The Council voted to approve the minutes of the October 14, 1997 meeting without corrections by a voice vote without dissent.

21st Century Committee Discussion

Dean Elizabeth McKinsey (presiding in President Lewis' absence) reminded the Council that the meeting had been convened to provide an opportunity for discussion of issues for consideration by the 21st Century Committee. She then asked Dean Shelby Boardman to update the Council on the committee's recent activities and to give the context for the ensuing discussion. Dean Boardman reported the committee has held a number of forums with different groups on campus with some successes and some emergence of questions. He noted that a concern was raised at the faculty forums about the representative nature of the process, and the speed with which the committee plans to accomplish its task. As a result, the committee has recently explored possibilities for extending the time for defining critical issues into winter term. The committee will appraise a second draft of an all-campus letter that will explain the recent adjustments and the work of the committee. He summarized that the committee has mostly been occupied with discussions of procedures, and is now looking for brainstorming from the Council that will help shape the discussions of the 21st Century Committee. He encouraged the Council to consider items that are central to Carleton's mission, that are approachable, and that have relevance to Carleton's longterm future. He reiterated the importance for the committee of being able to recognize the issues and concerns important to members of the Carleton community so as best to address these issues in the report.

Bill Martin asked about the extent to which student groups are being encouraged to participate in the discussion. Dean Boardman replied that the committee wants to involve students as much as possible and that once a preliminary list of issues has been established, students and others on campus will have the chance to respond. They agreed that the CSA Senate wishes to wait for discussion until the Committee has prepared a written document.

Staff Person Doug Foxgrover asked about the scale of issues that Dean Boardman would like the Council to brainstorm. Dean Boardman responded that although all issues, both of large and small scale would may be important, the energy of the 21st Century Committee will be directed mostly to broader fundamental ones.

The Council divided into two smaller groups for discussion, and adjourned until 5:30 to smaller classrooms.

At 5:30 the Council reconvened and each group gave a brief presentation and explanation of the results of its brainstorrning, with the combined issues as follows:

• Articulating identity (The underlying need to evaluate what is unique, important and worth conserving about Carleton)
• Cost/financial aid issues- affordability
• Achieving goals for a diverse community
• Achieving balanced lives for students, faculty and staff
• Space issues (housing, academic, administrative)
• Value of liberal arts education in modern society
• justifying the cost
• Tension related to students' academic versus co-curricular activities
• Continuing to attract the type of student valued at Carleton
• Clarifying and articulating educational expectations and requirements
• Perceptions of Carleton from outside the college
• Issues of changing technology
• Evaluating the relationship between disciplinary and interdisciplinary studies
• Evaluating the status and effectiveness of the current academic system of departments, and of majors and minors
• Examining the growing need to be a "global college", to prepare students for cross-cultural understanding
• Assessing the extent to which Carleton culture is based on an ethos of withdrawal and seclusion from the surrounding world
• Consideration of how well graduates make the transition away from Carleton, and ensuring that Carleton prepares its graduates as well as possible for this transition

Professor Chico Zimmerman shared with the Council the history of Carleton's seal, noting its original Greek text of a religious tenor, and suggested that a possible concrete effort for the future might be to produce an updated version of the seal for the new century which is more representative of Carleton.

Professor Bill Titus suggested that one possible way to address the issue of articulating Carleton's identity might be to consider what one would want to create if one were to make the ideal Carleton from scratch. Other Council members echoed the potential usefulness of this idea as part of the process of the 21st Century Committee, while noting the difference between asking what the ideal Carleton would be as opposed to what the community would ideally like the current Carleton to become.

Dean McKinsey thanked the Council for the issues raised during the meeting and reminded the Council of the channels available for continued input to the 21st Century Committee, and adjourned the meeting at 6:07 p.m.

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Meeting Notice
College Council Meeting Monday, November 10, 1997 Sayles-Hill 251
4:15 p.m.

Agenda

1. Approval of Minutes
2. President's Report Persident Stephen Lewis
3. Educational Plan for Carleton College for Sexual Patricia Mullen Harassment and Sexual Assault
4. Update on Organizing for Diversity Committee Dean Clem Shearer
5. Update on Budget Committee Dean Clem Shearer
6. Progress Report on Interest Houses Task Force Dean Mark Govoni
7. Report on Civil Disobedience Dean Mark Govoni
8. New Business