Inside Gustavus February 18, 2016 | Volume 48, Number 21

President's Cabinet Summary 

January 26

1.  Members reviewed a document outlining the progress on the 2015-2016 institutional goals.  The final document will be shared with trustees at the Jan. 28-29 Board meeting.
2.  Last minute details regarding the January board meeting were discussed.
3.  Continued discussion was held regarding a proposed policy concerning employee responsibilities associated with College-owned computers and Gustavus email accounts.  Provost Braun will have further discussions with GTS and vet this proposed policy with appropriate committees/individuals and then provide a final version for discussion/approval at an upcoming Cabinet meeting.
4.  Continued discussion was held regarding a proposed pet policy.  Following discussion, Provost Braun will provide a final version and draft a community-l message for review at the next Cabinet meeting.  Vice presidents were asked to have preliminary conversations with their respective divisional colleagues. 
5.  Members approved the hiring of an administrative assistant replacement position in math/computer science and physics (35 hours/45 weeks).
6.  Members briefly discussed a part-time replacement position for the Gustavus office at the American Swedish Institute.  Further discussions will be held regarding options for staffing the Gustavus Office at ASI.
7.  Cabinet members were asked to encourage their respective divisional colleagues to attend Professional Development Days on Feb. 2-3.
8.  An all-employee meeting was scheduled for Fri., Feb. 12 at 2:30 p.m. in Alumni Hall.
9.  Members had a brief discussion regarding the Cabinet reviewing/approving replacement or new positions.  Consensus was that if any person, with the exception of adjunct faculty, in a position is expected to receive a W-2, the requested position should come to the Cabinet for review/approval.

February 12

1.  Members reviewed the activities surrounding the Jan. 28-29 board meeting.
2.  Members discussed the agenda for Friday’s all-employee meeting.
3.  Discussion was held regarding the benchmarks for the FY 2017 operating budget.
4.   Members approved the hiring of an administrative assistant in the psychological science, sociology/anthropology, and history departments.
5.  Members approved the hiring of a Campus Safety Reserve Officer replacement position.
6.  Members approved the hiring of an Assistant Director of Campus Activities replacement position. 
7.  Establishing a winter closing policy was discussed.  This topic will be placed on the agenda for the Cabinet retreat this summer.
8.  Members agreed to create a Google calendar for the Cabinet showing when members will be traveling, on vacation, and/or out of the office.

News & Announcements 

Möbius Project Reception...You are warmly invited to come and support your colleagues Scott Bur (Chemistry) and Kristen Lowe (Art/Art History) and Gustavus student Haley Bell '16 (Art Studio/Communication Studies) as they present the inaugural Möbius project at 4 p.m. on Thurs. Feb. 18 at The Courtyard Café. Lowe and Bell participated as artists-in-residence in Bur’s Organic and Synthetic Chemistry research class this January. Their presentation of this collaboration exploring the space between forming probabilities (science) and endless possibilities (art) is accompanied by an exhibit of their works. Refreshments will be served.

Building Bridges Conference...This year’s Building Bridges Conference will be held on Sat. March 5 and will focus on two major aspects of the War on Drugs: the effects of the United States Government's massive spending on drug-fighting efforts, and the role of United States Drug Policy in the creation of international and domestic violence. Through this conference, we hope to educate our community about the average US citizen’s proximity to instances of violence that may seem far removed from their daily lives, but nonetheless contribute to loss of life, liberty, and human dignity. Tickets can be requested at gustavustickets.com

Home Athletic Events

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

• Gymnastics hosts UW-Eau Claire at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1
• Men's hockey hosts Hamline at 7:05 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19
• Men's tennis hosts St. Thomas at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 20
• Men's basketball hosts Carleton at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20
• Women's hockey hosts Hamline at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20
• Women's basketball hosts Carleton at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20

Fine Art Events

Hillstrom Museum of Art 
Submerge, Recent Paintings by Betsy Ruth Byers, and FOCUS IN/ON: B.J.O. Nordfeldt’s Two Pigeons
Open Feb. 15 through April 24, 2016

Love's Labour's Lost...Tickets are now available online or by calling 507-933-7590 for the Department of Theatre & Dance production of Love's Labour's Lost, a new musical based on the play by William Shakespeare. Performances will be held Feb. 19-20 & 26-27 at 8 p.m., with matinee performances on Feb. 21 & 28 at 2 p.m. Gustavus students and staff are entitled to one free ticket for the production. Other tickets are $9 for adults and $6 for senior citizens and other students. Tickets not sold before the event will be placed on sale one hour prior to curtain at the Anderson Theatre box office. 

"We'll have it all, while we are young.” In this contemporary musical adaptation of Shakespeare's classic comedy, music and lyrics create a sexy and irreverent look at love, homecoming, and hookups.

Love's Labour's Lost is a new musical based on the play by William Shakespeare.
Songs by Michael Friedman, book adapted by Alex Timbers.
Henry MacCarthy, Director; Samuel Grace '11, Music Director
Lydia Francis ‘11, Scenic Design; Terena M. Wilkens, Lighting Design;
Elsa Larsen ‘17, Costume Design

Gustavus United Way Rally… All faculty, staff and administrators are invited to join us from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Leap Day, Feb. 29, in the Heritage Room us for a fun hour to learn about the 2016 United Way on-campus campaign. Come for…
• A chance to win a $100 Bookmark gift certificate (no pledge necessary…all attendees will be in the drawing),
• Frost-your-own sugar cookies,
• Hot chocolate,
• Information about all of the GREAT things our area UNITED WAY does for the Saint Peter and Mankato communities – we will hear from President Becky Bergman as well as area United Way President Barb Kaus,
• The opportunity to make a one-time pledge or a calendar year 2016 payroll deduction pledge for the United Way, and
• Information about Gustavus’s decision to LEAP AHEAD in future years and hold the employee United Way campaign in the fall instead of in the spring. 

Congregational Outreach

Retreats...The Office of Church Relations will host a weekend confirmation retreat for Cross Lutheran Church of Maplewood from Thursday, Feb. 18 to Sun., Feb 20. The retreat program is a resource offered to ELCA congregations that are also members of the Gustavus Association of Congregations.

Preaching in Congregations...Rev. Grady St. Dennis will preach at Bethel Lutheran Church in Lester Prairie at Lenten mid-week worship service on Wed., Feb. 17. The pulpit supply program is coordinated by The Office of Church Relations for Gustavus Association member congregations.

Exploring Religious Questions Series..."Introduction to Judaism: Religious Practices, Central Texts, and Jewish-Christian Relations Today." This mini-course continues from 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 22 in Olin Hall 103, in the third session with a discussion led by David Jordan Harris (Special Consultant in the Arts at the University of St. Thomas's Jay Phillips Center of Interfaith Learning) about "Religious and Cultural Diversity among Jews" and "Modern Jewish Thinkers". The mini-course is sponsored by the Office of Church Relations.

Pastor-2-Pastor...Pastors from the southwestern and southeastern Minnesota synods will be on campus for a 24-hour Sabbath retreat beginning at noon on Thurs. Feb. 18 and ending on Fri. Feb. 19. The theme for the gathering will be "Celebrating a Whole Life of Worship: Loving God with Heart, Mind, and Strength." The speakers for this two-day period will be Siri Erickson, Katherine Rood, Scott Olson, Grady St. Dennis, and Peter Rogness. Pastor-2-Pastor is a program sponsored by The Office of Church Relations, the ELCA synods of southern Minnesota, and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, and is open to pastors of the ELCA (and CCM/ecumenical partners). The purpose of the program is to help pastors partner for pastoral excellence, and focuses on professional growth and mutual accountability for wellness.

In The News

KEYC interviewed multifaith advisor Ailya Vajid and student Hanan Mohamud in a segment on Thursday, Feb. 11. The Mankato Free Press also interviewed Vajid and Chaplain Siri Erickson about Vajid's role on campus in a piece that ran on Thursday, Feb. 18.

Jim Gilbert, former director of the Linnaeus Arboretum, wrote a short piece in the Star Tribune's "Nature Notes."

The Mankato Free Press highlighted the College's diversity and inclusion efforts in an editorial on Sunday, Feb. 14.

The Mankato Free Press mentioned the Department of Theatre and Dance's production of Love's Labour's Lost, which runs the next two weekends. They also included a plug for the Hillstrom Museum, which is hosting recent works by professor Betsy Byers and a reflection on B.J.O Norfeldt's "Two Pigeons."

Five Gustavus alumnae who are competing in this weekend's Women's World Bandy Championships were mentioned in the Mankato Free Press.

 Off Campus Events

Plugs

 



---

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).

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