Inside Gustavus January 21, 2010 | Volume 42, Number 18

President's Cabinet Summary

At its Jan. 19 meeting, the President's Cabinet initiated the practice of regularly inviting Faculty Senate representatives to its meetings. Accordingly, Leila Brammer (communication studies), chair of the Faculty Senate, and Alisa Rosenthal (political science), vice chair of the Faculty Senate, attended the meeting. One of them will be in attendance at every other President's Cabinet meeting for the remainder of the academic year, with a standing item on the agenda to report on any faculty business.

• Faculty Senate chair Brammer shared that the Faculty Senate is making good progress toward the key goals of drafting revisions to the Faculty handbook and Manual, building engagement among the faculty, and developing an academic plan as part of Commission Gustavus 150.
• President Ohle reviewed plans for the upcoming meeting of the Gustavus Board of Trustees and related activities. The Board has invited the President’s Cabinet and Faculty Senate members and their spouses/partners to a reception and dinner Sunday evening, Jan. 24. This will be a time for informal conversation.
• Discussion was held regarding the schedule and format of vice president reports to the faculty.
• Plans for a presentation in late January to all employees regarding campus building projects and financing plans were discussed.
• Plans to address student input gathered as part of an annual survey of student views regarding institutional priorities were reviewed.
• President Ohle reminded the vice presidents to hold dates in July for the 2010 President’s Cabinet Workshop.
• Vice President Freed provided an update on plans to enhance the promotion of the Nobel Conference.
• Provost Fienen introduced four position requests. They were reviewed and discussed and will be part of a comprehensive review of all requested new and replacement positions and any changes in current positions.
• Discussion was held concerning adding a nondiscrimination policy for staff to the all-college policies.
• Vice President Westphal reminded the group that WebVista is going to be on campus for the remainder of this week to allow for data conversion on the Benefactor system.
• Vice President Westphal indicated that he is working on materials to be sent with a memo from President Ohle asking for 2010-2011 departmental budget requests.
• Vice President Stocco led continued discussion of a state-funded and county-managed initiative to reduce tobacco use.
• Vice President Stocco commented on the Rev. C.T. Vivian’s remarks at Chapel on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and was requested to relay the Cabinet’s congratulations to Professor Mimi Gerstbauer (political science), chair of the planning committee, and other committee members who helped plan the event.
• Provost Fienen reminded the group that while he is in Europe with the Gustavus Wind Orchestra from Jan. 20 through Feb. 4, Associate Provost John Clementson will serve on his behalf in the event of any emergency.  
• Vice President Freed previewed upcoming meetings with employees in which Marketing and Communication staff will share “Make Your Life Count” campaign materials including a brand brochure, graphic standards manual, PowerPoint templates, newsletter templates, letterhead suite, and more.
• Vice President Freed reminded the group that Gustavus’s Day at the Capitol to advocate for the State Grant Program will be March 4, 2010.
• President Ohle and vice presidents will be visiting with the new president of Minnesota Private College Council, Paul Cerkvenik, on campus Jan. 28.

News & Announcements

Newsletter Reminder... Inside Gustavus will not be published on Thursday, Feb. 4, during Touring and Activity Week. Announcement of events and activities occurring between Jan. 29 and Feb. 11 should be submitted by Tuesday, Jan. 27, to be included in the Jan. 28 posting of the newsletter. The next publication date after Jan. 28 is Feb. 11.

Health Screening 2010... All employees, retirees, and spouses are invited to participate in the 2010 Health Screening free of charge. The health screening will be at the River’s Edge Hospital and Clinic Lab in St. Peter on Feb. 1-5 and Feb. 8-12. Five-minute time increment appointments will be available during these dates between 6:30 and 8:55 a.m. on a first-call, first-serve basis. Thirty minutes of release time will be allowed for employees to participate in the screening. To sign up for a time, call the Human Resource Office at x7304 Mon.-Fri., 8:30-11:30 a.m. or 1:30-4:45 p.m.

Retirement Reception... Please join us for a retirement reception in honor of Donita Clifton, benefits director (human resources), on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 9-11 a.m., in the Heritage Room of the Jackson Campus Center. Donita will be retiring on Jan. 29.

Employee Enhancement Days... The 2010 Employee Enhancement Days are scheduled during the Touring and Activity Week following the January Interim, on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, Feb. 2-4. The annual event, which is open to all Gustavus employees, this year features two prominent workplace trainers: Tuesday's guest speaker, Bob Ash, has provided training and education to 1,200+ organizations and businesses, numbering over 320,000 individuals, through his company, Life Lessons. Wednesday's speaker, Fran Sepler, is a nationally recognized expert in employment investigations who founded a company in 1991 to provide high-quality, rigorous training focused on the prevention of harassment and discrimination, improved communication, and conflict management/resolution. The schedule of presentations follows.

• Tuesday, Feb. 2, Alumni Hall:
  -8:15 a.m. - "Providing World Class Customer Service," Bob Ash (session repeated at 1 p.m.)
  -10 a.m. - "Managing Difficult People and Issues," Bob Ash
  -2:45 p.m. - "Earning the Right to Lead," Bob Ash

• Wednesday, Feb. 3, Alumni Hall:
  -8:15 a.m. - "What Employees Need to Know about Harassment and Discrimination in the Workplace," Fran Sepler (session repeated at 1 p.m.)
  -10:30 a.m. - "What Supervisors Need to Know about Harassment and Discrimination in the Workplace," Fran Sepler        

• Thursday, Feb. 4, Linner Lounge:
  -8:30 a.m. - "CPR Certification and Recertification Training," Jason Stratman (space is limited; please reserve a place by calling Jason at x7494)

'Recyclemania' Continues... the College has accepted the challenge to participate in a friendly recycling competition between colleges and universities around the world known as "Recyclemania." For a 10-week period beginning Jan. 15 and extending into March, data concerning recyclable materials and waste on campus will be collected and reported to Recyclemania officials. Each week Gustavus's results will be posted and compared to the results of other schools. Faculty, staff, and students are all encouraged to make their best efforts to recycle paper, bottles, cans, and cardboard while working to minimize trash and waste during the competition. Look for Recyclemania posters around campus, and contact recyclemania@gustavus.edu if you have any questions. (At the same time, watch for news about the Minnesota Energy Challenge, which starts at the end of Touring Week.)

Campus Happenings

Chapel Schedule... All are invited to the worship services at 10 a.m. weekdays and 10:30 a.m. Sundays in Christ Chapel. The upcoming schedule is as follows.

• Friday, Jan. 22 - Chad Winterfeldt (music)
• Sunday, Jan. 24 - Luke Stevens-Royer '07
• Monday, Jan. 25 - Thia Cooper (religion)
• Tuesday, Jan. 26 - Amy Pehrson (CVR)
• Wednesday, Jan. 27 - Morning Praise
• Thursday, Jan. 28 - John Holte (MCS)
• Friday, Jan. 29 - Chaplain Rachel Larson

Poker in the Arb... You're invited to the Poker Ski Run in the Linnaeus Arboretum on Friday, Jan. 22, 3-5 p.m. Ski, snowshoe, or walk the arboretum's groomed trails and play a hand of poker when you're finished. Playing card stations will be placed along the trail and the best hand on return to the Interpretive Center wins! Enjoy hot chocolate, cider, cookies, and a warm fire inside the Interpretive Center. Cross-country skis and snowshoes can be rented from Lund Center.

Alum Recording Artist on Campus... Neal Hagberg '81, professional singer and songwriter, will be performing some of his songs on Friday, Jan. 22, at 7-8 p.m. in the Courtyard Cafe. Neal's lyrics may challenge you to think of everyday things in a new way. You don't want to miss this opportunity! Hagberg's visit to campus this week has been sponsored by the Center for Vocational Reflection.

National Theological Conference at Gustavus... Gustavus will be a partner site for the Trinity Institute's 40th national theological conference, "Building an Ethical Economy," on Jan. 27-29. Keynote addresses will be webcast in the Heritage Room, and faculty from the Department of Economics and Management will facilitate discussions. Advocating for an ethical economy—one that works toward the idea of sufficiency for all and is resistant to exploitation—is needed in the coming months. Conference participants will wrestle with critical questions—Is capitalism a belief system? What is wealth? Are theology and economics two different worlds? What do we owe the future? The conference partnership is made possible by a collaboration between the Office of Church Relations and the Department of Economics and Management. Cost is $25/person (no charge for Gustavus students, staff, faculty). All are welcome! It's not too late to register—call Marilyn at 933-7001 in Church Relations! Pre-registration is necessary. Conference times: Wednesday evening, Jan. 27, 4:30-7 p.m. (optional); Thursday, Jan. 28, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; and Friday, Jan. 29, 8 a.m.-4:15 p.m.

Off-Campus Events of Interest

Scandinavian Slipper Classes... Classes in making hand-felted Scandinavian Slipper will be held at the St. Peter Community Center on Saturday, Feb. 6. Two classes are available: Class 1 at 8:30 a.m.- noon, OR Class 2 at 2:30-6 p.m. With fiber roving, you will learn to lay out fibers, employ a wet-felting technique, and custom-make seamless slippers. This felting method doesn't require knitting. By the end of class, you'll have a pair of slippers and enjoy warm feet for the rest of the winter. Register at www.stpetercommunityedonline.com for one of the two sessions available. You may also call 507-934-3048 for more information. Cost is $40 + fiber costs (available from instructor or bring your own). To estimate amount of roving needed for a pair of slippers, figure $4 per ounce: Adult woman = 4-5 oz.; man = 6-7 oz.; child 1-4 yrs. = 2-3 oz.; child 5-10 yrs. = 3-4 oz. Dress for wet, clean fun!

Obituaries

• Patricia Kaiser, mother of Barbara Knight Kaiser (provost's office), died on Thursday, Jan. 14. Memorial services were held Jan. 18 in Marion, Ohio. 

To inform the campus community of the death of a current student, employee, or trustee; an emeritus professor or trustee; or an immediate family member of a current employee, contact the Office of the President (x7538 or pleagjel@gustavus.edu). Death announcements and funeral notices for students, current and emeritus faculty and employees, and trustees will be sent to the community via written notice from the president, posted on community-l, the official campus-wide e-mail list, and published in the Inside Gustavus or Summer Scoop. Notices for immediate family members of current employees will be published in the Inside Gustavus or the Summer Scoop unless they occur during a publication break, in which case they will be posted on employee-l.

Congregational Outreach

Retreats... The Gustavus Adolphus College Association of Congregations Retreat Center, coordinated by the Office of Church Relations, will host a men's retreat for St. John's Lutheran Church of Northfield, Minn., on Jan. 22-23. The Office of Church Relations will host a confirmation retreat on Jan. 22-23 for students from Holy Trinity Lutheran Church of New Prague, Minn.

Gustavus Youth Outreach... A GYO team will travel to Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Hastings, Minn., for an overnight retreat on Jan. 22-23.

Music in Worship... Any Gustavus music ensemble or soloist is welcome to perform in congregations. For more information, contact Marilyn Beyer (x7001).

Plugs

Pup for Sale... Eight-month-old Great Dane pup for sale. She is spayed and has all her current vaccinations. House-broken, loves children, and has a beautiful blue coat. Her current owners are very sad to let her go, but for allergy reasons it is a necessity. The price is negotiable. Contact Chris Sorenson at sorensoncj@gmail.com.

"Plugs" is maintained as a forum by which members of the Gustavus community may offer goods and/or services to others in the community, or seek the same from them. It is not meant to accommodate ads or announcements from area businesses such as real estate agents or retailers, although from time to time such announcements may be published when deemed to be of particular interest to the community.

 



---

Inside Gustavus is a newsletter for Gustavus Adolphus College employees produced by the Office of Marketing and Communication. It is published weekly during the academic year (except during the week of Thanksgiving, the Christmas break, Touring Week, and the Spring and Easter breaks). Anyone may submit items by filling out an online submission form. While online submissions are preferred, items may also be submitted typewritten on a letter-sized sheet of paper. Send "snail mail" items to: Inside Gustavus, Office of Marketing and Communication. Items must reach the office no later than 4:30 p.m. on the Tuesday before publication. The week of Nobel Conference the deadline is 4:30 p.m. Monday. For more information, contact Steve Waldhauser (waldo@gustavus.edu or x6413).

Home | News & Info | Inside Gustavus Archives | Submit an Item Online