30 November - December Assessment Workshop

Gathering Qualitative Information: Assessment Isn't Just Numbers

Wednesday, December 1, 8:30-9:30 in Brown Hall Lounge
Thursday, December 2, 12:00-1:00 in Brown Hall Lounge**

Topics include:

What are some options for gathering non-numeric assessment information?
(focus groups, interviews, etc.)
Advantages and disadvantages of qualitative assessment
Conducting focus groups: why, when, and how?
Using results of qualitative assessment activities

**NOTE: Box lunches will be provided for the noon session. Please R.S.V.P.
to schneide@cord.edu so that we may obtain accurate catering counts.

29 November - December Graduates

Attention: Teaching Faculty

Subject: December Graduates

The list of 2004 graduates may be viewed by going to the following web page: http://www.cord.edu/dept/registrar/grad/2004.pdf

Please report the names of seniors who will receive failing grades or a grade of incomplete to the Registrar's Office by 1:00 p.m. on Friday, December 17. (Diploma inserts for these students are withheld until the incompletes are made up or until the student has completed the requirements for the degree.)

Honors for the commencement program are based on the semesters on which grades have been earned (including transfer credits). Final calculations for honors will be made after the grades for the current term are recorded. Students will be informed of any changes in status at that time.

Final grades must be submitted on the web on or before 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 21.

Please Note: The on-line list of graduates is current and is subject to change.

29 November - Centennial Research Scholar Lecture--Nov. 30

CENTENNIAL RESEARCH SCHOLAR LECTURE: "Recruitment & Retention of the Older Worker"

Please join Dr. Linda Keup, Assistant Professor, Business, Accounting and Economics, Lynn Lundebrek '05, Montevideo, MN, and Jacky Schumacher'04, Perham, MN, as they present the third faculty scholar lecture of the Fall 2004 semester on Tuesday, November 30, 7 p.m., in Frida Nilsen Lounge.

In a response to the massive turnover in the workplace anticipated by the approaching retirement of the baby boom generation, human resources managers are seeking ways to encourage workers to remain in the work force beyond the traditional retirement age. Using an employee survey sent to 1500 employees, this study identified attitudes toward working in retirement and those organizational policies and benefits that would encourage them to do so. Preliminary results show that, of those employees who expect to work at least part-time into their "retirement" years, the most important benefit is health insurance followed very closely by a flexible schedule and engaging in work that they are passionate about.

All are welcome. Refreshments will be served.

29 November - Message From The President

To the Faculty,

I understand that some of you are wondering about the purpose and content of the presentation that I am doing for the whole faculty this afternoon during the Senate time slot. This is how it came about. I asked for an opportunity to present my current thinking - shaped by the many conversations I have had and more formal input from the President's Council - about where we are with the strategic planning process and where we need to go. After previewing the materials with the Faculty Executive Committee, this seemed like the appropriate time to do it.

The focus of my presentation is on our collective assessment of Concordia's current "situation," the starting place for creation or assessment of any plan. The meat of it will be presentation of the data from the three market-oriented pieces of research, commissioned last year, which have now been completed. I want to share it widely and to hear back from you about what you make of it. I'll also suggest where we might go from here in terms of process.

That's it. I hope to see many of you there.

Pamela M. Jolicoeur, President

23 November - April 2005 Conf on Innovations in Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

To: Faculty

From: St. Olaf and Carleton Colleges (Northfield, MN)

Call for Proposals

Proposal Deadline: December 5, 2004

Innovations in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning at the Liberal Arts Colleges

April 1-3, 2005

Hosted by St. Olaf and Carleton Colleges Northfield, MN http://www.stolaf.edu/depts/cila/InnovateConf/Innovations.htm

Keynote speakers: Pat Hutchings, Vice President, Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Charles F. Blaich, Director of Inquiries, Center of Inquiry in the Liberal Arts, Wabash College.

We invite faculty and staff members from liberal arts colleges across the nation to gather this spring to share approaches to the study of teaching and learning in the liberal arts context.

- David Schodt, Director, Center for Innovation in the Liberal Arts, St. Olaf College

- Mary Savina, Coordinator, Perlman Center for Learning and Teaching, Carleton College

For additional information, please see the conference web site, or email Susan Carlson or Jennifer Cox Johnson.

22 November - Division Chair for Literature, Languages and Cultures Nominations

To: Faculty

From: Mark Krejci, Interim Dean & VP for Academic Affairs

Colleagues,

Nominations are being solicited for the Division Chair for Literature, Languages and Cultures. The candidate must be a tenured faculty member with the rank of Professor preferred but Associate Professors will be considered. Division Chairs provide program and budget oversight, contribute to the faculty evaluation process, is involved with faculty appointment, serves as the Dean's representative on committees and also serves on Faculty Senate. This division is comprised of the departments of Classical Studies, English, French & Russian, German, Scandinavian Studies and Spanish.

Nominations and self-nominations will be accepted until December 3rd. Those nominated will be notified by Interim Dean Krejci. Candidates should submit a statement of interest and a current vita by December 10th. A review committee, composed of representatives from each department within the division, will review each candidate and provide their comments to the Interim Dean. Interim Dean Krejci will make the final appointment by January 14th if not sooner.

For a complete position description, please contact Interim Dean Krejci. Thank you for your interest in developing future leadership for the College.

Mark J. Krejci, Ph.D. Interim Dean & Vice President for Academic Affairs Professor, Psychology Department Concordia College Moorhead, Minnesota

17 November - Student Lecture Series--Call for Nominations

Student Lecture Series--Call for Nominations -- DEADLINE - Wednesday, November 24, 2004

The Special Awards Committee asks faculty members to nominate students for participation in the Student Lecture Series for Spring Semester 2005. This series recognizes outstanding scholarly work done by students at Concordia College, providing them with an opportunity to discuss their findings with others in a public forum. Presentations of interest from students in all fields of study are welcome in order to represent the broad spectrum of student talents at Concordia. Lecture topics chosen previously for the Student Lecture Series include:

"Irish-Americans in the Civil War: The Path Toward Gaining Acceptance"

"Buddhist Psychology and the Cognitive Sciences"

"From Across the Sea. . . A Look at Two Deadly Tropical Diseases"

"The Mathematical Basis of Factorized Time Correlation Analysis"

Nominating Process:

All students who wish to participate must be nominated by a faculty member. Faculty members are requested to nominate students who are working on a class project or who have completed a project in a previous class. Nomination of a student or student group indicates a faculty member's willingness to be a resource person for the student lecturer.

In order to nominate a student or group of students, a faculty member should submit a letter of nomination that includes: a) an evaluation of the quality of the proposed presentation, and b) an assessment of when the project will be completed

The student should submit:

a) a concise title for the presentation,

b) an abstract (150 words maximum) of the presentation suitable for publicity purposes, and

c) a 2-3 page summary of the presentation

The above should be submitted in both hard copy and electronic form.

Deadline: Please submit these materials to Paul Nesheim, Chair of the Special Awards Committee, nesheim@cord.edu, by Wednesday, November 24, 2004. Notification of selections will be made by Wednesday, December 8, 2004.

Criteria for Selection:

The Special Awards Committee of the Faculty Senate selects up to three students or student groups to give lectures each semester. Preference will be given to projects and presentations of quality that are likely to stimulate discussion in a general audience. An effort will be made to present a balance in the disciplines represented by the lectures.

Students or faculty members who have any questions about the nomination or selection processes may contact Paul Nesheim, Chair of the Special Awards Committee, 299-3285, Ext. 310 or nesheim@cord.edu

17 November - Faculty development opportunities

Date: November 17, 2004

To: All Faculty

From: Jim Aageson, Chair, Division of Arts and Humanities

Re: Faculty development opportunities

Carleton College announces "Innovations in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning at the Liberal Arts Colleges." This is an opportunity for faculty and staff members from liberal arts colleges across the nation to share approaches to the study of teaching and learning in the liberal arts context. This event will be held April 1-3, 2005 in Northfield, MN and is hosted by St. Olaf and Carleton Colleges. http://www.stolaf.edu/depts/cila/InnovateConf/Innovations.htm

Deadline for Proposals: December 5, 2004

Registration Deadline: January 14, 2005

Calvin College announces Summer 2005 Seminars and Workshops in Christian Scholarship. See www.calvin.edu/scs for a complete list of events and schedule information.

9 November - Simon Fellowship For Noble Purpose

To: All Faculty

From: Jim Aageson, Chair, Division of Arts and Humanities

Re: Simon Fellowship For Noble Purpose

The Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI) has established the William E. Simon Fellowship for Noble Purpose for graduating college seniors who are dedicated to pursuing lives that will benefit themselves and their fellow men and women--that is, lives of "noble purpose."

The William E. Simon Fellowship is funded by the John Templeton Foundation, created by renowned international investor Sir John Templeton to encourage a fresh appreciation of the importance--for all peoples and cultures--of the moral and spiritual dimensions of life.

The Simon Fellowship is an unrestricted cash grant that will be awarded to those graduating college seniors who have demonstrated passion, dedication, a high capacity for self-direction, and originality in pursuit of a goal that will strengthen civil society. Examples of how recipients may use their award include:

Engage directly in the civic life of their community.

Help to create opportunity for others, including job creation.

Advance their expertise.

Fund the ultimate realization of their noble purpose.

In addition to their mature conception of and passion for what they hope to accomplish, nominees for the award will be evaluated on the basis of their academic record and extracurricular activities.

Each year ISI will award three fellowships for Noble Purpose. The top award will be for $40,000. Two additional fellows will be chosen each year to receive grants of $5,000 each. Over the coming five years, ISI will award $250,000 to graduating college seniors who are named Simon Fellows.

IMPORTANT DEADLINE. Please send your nominations for this award to your division chair, no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, November 12.

4 November - Faculty development opportunities

Date: November 4, 2004

To: All Faculty

From: Jim Aageson, Chair, Division of Arts and Humanities

Re: Faculty development opportunities

Following is a list of programs, workshops, grants and conferences available for faculty professional development and growth. Some opportunities are also available for students, so please contact any students who may be qualified.

Complete information including descriptions, eligibility requirements, and registration deadlines about each of these is located in the Division of Arts and Humanities Office in BW247, or contact Shanda Schmidt at the Division of Arts and Humanities (4344 or sschmidt@cord.edu).

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The Ford Foundation announces diversity fellowships designed to increase the diversity of the nation's college and university facilities by increasing their ethnic and racial diversity, to maximize the educational benefits of diversity and to increase the number of professors who can and will use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students. For complete information see http://national-academies.org/fellowships 

Application deadlines: Predoctoral November 17, 2004 Disseration December 1, 2004 Postdoctoral December 15, 2004

The James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation announces fellowships in 2005 for master's degree level graduate study of the framing and history of the U.S. Constitution. College seniors and college graduates who intend to become secondary teachers of American history, American government, or social studies are eligible for the fellowships. http://www.jamesmadison.com 

Application deadline: March 1, 2005

3 November - American Indian Heritage Month

Concordia College to Celebrate American Indian Heritage Month

Concordia College will celebrate American Indian Heritage Month in November by presenting a series of educational programs on a number of intriguing topics such as native spirituality, philosophy, artistry, and social issues. The theme for this year is "NATIVE REALITIES". The events focus on the diverse perspectives and experiences of American Indians throughout the United States, particularly in the Midwest.

All events are free and open to the public. For more information, call American Indian Programs, Concordia College, at (218) 299-4171.

The schedule of events is listed here.

Sharon Eagleman Director American Indian Recruiting and Programming Concordia College

1 November - November Assessment Workshop

ASSESSMENT WORKSHOP: Interpreting Data and Using Results: How to make meaning from the information you have collected.

Tuesday, November 9 12:00-1:00 in Brown Hall Lounge**

Wednesday, November 10 2:40-3:40 in Brown Hall Lounge

Topics include:

Analyzing and interpreting survey results, test results, and other assessment information

Examples of how Concordia faculty have reported and used assessment information to improve their program

Converting assessment results into actionable information ("closing the loop")

Discussion of the "If you can't use it, don't collect it" theory: doing more with useful information rather than collecting more information

**NOTE: Box lunches will be provided for the noon session. Please R.S.V.P. to schneide@cord.edu so that we may obtain accurate catering counts.