22 December: Election Results

To: All Faculty

From: Sabine O'Hara, Academic Vice President and Dean of the College

The following faculty members were elected to serve on the task force charged with providing guidance for the establishment of Concordia's Center for Responsible Citizenship:

Jim Cermak

Jonathan Steinwand

Stewart Herman

As previously announced at the December 8 department chair's meeting, the Board of Regents approved the establishment of a new lecturer appointment category and the removal of rank quota. The removal of rank quota will be in effect for spring 2004 promotion requests.

Best wishes for a blessed Christmas season and a restful and renewing winter break.

18 December: Grade Submission

To: All Faculty

From: Carole Stalheim, Registrar

Date: December 18, 2003

Subject: Grade Submission

This is a friendly reminder that grades are due on December 22 at 12:00 noon.

For any problems accessing the WEB, please contact Dr. Alex Sze, WEB Support Specialist, at sze@cord.edu or at x4153.

If you anticipate any questions or problems with the grade submission bring them to our attention by Friday because support will not be available during the weekend.

Thank you for your continued support in this process.

18 December: Leader applications for 2005 seminars

Hi Everyone,

I'm writing to everyone that has done May and Exploration Seminars in the past 2 yrs, so if you get this twice that is why.

Applications are now available for those of you that would like to lead a May or Exploration Seminar in 2005. You can pick up this application anytime at the Office of International Education. All applications will be due back to our office no later then Feb 29, 2004. All applications will be reviewed by the Office of International Education, the Off Campus Programs Committes, and the Dean. Decisions will be made in early April.

Please call or email us with any questions.

Enjoy your Christmas break,

Dr. Victor Udin 3932

Stacy Rodlund 4549

17 December: Integrated Marketing Team, call for feedback

Colleagues,

The Integrated Marketing Team is in the process of collecting feedback from faculty and other constituents regarding current college strengths that can most effectively serve as common talking points in "Telling the Concordia Story." This is a vitally important exercise as we seek to transition to a new institutional marketing theme. Using information collected previously from faculty and other constituents, eight talking points of the college have been developed. We would now like your help in refining these.

You can register your feedback via the Web survey at: http://www.cord.edu/dept/commoffice/im_survey.html

The Integrated Marketing Committee will begin reviewing the feedback on Jan. 15.

Larry Papenfuss

Interim Chair/Assoc. Professor, PE/Health

Integrated Marketing Team member

17 December: February Symposium Events

To: All Faculty

From: George Connell

RE: February Symposium Events

As we come to the end of Fall Semester and begin planning our syllabi for the Spring, I'd like give you a reminder and update regarding February Symposium events.

On February 9, we will hold the second of three parts of our symposium series, "The Liberally Educated Person: Rethinking the Tradition in the 21st Century." The focus of this second part of the series is "The Reformation Tradition in North America: Past and Present." There are two

events scheduled for this segment of the symposium series. Dr. Martin Marty will speak at 9:50 followed by brief reflections on the same general theme by Gretchen Person and Rick Chapman. Then, at 4:00, we will have a discussion of ways in which the Reformation tradition is carried on here at Concordia. Specifically, we will follow up on the Core Committee's question to departments as to whether the Educational Goals developed by last summer's curriculum working group reflect Concordia's distinctiveness adequately. Core will be inviting short statements from a number of departments as a way to introduce the issue, after which we will open the floor for discussion.

I would remind you that Faculty Senate resolved early this semester that 10:30 classes on Monday, February 9th should meet at the field house at 9:50. All other class periods that day are as normal.

17 December: 16th Annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum

The 16th Annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum will be held at St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN on February 20-21, 2004. The forum, "Striving for Peace: Roots of Change," will focus on affirming the power of everyday individuals to nourish the roots of peace. The forum will honor the work of featured speaker, former President Jimmy Carter, 2002 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. Other guest speakers will include Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, Director-General of the World Health Organization and former Prime Minister of Norway and Eboo Patel, founder and executive director of Interfaith Youth Core.

All students, faculty and staff will receive an information postcard in campus mail after Christmas break which will provide forum details, website and registration information. Additional information and an on-line registration form can be found at www.stolaf.edu/nppf/2004/registration.html.

Concordia College will provide transportation to St. Olaf for the forum for all registered participants. The registration fee includes housing and meals. Please contact the Cultural Events and Music Organizations Office at 299-4366 if you have any questions.

Lowell Larson

Cultural Events

15 December: Winter Commencement

Date: December 15, 2003

To: All Faculty

From: Jim Aageson, Division Chair

Re: Winter Commencement

This year's Winter Commencement will be held this Thursday, December 18 at 7:30 p.m. This is one of the four occasions during the academic year of particular relevance when academic garb is worn. As stated in the Faculty Handbook, all full-time faculty and administrative staff are expected to attend. The procession will form at 7:10 p.m. in the North Gym. Thank you for your participation in this special event.

15 December: Proposals for new courses

Dear Faculty,

Proposals for new courses to be offered for the first time during the first semester of the 2003-2004 academic year should be submitted to the Curriculum Committee by Monday, January 12. This early submission date is needed so that courses can be approved before the Fall Course Schedule goes to press. New course proposal forms are available online. You must use Internet Explorer (not Netscape) to access the form located at http://www4.cord.edu/acadaffairs/forms/Default.asp. Please submit eight copies of the proposal. The committee would appreciate knowing in advance about forthcoming new course proposals. Modifications of course number, course title, catalog description, and course prerequisites also require Curriculum Committee approval. Please use the Modification of Course Form available online and send me eight copies of the completed form.

Any proposals for new majors or minors OR changes to existing majors or minors should be submitted by Monday, January 26 to allow time for Senate action before the deadline for the new catalog. Again, we would appreciate knowing in advance if you will be sending these proposals our way.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Thank you,

Dawn Tommerdahl

Chair, Curriculum Committee

12 December: Principia call follow-up

FROM: Dan Breedon, Core and Integrative Studies Division Chair

TO: Department Chairs and Potential Principia Faculty

RE: Follow-up and New Info

DATE: December 12, 2003

Response to my earlier request for names/applications of those interested in teaching Principia has been a bit spotty. As I said earlier, even if you are not sure you would be able to participate in the program, I need to know who is interested. Submitting your name does not commit you to teaching the course.

New information for department chairs: if your department is small and already contributes to the Credo program, you will probably not need to offer a section of Principia. But this needs to be approved by Dean O'Hara. Also, if it would be difficult to commit an individual to a two-year contract, you can use two faculty, one for each year. Remember, each department is expected to offer one Principia section per year, not per semester.

11 December: Reception Honoring Dr. Russell Pesola

The Department of Music will honor Associate Professor of Music and Music Director of the Concordia Band, Dr. Russell Pesola, on the occasion of his retirement after 28 years of service to Concordia College.

The reception will take place on Monday, 15 December, 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. in the Reception Corridor of Hvidsten Hall of Music.

Please join us in recognizing Russ's achievements and expressing our thanks to him for his service.

11 December: Celebrate with Academic Affairs

Time to Celebrate! Please join the Academic Affairs staff, in our office, on Thursday, December 18 between 11:30 and 1:30 for an end of the semester open house. We hope you will take a break from your grading, get together with your colleagues, have some treats, and get ready for the holidays.

Sabine O'Hara

9 December: Martin Luther King Celebration

To: Faculty

From: Sabine U. O'Hara, Academic Vice President and Dean of the College

Re: Martin Luther King Celebration

As you prepare your syllabi for the spring term of 2004 please note that a celebration in memory of Dr. Martin Luther King will be held on Monday, January 19 from 9:20 - 10:20 a.m. By action of the Faculty Senate on December 1, 2003, classes on Monday, January 19 will be as follows:

First class period, 8:00 - 9:10 a.m.
MLK Celebration, 9:20 - 10:20 a.m.
Second class period, 10:30 - 11:40

The request for this revised class schedule came to us from Johnathan Judd, Director of Multicultural Affairs. Attached please also find a schedule of events in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King's life and work prepared by the office of Multicultural Affairs. For questions regarding these events please contact Johnathan Judd.

8 December: Core Committee, "Goals of Liberal Learning"

Colleagues:

The Core Committee would like to thank the numerous individuals, departments and academic programs that have submitted written responses to the "Goals of Liberal Learning." We will begin reviewing your suggestions and hope to produce and distribute a revised draft of the learning goals by 5 January 2004. As we indicated in our tentative timeline, the Core Committee has arranged community forums to discuss the revised draft of the "Goals of Liberal Learning." We have scheduled three forums for your convenience. 

• Tuesday, 6 January 2004 - 7:00-8:30 PM. - Frida Nilsen Lounge
• Wednesday, 7 January 2004 - 4:00-5:30 PM - Frida Nilsen Lounge
• Thursday, 8 January 2004 - 4:00-5:30 PM - Frida Nilsen Lounge

Appetizers and soft drinks will be provided courtesy of the Office of Academic Affairs.

We hope that you will be able to attend one of these meetings. This will be one of your last opportunities to voice your thoughts on the learning goals. Based on your suggestions, the Core Committee will attempt one last revision before submitting the final version to the Faculty Senate for vote. 

Thanks again for your assistance and best wishes for a happy holiday season.

Vincent Arnold, Chair

Dan Breedon, Division Chair of Core and Integrative Studies

Maddy Burchill

Robert Chabora

Mark Jensen

Monica Mori

8 December: Faculty Development Sessions

The campus community is invited to attend the following faculty development sessions:

On Tuesday December 9, Pedagogy Consultant Dr. Joan Kopperud will lead a session on classroom discussion strategies from 4:00 to 5:00 in Bishop Whipple 49.

On Tuesday December 9, Mary Larson (First Year Experience Coordinator) and Dr. Gary Totten (Learning Community Consultant) will lead a discussion of first year student success strategies and retention.

Kay Schneider
Director of Assessment and Institutional Research

8 December: Russ Pesola to Retire

Dec. 8, 2003

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

DR. SABINE O'HARA, Vice President for Academic Affairs and College Dean (218) 299-3001

AMY KELLY, News Bureau Director (218) 299-3642

THE CONCORDIA COLLEGE BAND CONDUCTOR RUSSELL PESOLA TO RETIRE

After 28 years of service to Concordia College, Dr. Russell Pesola, conductor of The Concordia College Band, has announced his intention to retire. Pesola has been conductor of the band since 1975. His retirement takes effect at the end of this fall's academic semester.

"Russ' love for music and commitment to excellence has been evidenced by his musicianship and his work with his students. He has touched the lives of so many here at Concordia and far beyond. We will miss him and wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement," says Dr. Sabine O'Hara, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the College. In addition to being conductor of The Concordia College Band, Pesola also serves as an associate professor of music at Concordia teaching trumpet and music education.

He is an active performer and plays trumpet with the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony. He also performs with the Prairie Wind Brass and The American Poijat (Finnish Brass Septet). He has conducted bands in public schools in Wabasso and Northfield, Minn., at Carleton College and at the University of Minnesota.

Pesola is an elected member of the American Bandmasters Association and is a member of the College Band Directors National Association, The World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, the Minnesota Music Educators Association, the Minnesota Band Directors Association and the Music Educators National Conference. Pesola holds a bachelor's degree in music education from St. Olaf College and has M.F.A. and D.M.A. degrees from the University of Minnesota.

A search for an interim conductor for the spring term is underway and a search for a new conductor is expected to be underway shortly.