The Summer Scoop for June 18, 2015

Volume 47, Number 1

President's Cabinet Summary

The President's Cabinet met on June 2, 9, and 16 and discussed the following items:

  • Discussion was held regarding the activities over the past week associated with Senior Week, Alumni Events, and Commencement.  Appreciation was expressed to all employees for their work in helping to make all events so successful.
  • Members approved the hiring of a full-time Student Life replacement position (one full-time and two part-time positions).
  • Members approved the hiring of three athletic replacement positions (head baseball coach, assistant coach for football and baseball, and an athletic trainer (graduate assistant)).
  • Members discussed space considerations related to the possible movement of several offices on campus.
  • Members approved the hiring of a full-time Director of Government, Foundation, and Corporate Relations replacement position.
  • Members approved the hiring of a full-time financial aid replacement position (Financial Aid Counselor).
  • Members approved the hiring of a full-time custodial replacement position.
  • Members approve the hiring of an athletics replacement position (assistant women’s hockey coach).
  • Discussion was held regarding an August telephonic meeting with Moody’s and the materials to be shared with Moody’s representatives and others prior to the phone call.
  • Members discussed the vacant Administrative Assistant position in Biology/Geology and agreed to increase summer hours for the position from 20 hours/6 weeks to 20 hours/8 weeks.
  • Discussion was held regarding admission/retention strategies.
  • Members reviewed the schedule for the June 25-26 Board meeting, including the strategic discussion session.
  • Vice Presidents Kennedy, VanHecke, and Westphal will work together to post information in the Summer Scoop regarding summer building maintenance, road improvements, and office space changes.

Faculty & Staff News

Rebekah Richards (Music) and Chad Winterfeldt (Chaplain's Office) were presenters at the recent Minnesota Music Teachers Association (MMTA) State Convention, held June 15-16 in Plymouth. Rebekah delivered several sessions about the new state music theory syllabus and Chad spoke about "Piano to Pipe Organ." Rebekah also received the "Volunteer of the Year Award" presented in recognition of her leadership of the team that developed the music theory syllabus. In addition, Beth Winterfeldt (Music) was voted President-Elect of the state organization for 2015-2017.

In May-June, 2015, Michael (Music) and Bonnie Jorgensen and musician friends toured Norway, giving concerts featuring the music of Theodora Cormontan (1840-1922). In 2011, Bonnie and Michael rediscovered over 150 original handwritten musical scores by the Norwegian-American composer. On May 28, 2015 they performed at the National Library of Norway where they donated her scores and were interviewed by the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation for a feature that aired on June 2. On May 31, they performed at the KUBEN museum in Cormontan’s hometown of Arendal, a concert that received front-page notice in the Agderposten newspaper. They also performed at the Ælvespeilet Concert Hall in Porsgrunn with the classical singers Operagutta and at the Western Norway Emigration Centre north of Bergen.

Julie Bartley (Geology) received the Janet Anderson Lecture award from the Midstates Consortium for Math and Sciences. Julie also presented a paper at the International Joint Assembly meeting in Montreal, Canada, May 3-7, titled "Microbial Community Behavior Recorded in Cuspate Microbialites from the Mesoproterozoic Dismal Lakes Group" (coauthors Linda Kah and Tracy Frank). She also coathored a paper presented by Linda Kah titled "Sedimentary and Geochemical Heterogeneity in the Mesoproterozoic: A Natural Consequence of Protracted Oxygenation?" (additional coauthors Ashley Manning-Berg and Geoffrey Gilleaudeau).

Julie Bartley (Geology), Gustavus students Tanner Eischen (Geology '17), John Berger (Geology & ES '15) and Dominic Delmont (Geology & Biology '15), and middle-school student Brooke Rosenberg (Fairmont, MN) attended the North-Central meeting of the Geological Society of America in Madison, Wisconsin in May. The teams presented a total of four posters, covering three research projects: Tanner Eischen presented "Stromatolites of the Shakopee Formation: An ancient Shark Bay or relict of a Precambrian past?" (coauthors John Berger ('15), Lindsey Reiners ('17), Bailey Hilgren ('17), and Julie Bartley). John Berger presented "A hypersaline environment for stromatolite growth in the Mesoproterozoic Sibley Group (coauthors Sydney Firmin ('14), Tanner Eischen ('17), Lindsey Reiners ('17), Bailey Hilgren ('17), and Julie Bartley). Dominic Delmont presented "Taphonomic history of bison bones from the Des Moines River" (coauthors Brooke Rosenberg, Hilary Christensen, and Julie Bartley). Brooke Rosenberg presented "Pre-settlement bison skeletal remains in the Des Moines River, southwestern Minnesota" (coauthors Dominic Delmont ('15), Hilary Christensen, and Julie Bartley).

Stephanie Otto (Health and Exercise Science) presented research at the National American College of Sports Medicine Conference titled "Dietary Protein Intake and Bone Mineral Density Among Premenopausal Women". Co authors were Maggie King '14 and Olivia Johnson '14. Otto also contributed to the American College of Sports Medicine's (ACSM) Fit Society Pages October, 2014 issue focused on Women's Health Issues. The piece was titled "Women and Osteoporosis".

Anna Versluis (Geography) was invited to be part of a panel on "Tenure: Supporting Women in Geography Across the Sub-disciplines" at the Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers on April 24, 2015.

News & Announcements

Celebrate "Deano" and "Waldo"...Please join the Office of Marketing and Communication on July 16 as we say farewell to Dean Wahlund '72 and Steve Waldhauser '70. "Deano" is retiring after 43 years of service to the College and "Waldo" is retiring after 38 years of service. The reception will take place in Alumni Hall between 2 and 3:30 p.m. with a program starting at approximately 3 p.m.

Save the Date...All members of the Gustavus community are invited to attend the All-Campus Strategic Action Conference to discuss a draft action plan outline and questions posed by the Strategic Action Team (SAT). This planning conference is scheduled for Friday, September 25, 2015 at 2:30-4:30 p.m. (location TBA).

Summer Projects...The road construction project on the southwest portion of Ring Road is expected to be completed by Friday, June 19. Other summer projects on campus involve improvements to the College's wireless internet network and several energy related projects in buildings and pertaining to campus lighting. Employees will also notice some movement among administrative offices, particularly inside the Jackson Campus Center, the O.J. Johnson Student Union, and Lund Center.

St. Peter Shuttle Update...Beginning June 1, the St. Peter shuttle route bus will not make the routine stop at 3 Flags every hour as it does during the academic year. We will stop to pick up anyone that would like a ride during route hours (starting at 10:15 AM and at 15 minutes after every hour until 5:15), if the passenger will call 934-4070 and specifically request a Route bus pick up.

Valleyfair Discounts...Gustavus is participating in the "Good Any Day Discount Program" at Valleyfair. Employees may purchase tickets for regular admission (ages 3-61 and 48" or taller) for $31.00, Junior/Senior (under 48” tall or age 62 & older) for $31.00 (includes admission to Dinosaurs Alive), Dinosaurs Alive tickets for $2.50, and Ride & Refresh tickets for $36.50 (ages 3-61, 48” or taller) includes unlimited fountain drink wristband. All tickets may be used any day of the Valleyfair 2015 operating season. Tickets are available for purchase in the Office of Human Resources located in the Carlson Administration Building (cash or checks payable to Gustavus).

ClearCost Health…South Central Service Cooperative would like to announce the launch of a new health care shopping service called ClearCost Health. ClearCost is a service that will enable you to save on your out of pocket expenses by shopping for health care services such as office visits, lab tests, radiology services and prescription drugs based on cost, quality and convenience. Registration takes 2 minutes. Register today at clearcosthealth.com/scsc. The service is available to all pool members on a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota health plan, their spouses and dependents over age 18. Questions? Call a ClearCost Health Shopper at (866) 381-9961 or e-mail servicecooperatives@clearcosthealth.com weekdays from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Central Time at (866) 381-9961.

Off-Campus Events of Interest

Annual Summer Noontime Organ Recital Series...Presented by the Sioux Trails Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Tuesdays, 12:10 p.m. June 11– July 7 at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 222 Pfau St., Mankato and July 14 – August 11 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 720 S. 2nd St., Mankato. Free will donation. Gustavus musicians in the line-up: Cantor Chad Winterfeldt, June 11; David Mertesdorf '84, July 7; David Lim '15, July 28. Visit www.agosiouxtrails.org for more information.

Obituaries

  • Kimberly Hogg, a former custodial employee, and the daughter of Ermeritus Professor Kay Moline (Nursing), passed away Tuesday, June 16 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis at the age of 58. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 20 at First Lutheran Church in St. Peter at 2 p.m. with a visitation at 1 p.m.

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 jnoren@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 campuswide e-mail list, and published in Inside Gustavus or the Summer Scoop. Notices for immediate family members of current employees will be published in Inside Gustavus or the Summer Scoop unless they occur during a publication break, in which case they will be posted on employee-l.

New Faces

The following people have recently joined the Gustavus community:

* New Administrators

  • Roger Adkins, Director International and Cultural Education

Position Openings

  • Heavy Duty/Custodian
  • Part-time Custodians
  • Dining Service Staff (various positions available)
  • Director of Communication Services and Sports Information
  • Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer
  • Assistant Women's Hockey Coach
  • Assistant Dean of Financial Aid
  • Assistant Director of Career Development: Internship Program
  • Assistant Director of Advancement Services

For more information on the aforementioned position(s), call Human Resources (x7304).

In the Media

Here are some noteworthy Gustavus-related stories that recently appeared in print or broadcast media locally, regionally, or around the nation:

  • New head baseball coach Brad Baker appeared on Mike Max's WCCO Radio program on June 16.
  • Ursula Lindqvist (Scandinavian Studies), whose book on Swedish filmmaker Roy Andersson is forthcoming with University of Washington Press in March 2016, was featured in a June 6 radio story on NPR's Weekend Edition that was devoted to the filmmaker, whose latest film, A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence, is now showing in the United States.
  • The Mankato Free Press printed a story on Friday, June 12 about the Ralph Brown Award for Shared Governance.

Anyone who has suggested additions for this list, suggestions for potential future media stories, or interest in being a media source should contact Marketing and Communication (x7520 or ga_news@gustavus.edu).

Plugs

For Sale...1213 Pine Pointe Curve - Single story Town home w/1982 sq. ft. Open floor plan with vaulted ceilings, 3 way fireplace, MBR suite, formal DR, eat-in kitchen, guest BR w/3/4 bath, office, utility Rm, 36" wide doors w/lever handles, in-floor heating and cooling. Attached oversized DBL garage. Attic storage. Fenced Patio. Walk to Gustavus and the Arboretum. Price: $232,500. DIRECTIONS: Hwy 169 to Jefferson (Kwik Trip), turn west. Continue to Pine Pointe Curve, turn left. Available to show any time. Barb Haack, Broker. St. Peter Real Estate Co. 507-934-3650 or 207-934-3938. Email: stpeterrealty@aol.com.

Seeking Housing...I am a single incoming visiting faculty seeking quiet housing in St. Peter for the 2015/16 academic year. I have a very well-behaved old dog (14 years-- so nearly a piece of furniture at this point in time) and I have references for myself and said dog. I'm a non-smoker. I will move in late August, but am prepared to pay all of August's rent and even July's if necessary. Email: allisonfritz@huskers.unl.edu or call 402-802-4270.

"Plugs" is maintained as a forum by which members of the Gustavus community may offer goods and 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 and retailers, although from time to time such announcements may be published when deemed to be of particular interest to the community.

 



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The Summer Scoop is published for the Gustavus Adolphus College community by the Office of Marketing and Communication. It is published monthly during the summer. Anyone may submit items by sending them to waldo@gustavus.edu by 4:30 p.m. on the Tuesday before publication. Submissions may include news announcements, upcoming events, building or office hours, plugs (advertisements like for sale or rent items) or off-campus events. Please save items about faculty/staff activities (professional accomplishments or presentations) or honors for Inside Gustavus, which is published weekly during the academic year. For more information, call x6213.

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