14 December - International Education Staff

Dear Members of the Concordia Community,

In a recent memo to the faculty, Dean Krejci announced some strategic changes in staffing arrangements and responsibilities in the Office of International Education. Among these changes, new support staff positions have been developed this fall, and program needs have been addressed. I am pleased to announce that Stacy Rodlund has been appointed Assistant to the Director and that Kirsten Buchholz and Christina Larson have been hired as Program Coordinators. I look forward to further communication with faculty about these new staffing arrangements and to working with this talented team. Stacy has now assumed her position. Kirsten and Christina will begin their work for the College on December 19. Please join me in congratulating and welcoming Stacy, Kirsten, and Christina to their new positions in OIE.

Per Anderson

Professor of Religion Interim Director of International Education

14 December - The Rev. Ernie Mancini Receives Distinguished Service Award

Ernie Mancini, executive director of Alumni Relations, received the Ole and Lucy Flaat Distinguished Service Award Sunday, Dec. 11, at the faculty/staff Christmas dinner hosted by President Jolicoeur. The award is traditionally presented at the fall banquet. However, Ernie was out of town at that time due to the death of his father.

The Ole and Lucy Flaat Distinguished Service Award recognizes excellence in long-term service to the college, both as an outstanding professional and a person who is committed to the mission and goals of Concordia.

Roger Degerman,  Office of Communications

14 December - Principia phaseout

Dear Students and Advisors,

This message is intended for students (and their advisors) who have not yet signed up for Principia and one or more blocks of Discourse. You may have heard that next year's new students will be taking different first-year courses. However, these sections will not be available to you, our returning students. Only new students will take the Inquiry Seminar and the new communications courses.

Therefore - I am writing to strongly urge you to sign up for these courses now. We have a limited number of openings in both classes for the second semester and the times that are available may be more advantageous to your schedule. Next year, you will have a limited number of options, and so I urge you to consult the schedule and arrange your courses for the spring semester to include Discourse sections and/or Principia.

Advisors, I know that many of you have talked with your advisees about this and I want to thank you for being proactive in this way. I understand that many instructors in Discourse and Principia have waiting lists and so I know our options are limited. There are some sections with openings and I want to urge students to sign up for these courses if they can.

Mark J. Krejci, Ph.D. Dean of the College & Vice President for Academic Affairs

12 December - Library Hours

The Library will be open the following hours due to finals:

Tuesday, December 13: 7:45 am to 2:00 am

Wednesday, December 14: 7:45 am to 2:00 am

Thursday, December 15 regular hours- 7:45 am to Midnight

We will be closing early on Friday, December 16 at 4:30. Please remember to return your books that are due before this time.

If you have any questions please contact Leah Anderson at 4641 or landerso@cord.edu.

Thank you Leah Anderson Circulation Manager

12 December - Grade Submission

To: All Faculty

From: Carole Stalheim, Registrar

Final grades for the Fall 2005 Session will be due on or before DECEMBER 20 at 4:00 p.m. You will be able to access your classes on the WEB beginning Tuesday, December 13 at 12:00 noon.

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

Happy Holidays!

12 December - F.Y.I. Assessment and Institutional Research newsletter

TO: Faculty and Administrators

FROM: Kay Schneider

The December edition of the F.Y.I. newsletter is online at http://www.cord.edu/dept/acd/local/assess/dec2005.pdf

Contents include:

Survey Says: Open Doors Ranking of Institutions' Study Abroad Participation

Academic Affairs Strategic Initiative #7: Departmental Assessment Activities

Question of the month: Where do students live?

Happy Holidays!

8 December - Library Converting to New Catalog System

The Carl B. Ylvisaker Library is moving to a new online catalog system called MnPALS, a statewide library system mandated and funded by the state legislature. The new system already includes the University of Minnesota campus libraries and most libraries that were part of the PALS system. If you want to look at the new online catalog the MnPALS link is located on the left hand side of the library's webpage.

The online catalog will be "frozen" on December 16 which means new materials cannot be added until after we switch to the new system sometime in January. All library services will continue although they may be delivered in different ways and may be slower at the beginning of spring semester. Your patience during this transition will be appreciated.

Please note the following:

* The library will close at 4:30 pm on Friday, December 16 to give us time to complete procedures before we are "frozen". (Library hours during Christmas break are Monday - Thursday, December 19 - 22 and Tuesday, January 3 from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm.)

* Until we switch to the new system, patrons may search WebPALS and check out materials. (As noted above, new materials will not be included.) However, one cannot place holds or renew materials. If necessary to renew materials, please do so before December 16.

* The online catalog indexes books and media. Searching the electronic databases will not be affected.

Any problems or questions, please contact me or library staff.

Sharon Hoverson Library Director