Inside Gustavus November 5, 2015 | Volume 48, Number 10

President Cabinet Summary

The President's Cabinet met on Tuesday, Oct. 27 and Tuesday, Nov. 3 and discussed the following items:

1.  Discussion was held regarding study away pricing.  Consensus was to explore a sliding cost model according to students’ financial need.  The Internal Budget Committee will discuss this issue at its meeting.

2.  The following 2016 holiday schedule was approved:
Good Friday                           Friday, March 25, 2016
Memorial Day                         Monday, May 30, 2016
Fourth of July                          Monday, July 4, 2016
Thanksgiving Day                   Thursday, Nov. 24, 2016
Day after Thanksgiving           Friday, Nov. 25, 2016
Floating Holiday                      Friday, Dec. 23, 2016
Christmas Day                        Monday, Dec. 26, 2016
Floating Holiday                      Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016
Floating Holiday                      Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2016
Floating Holiday                      Thursday, Dec. 29, 2016
Floating Holiday                      Friday, Dec. 30, 2016
New Year’s Day                      Monday, Jan. 2, 2017

3.  Discussion was held regarding membership on the advisory council on diversity, equity, and inclusion.  Invitations for participation to administrators and support staff will be sent soon.

4.  Members approved the hiring of a full-time replacement position of Associate Provost and Dean of Sciences and Education.

5.  Members reviewed a draft pet policy.  The Human Resources staff will be requested to review the draft policy and ask for feedback from the campus community.

6.  Provost Braun distributed a glossary of commonly used assessment terms prepared by the Provost’s Office.

7.  Discussion was held regarding accepting gifts from corporations that might pose public relations questions (Raytheon, Chevron, etc.).  Consensus was to ask the Board of Trustees for input on this issue.

8.  Discussion was held regarding planning for the FY 2017 operating budget and the most recent Internal Budget Committee meeting.

9.  Members reviewed the active employee searches.  President Bergman also shared that she has engaged a search firm to assist in the CFO search and reviewed the current plans for the composition of the search committee.

10.  Provost Braun reviewed a proposal for staffing of academic summer programs.  Following discussions, members approved posting this part-time position internally.

News & Announcements 

On-line Benefit Enrollment will be open Oct. 30, 2015 to Nov. 9, 2015 until midnight.  If you do not wish to enroll in the Medical Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Health Savings Account (HSA) or change your health, dental, life insurance, or current 403(b) election, nothing additional needs to be done.

If you want to make any changes to medical, dental, life insurance, or 403(b) optional salary reduction, you must log in to WebAdvisor to enroll by Nov. 9. If you wish to enroll in the 2016 Medical FSA, the 2016 Dependent Care FSA, or the HSA, you must log in to WebAdvisor to enroll by Nov. 9.

Campus Happenings 

Song of Wonder...Gustavus will host Song of Wonder at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 8 in Jussi Bjorling Recital Hall. The interfaith and intercultural concert of music is free and open to the public.

Song of Wonder is a concert of music, co-created by Nirmala Rajasekar and David Jordan Harris, which explores the theme of wonder through the music, folktales, and poetry of South Indian and Judeo-Spanish traditions. Inspired by the rich, imagistic poetry and evocative music of more than a thousand years in each tradition, the concert probes the many facets of wonder as gateways to an illumined and impassioned life. Rajasekar and Harris are joined by a trio of distinguished instrumentalists: Carnatic percussion master Thanjavur Murugaboopathi, percussionist Mick LaBriola, and ‘ud player David Burk.

The performance is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Our Story Conference...The annual Our Story Conference will take place on Saturday, Nov. 7 in Wallenberg Auditorium. Hosted by PASO, the conference will focus on Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome. We are bringing Dr. Ronald Bailey, a professor of African-American Studies at University of Illinois to talk about a very pertinent issue that black people in America are contending with especially in light of the recent police brutality incidents leading to the Black Lives Matter movement.

Give to Gustavus Day...Give to Gustavus Day, a one-day online giving campaign to support the Gustavus Annual Fund, will take place Wednesday, Nov. 11 between 12 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. If you want to give to an athletic team, music group, student activities, or academic department, you are encouraged to designate your gift there. Or you can simply give a gift to support the area of greatest need at the College. More information is available online.

Home Athletic Events

Support the Golden Gusties at one or more of these home athletic events this weekend.

• Women's hockey hosts St. Olaf at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6

• Football hosts Concordia at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7

• Swimming and Diving hosts MSU-Mankato and UW-Stevens Point at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7

Fine Arts Events

Through Nov. 8, Hillstrom Museum of Art  
Saturday-Sunday: 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Monday-Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Grant Wood’s Lithographs: A Regionalist Vision Set in Stone 
Art Inspiring Art: George Bellows’ Sunset, Shady Valley   

• Nov. 4-7 @ 8:00 p.m., and Nov. 8 @ 2:00 p.m., ARGONAUTIKA, Henry MacCarthy, director, in Anderson Theatre
     Tickets available at gustavustickets.com or at the Information Desk in the student center
• Nov. 6, 7:30 p.m., The Gustavus Percussion Ensemble, Paul Hill, director, Fall Concert in Bjorling Recital Hall
• Nov. 7, 1:30 p.m., The Gustavus Symphony Orchestra, Ruth Lin, conductor, Fall Concert in Bjorling Recital Hall

Off-Campus Events of Interest

A piano recital by Dr. John McKay, faculty emeritus. Music by Haydn, Brahms, Chopin and Debussy at First Lutheran Church, 1114 W. Traverse Rd., St. Peter. Free will offering will go to Music for Missions. 

Retreats...The Office of Church Relations will host three weekend confirmation retreats one for Edina Community Lutheran Church of Edina from Friday, Nov. 6 to Saturday, Nov. 7, one for Christ Lutheran Church of Faribault from Friday, Nov. 6 to Saturday, Nov. 7, and one for Trinity Lutheran Church of Saint Peter from Saturday, Nov. 7 to Sunday, Nov. 8. The retreat program is a resource offered to ELCA congregations that are also members of the Gustavus Association of Congregations.

Preaching in Congregations...Doctor Sarah Ruble will preach on "Are Only Christians Saved?: Thinking About Truth and Salvation in a Pluralist World" at 9:45 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 8 at Shepard of the Valley Lutheran Church. The pulpit supply program is coordinated by The Office of Church Relations for Gustavus association member congregations.

In The News  

• The St. Peter Herald previewed this weekend's theatre production of Argonautika, which will run Nov. 5-7 at 8 p.m. and Nov. 8 at 2 p.m.

• On Sunday, Nov. 1, the St. Peter Herald announced the nine honorees who will be inducted into the Gustavus Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday, Nov. 7.

• On Monday, Nov. 2, the Forest Lake Times highlighted President Rebecca Bergman and Associate Professor of Geology and Environmental Studies Laura Triplett's visit with the Scandia-Marine Lion's Club.

• The Waseca County News featured the story on Nick David '07 that was recently posted to the Gustavus website.

• The St. Peter Herald publicized the College's Our Story conference this Saturday, Nov. 7. Sponsored by the Pan Afrikan Student Organization (PASO), the keynote speaker, Dr. Ronald W. Bailey, will present at 2 p.m. in Wallenberg Auditorium.

• Associate Provost Paula O'Loughlin was interviewed on WCCO Radio by Roshini Rajkumar about election season and the presidential race on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Listen to the interview beginning at the 19:30 mark.

• On Nov. 3, the St. Peter Herald invited the public to attend the "Song of Wonder" concert at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 8 in Bjorling Recital Hall.



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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. For more information, contact Lorie Siebels (lsiebels@gustavus.edu or x7520).

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