Inside Gustavus September 12, 2019 | Volume 52, Number 2

September 10, 2019, Cabinet Meeting Summary

1. Discussion was held regarding establishing a policy for completion of mandatory employee training. Vice President Tunheim will consider options discussed and bring back a draft policy for the Cabinet to review/approve.

2. Vice President Tunheim discussed establishing a HR accelerator recognition committee to review employee gatherings and other recognition opportunities throughout the year. 

3. Provost Kelly shared the timeline for campus-wide surveys in 2019-2020. She also indicated that the Cabinet will have an opportunity to review the spring 2019 Sexual Misconduct Climate Survey results following review by several committees.

4. Provost Kelly shared that the Department of Education requires that all public documents on the College's website must be in PDF form. Assistant Chief Technology Officer and Director of Web Services Jerry Nowell will be asked to conduct an audit of all documents on the website.

5. Discussion was held regarding the possibility of shortening the drop/add course period. Further conversation will be held regarding this topic.

News and Announcements

Visit Gustie Newswire for more news...

Nobel Conference Tickets...Tickets for the upcoming Nobel Conference, Climate Changed: Facing Our Future, are available for students and employees! The conference is September 24 & 25. All employees and students receive one free ticket that must be requested in advance. Employees are welcome to attend all the lectures, however we ask employees to select the specific sessions they plan to attend since demand for tickets is high. The conference is sold out to the general public, so get your ticket today! Visit the Nobel Conference website to see a complete schedule. Tickets may be ordered at the ticket request website or call 507-933-7520.

Christmas in Christ Chapel - Reservable seating...Plans are already well underway for Christmas in Christ Chapel, happening December 5-8. New this year is that the opening night will be on Thursday and the last service will be on Sunday afternoon. Like last year, guests will select specific reservable seats in Christ Chapel at the time of ticket purchase. There will no longer be general admission seating. Employees will continue to receive one free ticket. Tickets go on sale October 1. For more information, visit online.

A Royal Affair - A Gustie Gala...Get your crown on for the biennial A Royal Affair fundraiser happening Saturday, November 9 at the JW Marriott Hotel - Mall of America. This is a fun party with food, drinks, music, dancing, an auction, and amazing entertainment by Grammy Award-winning jazz vocalist Kurt Elling ’89 and Hollywood actor Peter Breitmayer ’87 serving as emcee. Funds raised will fund scholarships for first-generation college students with high academic performance and significant economic need, and strengthen the Gustavus library endowment. Get your tickets now using this link.

Piano Lab Opening...The Gustavus Piano Lab School has an opening for one new piano student for this fall. Do you have a child who would like to start the wonderful journey of learning the piano? We are looking for a child in grades 1-4 with no prior experience and a piano in the home for daily practice. Please contact: Rebekah Richards via email or 651 468-7058. For more information, check out this link.

Join PCDEI Working Groups 2019-2020...As announced in President Bergman's note to the community regarding the Special Assistant to the President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the PCDEI is establishing working groups this year to assist the PCDEI in its important work. We invite faculty, staff, and students to join one of the following three groups: 

• Training and Development: Provide DEI training and development opportunities for College employees.
• Inclusive Excellence and Engagement: Work toward integrating inclusive excellence practices into our collective recruitment and retention efforts.
• Communication: Build a shared language and understanding of the College's DEI values, priorities, and measurable progress.

All Gustavus members are encouraged to help move our diversity, equity, and inclusion work forward together this year. If you are interested in being involved, please complete the PCDEI Working Group Interest Form by Monday, September 30. Thank you in advance for your participation.

Soup and Sandwich Seminar at the Arb...Get a preview of the 2019 Nobel Conference at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 18, in the Melva Lind Interpretive Center. Dr. Anna Versluis, associate professor of geography and chair of Nobel Conference 55, will give an introduction to the speakers at this year's conference. Tickets are $8 for Friends of Linnaeus Arboretum members and $9 for non-members. Register at: gustavustickets.com or call the Ticketing Office at 507-933-7590. 

In the News

• Yuta Kawarasaki (Biology) was quoted in a New York Times article documenting research on the Antarctic midge. Kawarasaki is part of a team of researchers exploring the insect's incredible cold-adaptive properties.
• Jeff La Frenierre (Geography) is featured in this month's Science Magazine for his field work studying glacial melt. He regularly includes Gustavus students in his research activities on Volcan Cayambe and Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador.
• Dave Stamps (Music) and JC Sanford (Music) are referred to as "explosive young talents" in the Twin Cities big band scene in a Minneapolis Star Tribune article from last week.
• The St. Peter Herald wrote on the current exhibit in the Hillstrom Museum of Art.
• KEYC reported on Tuesday's involvement fair.

Plugs

House and Cat Sitter Needed...Seeking: house and cat-sitter for the month of January (exact dates are Jan. 2-Feb. 1, 2020). I'm leading a January course abroad and need someone to stay in my house and watch my cats while I'm gone. It's a lovely cabin on a lake, 20 miles from both Saint Peter and Mankato. All the comforts of home (WiFi, laundry, etc.), but remote enough to get back to nature (great skiing and snowshoeing), get some writing done, or relax away from your usual January grind. Please contact Lisa Dembouski with questions or for more information.