kaitlyn \u201cEvie\u201d Torres, the St. Olaf student who passed away recently. He then gave a prayer of gratitude as we enter the new semester.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Approval of the<\/strong> December 7, 2023, Faculty meeting minutes<\/a>
Minutes voted on and Approved, Yes: 152, No: 3, Abstain: 7<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consent Agenda<\/strong>
no items for the Consent Agenda<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Business<\/strong>
Faculty Governance Committee Resolution 23\/24-05<\/a> \u2013 Faculty Manual<\/em> Revision \u2013 Equal Employment Opportunity Section 4. I.A-4.II.2.3
Prof. Anne Groton (Classics) introduced this resolution, which replaces the words \u201caffirmative action\u201d with \u201cequal employment opportunity\u201d in the Faculty Manual. This revision will not change St. Olaf hiring practices, but will simply align St. Olaf practices with the law.
Resolution voted on and Approved, Yes: 170, No: 4, Abstain: 6
Faculty Governance Committee Resolution 23\/24-06<\/a> \u2013 Faculty Manual<\/em> Revision \u2013 To Clarify References to \u201cAssociate Dean\u201d \u2013 Sections 3.II.D.c \/ 3.IV.B.5.c.v \/ 3.IV.B.7.d.iv \/ 4.III.F \/ 4.IV.A \/ 4.III.G.5 \/  4.III.G.7 \/ 4.III.K.2.i \/ 4.VII.G \/ 4.VIII.H.1 \/ 4.XII.A.2 \/ 4.XII.A.3
Prof. Groton also introduced this resolution, which clarifies references to \u201cAssociate Deans\u201d in the faculty manual. At present, there are 12 unclear references to \u201cAssociate Deans.\u201d This resolution specifies which Associate Dean is being referred to in each case.
Resolution voted on and Approved, Yes: 175, No: 1, Abstain: 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Committee Reports<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Faculty Governance Committee \u2013 Anne Groton \u2013 <\/em>report<\/em><\/a>
Prof. Groton issued a brief oral report: the FGC will propose its resolutions on Academic Freedom at the faculty meeting on March 14th  <\/sup>(not March 6th<\/sup>, as the written report incorrectly indicated). Despite Prof. Groton\u2019s laryngitis, she was able to share a brief exploration of Sophocles\u2019 account of Hermes\u2019 tortoise-shell lyre (see written report for more details).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Assessment Committee \u2013 Katie Ziegler-Graham \u2013 <\/em>report<\/em><\/a>
Prof. Ziegler-Graham (MSCS) referred us to her written report and noted that, per our new calendar, this semester\u2019s Assessment report will focus on NSSE (National Survey of Student Engagement). NSSE is administered every three years, most recently in 2023, in March-May to first-years (44% in the most recent round) and seniors (36% in the most recent round). Seniors in the 2023 round experienced an interrupted St. Olaf education due to Covid and first-years in 2023 were the first cohort assessed by NSSE to have experienced SOAR. Assessment of St. Olaf students included two specific modules: the Academic Advising Module and Inclusiveness and Engagement with Cultural Diversity Model.
Prof. Ziegler-Graham noted that NSSE facilitates a variety of comparisons of student engagement across and within institutions of higher education. With respect to most metrics, the most recent sets of results indicated stability (not much change) and similarity to peer institutions. Exceptions to these patterns are surveyed in the written report. For example, both Sense of Belonging and Academic Advising metrics sometimes differ among domestic Students of Color, domestic white students, and international students; between continuing and first-generation students; and between students reporting and not reporting a disability. Prof. Ziegler-Graham opined that, overall, the NSSE results show a few areas for improvement, but, generally, reflects that we are performing well and improving as an institution.
She also noted that artifacts associated with the Ole Core items FYS, WRR, PAR, and OEP are currently being solicited\/collected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Curriculum Committee \u2013 Justin Merritt \u2013 no report<\/em>
Prof. Justin Merritt (Music) announced that there is a shortage of OEP classes being offered next year (2024-5). As such, the registrar\u2019s office is extending the deadline to apply for OEP credit to be added to a course being offered next year. The new deadline is 15 March 2024. OEP credit can be earned alongside another OLE Core.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Faculty Life Committee \u2013 Arthur Cunningham \u2013 <\/em>report<\/em><\/a>
Prof. Arthur Cunningham (Philosophy) reminded us of two deadlines (also noted in his report). Applications for the next round of Professional Development Grants are due March 11th<\/sup> at noon. These grants will cover work to be done between June 1st<\/sup> and September 31st<\/sup>. Furthermore, nominations for the next Melby Lecture are due April 9th<\/sup>.
The recipient of the 2023-4 Social Justice Award recipient was announced as Rehanna Kheshgi (Music). Prof. Cunningham shared some brief highlights from Prof. Kheshgi\u2019s work and encouraged us to attend the lecture she will give in association with receipt of this award on April 16th<\/sup> at 7:30 PM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Student Life Committee \u2013 Chris Chapp \u2013 <\/em>report<\/em><\/a>
Prof. Chris Chapp (Political Science) drew our attention to the Committee\u2019s recommended syllabus statements, which have been updated for this semester with student input.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remarks by Assistant Dean of Academic Advising \u2013<\/strong> Shelly Dickinson<\/em>
Prof. Shelly Dickinson (Psychology) gave a brief set of advising updates. These included:
A reminder to send a welcome back email to advisees.
Notice that emails will go out to all juniors and seniors who have not gotten OEP credit (and their advisors) reminding them to prioritize this.
Advisors should also make sure that all of their students are registered for four credits (or if they are not, don\u2019t wish to be).
Anyone interested in being part of the summer registration team should email Prof. Dickinson.
Workshops on Appreciative Advising are forthcoming. Prof. Dickinson also gave us a brief preview of this practice, which premiered in 2008 as a strengths-based framework for advising drawing on appreciative inquiry theory. This advising framework includes six phases, which already may be a part of many advisors\u2019 practices:
Disarm (creates a welcoming environment and builds rapport)
Discover (draws out information about student strengths and passions)
Dream (helps a student formulate a vision and develop their plans)
Design (student and advisor devise a concrete, incremental, achievable goal)
Deliver (supports student as they follow through on or fall short of their plans)
Don\u2019t Settle (challenges students to raise expectations and go further)
Departments interested in Appreciative Advising can reach out to Prof. Dickinson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remarks by the Faculty Representative to the Board of Regents \u2013 <\/strong>Doug Casson<\/em>
Prof. Doug Casson (Political Science) was not able to file a written report in advance because the Board of Regents meeting was just held last week. Prof. Casson and Representative-elect Prof. Anthony Bateza (Religion\/REGS) attended this meeting, which took place in Palm Springs. One finding from this meeting was that, while the comprehensive fee for attending St. Olaf has increased in recent years by roughly $30,000 (to $74,000 for the coming year), net revenue per student has not increased. New approaches to increasing revenue were discussed. Additionally, Prof. Chapp (Political Science) reported to the BOR on polarization on campus and his work building bridges via the IFC. Finally, a group of faculty and administrators worked with the BOR in a plenary on strategic planning to reflect on the College\u2019s future. Academic freedom emerged as a critical theme across discussions at the BOR meeting and concrete developments with respect to this theme are forthcoming as the FGC prepares its report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remarks & <\/strong>Report<\/strong><\/a> by the Provost<\/strong>
Provost Sortor referred us to her written report and noted that the Board of Regents had voted to confer tenure and promotion to the rank of Associate Professor on 10 individuals:
Jessica Benson (Psychology)
Menevis Cilizoglu (Political Science)
Anne Gothmann (Environmental Studies and Physics)
Colin Harris (Economics)
Kyle Helms (Classics)
Kiara Jorgenson (Environmental Studies and Religion)
Rehanna Keshgi (Music)
Allison Luedtke (Economics)
Emery Stevens (Music)
Livi Yoshioka-Maxwell (Romance Languages – French)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Board of Regents also recognized the promotions to the rank of Professor of nine individuals:
Christopher Atzinger (Music)
Adam Berliner (MSCS)
Heather Campbell (Education)
David Castro (Music)
Karen Marsalek (English)
William Sonnega (Theater)
Carlo Veltri (Psychology)
Ka Wong (Asian Studies)
Katie Ziegler-Graham (MSCS)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, Provost Sortor celebrated the many contributions of Executive Assistant to the Provost and Dean of the College Kathee Hanscom, who is retiring at the end of the month. Having first served in the Music Department, Kathee joined the Provost\u2019s office alongside Provost Sortor. She subsequently mastered all elements of administration associated with her position and has always been \u201cgenerous and kind, good-humored and mature in her dealings with even the most cranky\u201d and has discharged her duties \u201cwith the highest level of integrity and care.\u201d Provost Sortor\u2019s remarks were answered with a standing ovation for Kathee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remarks for the Good of the Order<\/strong>
Mike Berthelsen (VP for Business and Finance and Chief Financial Officer) announced a new AVP for Human Resources and shared some Oracle updates, including successful completion of the first payroll period handled by Oracle. Some glitches (delayed FSA transfers, etc.) have been resolved as of today. Additional email updates on Oracle are forthcoming related to expense reports, approval of student work hours, etc. He expressed his appreciation for our patience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prof. Anthony Bateza (Religion\/REGS) reminded us about the Honest Storytelling Project, which invites community members to tell stories that have not received the attention that they are due about St. Olaf’s past and present in advance of the College’s 150th anniversary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prof. Sian Christie (Business and Management Studies) drew our attention to Registrar Ericka Peterson\u2019s email survey on the faculty calendar. She enjoined us to respond to this request for information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prof. Dale Kruse (Music) led a civic engagement class over January Term on opera creation, generating If the Rock Could Talk: A Rock Opera<\/em>. A link to a recording is available on request.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adjourn<\/strong>
Provost Sortor adjourned the meeting at 12:34 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,<\/em>
Jake J. Grossman, Secretary to the Faculty<\/em>
<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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