April 21, 2006

President Wilson convened the meeting at 9:00 am.    He welcomed Professor Rebecca Gearhart, the newest faculty representative to the Committee, who will serve a 3-year term.

The President asked Vice President Klotzbach to review the list of capital projects scheduled for completion in Summer 2006.  A modest number of items were included, all focusing on health, safety, or efficiency (e.g., installation of an elevator in Stevenson Hall and replacement of a steam line).  In response to a question, he noted that Sheean Library would not be razed this summer.  The President stated that he hoped to fund the demolition of Sheean through any funds raised in excess of those needed to complete the Welcome Center. 

Vice President Klotzbach then continued with an update on the tentative budget for 2006-07.  Budget projections going forward have been recently adjusted to reflect a change in study-abroad tuition policy (resulting in a forecast of additional revenues) as well as additional safety and health expenses recommended by the ad hoc Athletic Task Force appointed after the death of senior football player Doug Schmied last August.   The good news is that future budgets continue to show a reduction, and eventual elimination, of the additional draw on the endowment that has been necessary for the past several years.  Future budgetary goals also include adding more dollars to the capital projects budget each year.  Committee members commended the President and Vice President Klotzbach for their work on the budget in the last couple of years.

The discussion then turned to implementation of the Identity goal, a discussion that was understood to be preliminary, pending the appointment of a new Vice President for Public Relations.  The group agreed that most of the strategies outlined under the Identity goal were primarily directed at external audiences (e.g., Web presence, media relations, market research, core messages, etc.).  The Vice President for Public Relations will be the chief administrator responsible for implementing these strategies, but a great deal of collaboration with the campus community will be required for any Identity plan to be successful.  The first strategy under the Identity goal, in contrast, is largely focused on internal audiences, and the new Provost will play a key role in helping to foster conversations with the aim of developing a shared understanding of Illinois Wesleyan's Mission and Vision Statements, including the institutional values underlying the statements.  Acting Dean Griffiths suggested that the Fall Faculty Conference might be an opportune time to begin those conversations and indicated that he was in the process of inviting external speakers to the conference to stimulate our thinking.

The Committee agreed to meet again for the final time this year on Friday, May 12.  

Distributed to all Faculty and Staff: May 12, 2006