Faculty Council Meeting Minutes - April 25, 2008

Present: Julio de Paula, Dean of the College; Jane Hunter, Associate Dean; Cliff Bekar, Associate Professor of Economics; Ken Clifton, Associate Professor of Biology; Dinah Dodds, Professor of German; Deborah Heath, Associate Professor of Anthropology; Mervyn Brockett, Assistant to the President; and Terri Banasek, Executive Assistant and recorder.

Agenda Items:

1. Dean de Paula reported that a meeting of the arts and humanities chairs was held on April 24, at which position requests were discussed. Dean de Paula put before them the position that Faculty Council believes to be the highest priority. He suggested that only one conversion be done this year because of budgetary reasons. Dean de Paula got the sense that the chairs see the difficulty that the art department is in and would like Faculty Council to think creatively about how we get sooner rather than later to the point where these two positions are converted.


2. Faculty Council had agreed to report out on the activities of this body at the May faculty meeting. Because there will not be a meeting, Dr. Bekar will draft a written report after the minutes for the semester are completed, including information about positions requests.


3. Faculty Council discussed possible language on diversity in ads. Dean de Paula presented the following language: “Lewis & Clark is committed to preparing students for leadership in an increasingly interdependent world and affirms the educational benefits of diversity (“The Educational Benefits of Diversity,” http://www.lclark. edu/dept/about/diversity. html). We encourage applicants to explain how their teaching, scholarly and service activities at Lewis & Clark might contribute to a learning community that values diversity.” This follows the style presently used at Whitman and UPS. This could be inserted into every ad. According to the dean at Whitman, they have anecdotal evidence that this engenders more interest on the part of applicants and that pools have increased in size.

   Faculty Council discussed the benefits and disadvantages of including this language in the ads. Does it limit the pool or increase it? Dr. Clifton noted that this language makes it clear that this is an institutional commitment. Dean de Paula has not yet run this language by David Ellis; he will do so and return to Faculty Council for further discussion.



4. Dean de Paula reported that he has met with Eban Goodstein about his Focus the Nation proposal, and Dr. Goodstein understands the difficulty of launching a major institute at the College. He is most concerned about ensuring that he can host a Focus the Nation event at the College in February 2009. Regarding the Public Memory proposal, Mitch Reyes is most concerned about being sure of having the support he needs when it meets here every other year (administrative support, minor budget). Administrative support could come in the form of work-study students.

   Faculty Council agreed to give its approval to the use of the term “initiative” for both of these proposals. Dr. Heath will begin drafting language to address how future proposals are brought forward, vetted, and approved.



5. Associate Dean Hunter will circulate to the Faculty Council the review document from the English department review. She asked that Faculty Council members read it for future discussion.


6. The agenda for the next meeting will include:
1. Diversity
2. Initiative draft
3. Position requests
4. English department review
5. Setting the agenda for next year
7. Meeting adjourned at 10 a.m.

Next meeting: Thursday, May 1, 2008, 9:40-11:10 a.m.