D R A K E U N I V E R S I T Y
FACULTY SENATE MEETING MINUTES
MAY 4, 2005

The regular meeting of the 2004-2005 Faculty Senate was called to order at 3:30 p.m. by President Klaus Bartschat.  The following senators were present for all or part of the meeting. Alexander, Bartschat, Couard-Hauri, Dore, Esposito, Freeman-Miller, Gilbert, Lyons, Morrow, Pandit, Petersen, Reincke, Rozycki, Sanders, Simpson, Tice, Wade
Absent: Allen, Clapham, Frank, Gillespie

The April 2005 minutes were accepted.

President Maxwell’s Report
-The Olin Hall renovation was approved during the past Board of Trustees meeting.  Planning will begin this summer; with actual work starting during the 06-07 year.  Also, ten to twelve classrooms are scheduled for cosmetic upgrades this summer.
-Vice President of Admission & Financial Aid, Tom Delahunt, starts Monday.  The University has done well without him, yet it is great to have that position filled.
- There is a new five year enrollment and revenue plan in place in which we want to keep tuition increases below our peers.
- President Maxwell concluded by indicating that Senate members will receive an invitation to a summer retreat scheduled for June 24th.  This year the focus will be the Vision 2025 draft document.  The Criterion Two committee is preparing the format for the retreat.

Provost Troyer’s Report
- The luncheon for Board members, faculty and students was a success.  There was wonderful interaction between the participants.
- The Fall 2005 tuition deposits are still arriving but there is positive news.  The Provost stated that all indications are that Drake will have more than 800 entering students. He stated that transfers are ‘on track’ to better the budgeted student number.  There is currently a low rate of cancellation.  The President and Provost will be doing a chat room experience soon with tuition deposited students.  This is remarkable good news considering there was not a fulltime Vice President on staff this year.

President Bartschat’s Report
-- President Bartschat thanked all for participation this past year.  There were many who gave him encouragement over this past year.  There was a nice relationship with the President’s Cabinet which makes the work interesting.
Secretary’s note: There was applause and ovation for President Bartschat.

Old Business: none presented

New Business:
President Maxwell opened the discussion with a framing of the situation of the document: Vision 2025.  That is, during the January 2005 board retreat, President Maxwell began a discussion with the existing Drake planning documents. Drake has the strategic plan in place to be used.  He challenged the body to think further out and to be wishing for a better Drake.  President Maxwell said he desired to know what the board thought of what Drake should be like in twenty years.  The document is not a strategic plan; its purpose is to catalyze what discussions are that should be taking place here at Drake.

He continued by stating that one basic function will be that our mission will not change, but as other things change, how do we work that mission. The Vision 2025 document’s overall goal allows for assumptions to be challenged.  Success will be that we have asked all the right questions.  It is to give us something to stretch our minds toward.

President Maxwell acknowledged this has come at the end of the term.  He wants to hear from those who read it.  He is seeking input.

Senator Petersen asked about the lack of a reference to academic freedom at the top of page 10. President Maxwell indicated he was not questioning the validity of tenure, but rather recognition that filling some positions with traditional appointments may not be able to be done in all fields.

Senator Morrow commented he felt this was a very fine and thoughtful job.  What had struck him was a greater mention concerning engaged alumni.  He believes it will be a key to our greatness.

Senator Reincke wondered how the list of countries was arrived at under global institutions mentioned on page 9.  The reply from President Maxwell was that the list was somewhat proactive and yet a list of critical areas in the world.  The list is a combination of points in the world where we have done a poor job of connecting as an institution and as a country.

Senator Reincke continued by stating that she was attracted by this list and building on the communicative competence of our students.  President Maxwell indicated that to begin with there will be grant monies sought for the language lab and expanding the capacity of the DULAP.

Senator Lyons commented on the distance learning, page 6, where the point was made that distance learning is not to replace the face to face experience. She requested adding something about keeping the high quality such as the classroom experience.

Senator Esposito indicated he could see that Drake is already on track by what process went into this document.  He stated that the academic portion is laid out here, and asked if there are sources which are available to prepare us as we stretch ourselves.  President Maxwell indicated there is a broad spectrum of literature available, some based on research and some not.  There is most likely a modest course packet for participants to prepare for the retreat.  Some have indicated that one of the ‘futures’ of higher education is the integration of liberal arts and professional education.  One of the fears is the loss of the true liberal arts college.  The ANAC formula is a real entity.

Senator Alexander noted the emphasis on getting faculty what they need to stay current with emphasis on research.  He asked if there will there be a portion of this where there will be mentoring and resources available. President Maxwell indicated we are already valuing a person who can teach an FYS and within their discipline.

Senator Couard-Hauri noted the new models of measures on page 8 and his concern about this goal.  He is not sure it is doable and that it may not be a positive thing.  President Maxwell indicated he was concerned about it also.  There is a change in how the student desires to learn and education is a commodity for the students.  There is a marketing situation here also that needs to be remembered.

Senator Pandit indicated that she liked the learning groups and would like to see broader groups. There was support from President Bartschat on this possible collaboration with getting faculty mentors involved with undergraduate research.

Senator Gilbert compared higher education to a national park, an information eco-sphere.  He said he saw a laundry list of items in this document.  What he did not see is a charge to find the one or two things that will make Drake stand out in 20 years.

The body adjourned into Executive Session at 4:40 p.m.  Secretary, Nancy Geiger