forum_200509
PROVOST'S FORUM
16 September 2005
This chat (having perhaps sixty people present) was "led" by Provost Kapelke. He began by noting that the change to our new academic calendar has gone well. The Provost urged faculty to pay very close attention to the tenure schedule that refers to week numbers and not dates (this is a concern due to the change in the academic calendar).
The college has seen a 4.7% increase in student enrollment. He stated this was in part due to increased retention and that our students are having good experiences at Columbia College.
The initial J-term [providing course opportunities not available during the "normal" year] will have thirteen classes though one or two have been sent back to the offering departments for modification. Dave Gerding asked if faculty teaching in the J-session could have those hours counted toward their yearly "load"; the Provost said that, for now, J-term instructors will be paid as faculty who teach during the summer (he in fact said it is good for faculty to teach periodically in the summer). The Provost also noted that he is willing to consider J-term hours into a faculty members' load for the academic year; in addition the Provost said that the J-session might be a good place to offer intensive language classes such as Spanish, French and even Chinese.
Leadership seminars that were begun in February of this year will conclude on September 23rd. Jan Garfield, Margie Nicholson and the "planning committee" are working to put together the next set of seminars.
[I HAVE ALWAYS WONDERED HOW THE COMPOSITION OF THIS COMMITTEE WAS DECIDED UPON].
There are more people who have indicated interest in these seminars than can be accommodated by the sessions. If you are interested, please contact the Provost or Associate Provost.
There was a 2010 action team meeting this morning. Information will be forwarded to the schools shortly with more widespread information to follow.
There are five Columbia College students currently enrolled at the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) this semester. Several DIT students were here last spring semester. The Provost anticipates more DIT students enrolling at Columbia College. Possibilities for faculty study abroad were noted by the Provost. Ongoing effort to build a series of relationships with international institutions was noted to allow our faculty to do professional work. Fall 2006 will see DIT faculty here for a symposia and Spring 2007 will see Columbia College faculty at a symposia at DIT.
The University of East London [visited, in part, recently by Brian Shaw and Carmello Esterrich] has a large minority enrollment and an urban mission similar to that of Columbia College. This institution is interested in programs similar to our own at Columbia and we had its Chancellor visit us this last summer. Other initiatives in Paris, Florence, Prague and Salzburg were noted and how all of these international programs continue to increase Columbia College's visibility. The Provost noted that these programs are a benefit to everyone in the college.
The Provost also announced the Game Design major was approved by the Academic Affairs Committee and the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees. Thanks are due to Dean Bartoni, Wade Roberts, Joe Cancellaro and others deserve thanks for their work. At the Executive Committee meeting of the Board, Madeline Murphy Rabb praised Dean Bartoni.
The combined MFA program between Film and Music will soon be presented also to the Board. The efforts of Gustavo Leone, Paul Hettel and Bruce Sheridan have been critical to this projected program.
The Critical Encounters Series will begin in the 2006-2007 academic year and will focus on HIV/AIDS. This current academic year will be a year of planning. The Provost wants faculty to design these seminars; there is money in the Provost's budget and also in that of others to help. No faculty will be required to include these programs in their teaching.
Colette Gaiter later asked for more information about this series. The Provost said that there will be a meeting before the end of September where the Teaching and Learning Committee will be charged to come up with topics and ideas for the series. Lott Hill will work as a facilitator for this series.
Beginning during the week of September 26th, there will be two consultants visiting the college to look at issues of academic structure, academic governance and allocation of college resources. They are William Elliott [from Marquette University] and Oliver Evans and their study will be done by the end of the year. They will be meeting with chairs, select faculty and members of the Board of Trustees.
I asked about this evaluation. The Provost noted that it is good practice for an institution to look at itself in such a manner, objectively look at our resources and study our re-structuring (since we are in the 5th year of this re-organization). He further stated that these "guests" have expertise covering ~80% of what we do. Provost Kapelke noted that what comes from this study will be first-rate.
[HOW ARE THE CHAIRS AND FACULTY WHO WILL MEET WITH THESE TWO MEN DECIDED UPON? WHY HAS THE FACULTY NOT BEEN CONSULTED AS TO WHO SHOULD REPRESENT THEM IN THESE MEETINGS?].
Rose Economou asked about the college's emergency plan. The Provost agreed that having the plan in writing for students and on-line is a good idea.
Gary Johnson asked how the college will deal with continued growth? Is there a plan in place? The Provost answered by noting that the Space Master Plan will go to the Board of Trustees at their October meeting and that there may be the possibility of increasing our ft2 by several hundred thousand. The Dean's Council has already had input into this plan; the plan will be brought to the entire school by the end of the year. Provost Kapelke noted that more classroom and student space depends on the college's ability to raise $; we should have faith in the ability of the Board of Trustees to raise this $.
Eric May followed up by asking about the large enrollment and the cost of managing these people. Eric further asked if the college would ever cap enrollment. The provost responded by noting that the answer is circular; we cannot do so until we have more money - the college's financial model is tuition driven.
[We are 89.36% tuition-driven by the way]
The Provost continued by noting the Strategic Plan does not discuss a "cap" but instead notes a 2% increase in student enrollment per year. A capital campaign will begin in 2006 or 2007. It was noted by the provost that our endowment would need to be about ten times what it currently is ($75 M) before this discussion can be had.
In Fall 2006, there will be the faculty designation of University Scholar and University Artist - only one of each will exist at a given time. These rotating positions will be for two years and will be held by Columbia College faculty having a record of high achievement and/or high promise. Selected faculty [who had been previously nominated by their colleagues, chairs or deans - but not by themselves] would receive stipends and or release time each semester. They would be expected to use some of their time as a resource for other departments by providing lectures and experiences to others within the college. These new "categories" would allow faculty to move forward with their scholarship and/or artistry. The Provost sees that this proposed program will benefit all within the college. Eric May asked who will be on the university scholar committee. The answer was Alton Miller, Suzanne Blum Malley and Ted Hardin.
[FOR SOMETHING SUCH AS THIS PROPOSED UNIVERSITY SCHOLAR/ARTIST PROGRAM, THE PROVOST SHOULD NOT ASSIGN COMMITTEE MEMBERS. PEOPLE SHOULD BE DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED TO THIS BODY THROUGH A CCFO ORGANIZED ELECTION. HERE AGAIN, WE HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF LACK OF FACULTY INPUT INTO MATTERS THAT RELATE DIRECTLY TO US!].
On faculty workload, the Provost noted he is deeply committed to see that faculty teaching load is reduced and that he anticipates something will happen soon. He sees the "proposal" going before the Board of Trustees before the end of the year [perhaps even to the Board's Academic Affairs Committee in October]. He noted that release time will not be eliminated but will attempt to be standardized.
The Provost closed by urging "us" to look at our own research centers [who do report to Jo Cates] as resources. He stated that the college is considering research fellowships in these centers. He cited that the CBMR is the only place of its kind in the world. He also stated that that the University of East London has collaboration with a professional arts center.
Notes submitted by
Keith Kostecka
CCFO President
