Minutes of FAH CHAIRS MEETING 1/25/10

FAH CHAIRS MEETING 1/25/10 -- MINUTES

PRESENT:  David Mycoff, Gary Hawkins, Warren Gaughin, Ron Bashford, Dusty Benedict (standing in for Leah Leitson), Philip Otterness, Graham Paul
MISSING:  Sally Fischer (family emergency), Angela Phillips (no word)

Announcements:
Graham announced that he'd be sending his enrollment analysis to dept. chairs (their department only); also, that he'd fill out Ali's form for SACS (part-time faculty info) as best he could and send to dept. chairs to fill in the blanks.

Old Business:

1)  FAH department needs (20 min):  Graham handed out list developed last semester and recently sent to Strategic Plan committee dealing with facilities (Ben Feinberg, Chair).  All agreed that teaching/learning space issue is paramount for division and efforts should focus on that.  Discussion of general vs. specific needs.  Graham said he would draft a statement to give to the Strategic Plan committee, one following up list of FAH dept. needs he sent and more forcefully stating general and departmental needs.  He'll run it by dept. chairs for approval/revsion.

2) Dealing with FMTS to get immediate physical needs met (15 min):  General discussion, but seems that specific issues limited to Art, Music, maybe Theatre (no current projects underway).  Dusty sees no movement at all on various projects, including those intended to address dangerous situations.  Work being done on Music's practice room conversion (including knocking out electricity).  Ron wondered why it took so long to get heating for Kitt. Theatre & Music Wing fixed.  Warren said cold in buildings was worst in his 30 years here.  All seemed to agree that problem with FMTS was systemic.  Graham said he will resume pushing forwork on various projects.

3) Enrollment issues:  somehow, this didn't get discussed.  Earlier, Graham was asked what his "analysis" of spring FAH enrollments revealed (see announcements above) and he mentioned large ENG classes, which pertains to issue of crunch of ENG courses required by Creative Writing, English, and Theatre/English Majors--but we didn't discuss this issue.


New Business:

1)  Centralize information about FAH events, especially those near end of semester (10 min): 

2)  FAH division party?? (5 min) (see below)

3)  Other (10 whole minutes):  Graham raised issue of evaluating division system; raised question of whether FAH should be split into FA & H.  Philip wondered why have a division at all, noting that we were different from Soc. & Nat.Sciences.  General discussion about need for identity, visibility, and fraternizing.  Warren talked about wanting opportunities for socializing for talk about teaching, etc.  Ron suggested more random social events not necessarily including everyone.  Date Graham set for FAH Div meeting conflicts with one of two Chairs Committee meetings.  Discussion seemed to coalesce around idea of FAH div. meeting at Beacon Pub, so Graham will try to arrange. 



FAH Departmental Needs (from FAH Division meeting 8/14/09)

ART:  1 doz. computer stations; metalworking area for safe cutting and welding;
offices for five faculty; Holden major repair/renovation, including making Holden
Auditorium "smart"; more storage space; conference room; structural improvements
to tie three Art buildings together.

ENGLISH:  More space!  Smart classrooms! faculty development funds (or new
position?) to work with new MAT (Master of Teacher Ed.) Program; eventually a 6th
faculty position.

HISTORY/POLITICAL SCIENCE:  Right-sized classrooms!  Smart classrooms!  Support for
working with MAT Program.

MODERN LANGUAGES:  More classrooms!  Smart classrooms!  Restore language lab;
Gen. Ed. language requirement, with additional position(s) such a change would
make necessary; support for working with MAT Program.
MUSIC:  Additional music rehearsal space (immediate: long-delayed conversion of
storage space!); renovate Recital Hall and make "smart"; make K16 classroom
"smart"; three additional faculty offices; general renovation of entire Music Wing,
most urgently new chairs, tables, carpet; campus web-radio station facility (?).
PHILOSOPHY:  Real office for faculty--with a window!  Upgrade 2/3 position to full-
time; right-sized classrooms!  Smart classrooms!  support (time & $$) for curriculum
development;

THEATRE:  Space beyond Kitt. stage for instruction, rehearsal, performance
(Real dance studio, performance/rehearsal studio, design lab/classroom, smart
classroom); 2-3 faculty offices; storage spaces; funds & support for post-graduate
internship with local professional theatre + Theatre Dept.

WRITING:  NEW FICTION POSITION!  Smart classrooms!  Unified departmental space.

DIVISION-WIDE NEEDS: 
The "Big Fire" (in Casey's words) seems to be the need for classrooms/studios sized
according to pedagogical needs and provided with appropriate technology, but not
far behind:

• Renovation of Jensen public spaces; serious improvement of entire Jensen
• environment; Arts communal gathering space (with café); PROFESSIONAL
• ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS!  Money for FAH January Retreat.

(I could list other FAH needs such as informations website, crew support, etc., but
these are the items from my notes in the meeting.)

Quick report on Academic Council meeting 11/4

Dear FAH Faculty--

Here's a very quick report on the Academic Council meeting I just came from.  Nothing earthshaking--I just need to communicate quickly to you after every such meeting (Acad. Council, Exec. Committee, FAH Chairs), and I have been remiss in not doing so more regularly.

Reminder:  Academic Council includes the VPAA,the Assoc. Dean, the Div. Chairs, the Faculty Body officers, and directors of FYS & Writing Program, gen. ed., sustainablity, technology, and assessment (I may have left someone out).

Topics discussed:

• Faculty positions:  Paula stressed that the college will be in basically a "no-growth" posture for the next 2-3 years--no increase in numbers of students and therefore no additional $$ from that source--and she's fighting to make sure that positions that have been approved (Creative Writing, Music, Art) stay approved even if searches are postponed.  (I would certainly appreciate frequent updates on current searches/discussions regarding these positions.)  We talked about the need for faculty, working with Academic Affairs, to determine the appropriate number of positions for a student body of the current--and presumably future--size (940 this fall).  That determination can serve as a basis for continued proposals for new positions; the need will be there, regardless of funding availability.  Academic Affairs may start this process and then turn it over to Faculty Body.
• MAT (M.A. in Teaching) questions raised in yesterday's Fac. Bod. meeting regarding graduate-level independent studies:  Consensus was that since Grace was presenting the program concept for the first time and it won't go into effect until 2011, it's too soon to deal with some logistical issues--they will be worked out.  (I had a good long conversation with Grace about how some FAH departments could participate in the program--exciting stuff, though still early days.)
• General discussion on faculty morale (how to keep it up; how to deal with issues, rumors, etc.; how to facilitate clear communication):  One point that I made was that division chairs bear responsibility in conveying good information to our faculty, so Paula isn't left to deal with every question individually.  A general point regarding rumors which we all agreed on was that we should spread the word to everyone:  If you hear something and you want to know more, ask.  Ask me!  If I don't know, I'll find out and get back to you.  I think that's one of my major jobs.
• Continued talk on transparency led to a suggestion that we find a way to issue very simple accounts of what committees have met, when, who's on them, and what was discussed. (The idea is that such info would be much briefer than this report, for example:  Very, very basic.)  The point is for everybody to know what issues are being discussed.  An added benefit would be to increase the desire for all faculty members to serve on committees of particular interest to them.  There was discussion that some faculty members get tapped to serve much more than others; how can we spread the work so that everyone is involved but not overloaded?  Noting the level of involvement (or uninvolvment) in division chair responses to a faculty member's annual report is another good way to encourage involvement and discourage burnout.

Those are the main issues we discussed.  I might add more later but I want to get this up now.  Thanks for reading it!

Cheers,

Graham

Message from da FAH Chair

Dear FAH Chairs & Faculty--

I'm accumulating a growing list of things to talk to you about.  I'll be scheduling a FAH Chairs meeting for early next term, and I'd like to follow it with a FAH faculty meeting.  I may write more on the FAH Blog, but for now:

LIBRARY:  A time of reckoning and perhaps change is coming regarding library book orders and departmental book budgets.  Right now, the message from both Joy Pastucha (Acquisitions) and Chris Nugent (Director) is this:  Make sure you are not neglecting to order books in your discipline in order to keep the library's collection current.  Doing so benefits not only student research but faculty research and professional development.  ESPECIALLY:  Remember that faculty in new and upgraded full-time positions get a budget of $350 for each of the first two years (those of you who are new just got an email from Joy regarding your individual budgets).  Use it or lose it.  Some new courses get a budget of $300 (also an email from Joy to some instructors).  These funds are budgeted, and a real privilege:  use 'em!

FIRST YEAR SEMINARS:  Gary needs help in planning the first year seminars for the future, which means that we department chairs (and faculty) need to be planning when we will offer these seminars several years out and who will teach.  Not easy to plan for the future, but it's something that many of us (me) need to learn how to do better.  We'll all benefit.  Actually, maybe we can do FYS planning best as a division; we should be able to come up with a list of promised FYS seminars (or instructors at least) from FAH for the next 3-5 years.  We'll talk more about this in upcoming FAH chair & faculty meetings.

CCII:  Gary, wearing another of his many hats, needs our assistance as he works on the CCII component of the gen ed program.  I'll let him take it from here, but again, look for discussion at FAH chair & FAH faculty meetings next term.

ADVANCEMENT, GRANT APPLICATIONS:  Carol has been talking to Grant Writer/ Researcher Kelly Christianson, who would like to meet with our division (she's already met with the Social Sciences Division!).  The more she knows about us as individuals, as departments, and as a division, the better.  Talking with Kelly is one strong reason for having a division meeting next term, and relates directly to the last item on my list. 

PHYSICAL NEEDS (now stop it!  I'm talking about learning and office spaces.):  We made a list, we've conveyed departmental needs to Paula and to PAC, we've affected the strategic planning process, and now we need to continue to develop and refine our most pressing spatial needs.  We're about to move into the "Action Plan" stage of the planning process--where the rubber really meets the road, as they say.  Department Chairs:  Please work with those in your department to identify and articulate (succinctly) your most pressing needs, and please give me what you come up with at our Chairs meeting early next term.

That's all I'll write at this point.  I'll paste this on the FAH Blog, too, and may add more.  I'll be emailing department chairs to arrange a FAH Chairs meeting soon after we return from break.

Cheers,

Yer Chair,
Graham

Graham Paul
Chair, Fine Arts and Humanities Division
Co-Chair, Department of Theatre
Warren Wilson College
Asheville, North Carolina
phone: 828/771-3041

http://www.warren-wilson.edu/~theatre/
http://get.wwtheatre.info

Executive Committee meeting notes

Quick notes on the most recent Executive Committee meeting (division chairs + dean Paula + assoc. dean Carol):

In our meeting of 9/16 we discussed some issues that were raised in the Chairs Committee meeting the previous day (as a result of MY course proposals!):  What to do about a course proposed by an adjunct that is truly interdepartmental; that is, one that doesn't clearly fall within a specific department.  Paula expressed concern about making the curriculum wide open and so feels it's important that any course be housed in a department.  Makes sense.  The question then is, should a department be allowed to offer a course that doesn't clearly fall within its discipline (the course in question was Theatre's proposed ST Art and the Apocalypse)?  No clear answer, but there's clear concern about "adjunct creep" and having a basis for turning down a course proposal.

The larger issue came up as to whether the Chairs Committee should approve Special Topics course proposals.  Seemed to be general agreement that authority could stay at departmental level,  rather than rise to the level of all department chairs.

We agreed that the time was right to go ahead and put ballots in mailboxes for the major changes to "the document formerly known as green".  General celebrating ensued for the next 5 seconds.  Only one absolutely crucial issue remains:  What Color???  Judgment:  We'll see. 

Each division chair (Nat Sciences, Soc Sciences, Library, FAH) gave a quick report on what was happening.  The Library has evidently hit a temporary glitch with construction of the study rooms; Chris is a model of patience.  Paul reported that Natural Science Div is talking to PAC about the college possibly adopting one or both environmental quality programs that have been cut by UNCA (one dealing with lead poisoning prevention in the area, the other with water quality issues in streams, lakes, etc.).  Exciting prospects.  I followed with a summary of what's been going on in FAH (see my earlier post) and mentioned my interest in a Center for Community Based Research, which coincides with the Nat. Sciences idea.  Some general excitement about the possibilities for real interdisciplinary work through community-based research (Service)!

That's it.

Latest FAH-related news bits

Here are some things that have been happening:


FAH Chairs met Sept 2 -- I met with the chairs of our eight departments:  Leah, David (Mycoff), Warren, Sally, Ron, and Gary--Dongping sat in for Phil Otterness, and Angela couldn't make it.  The one item on the agenda was how and whether to use the list of departmental needs generated at our earlier FAH Division meeting to influence the strategic planning process (big community meeting planned for the following day).  We agreed to draft a statement intended to signal the need for appropriate teaching/learning spaces across all departments to replace the "Build a new building" item in the draft Strategic Plan.  That evening, I drafted a statement to submit to PAC and sent it to the chairs for revision.  Ron offered revisions and Gary drafted a wonderfully pithy version, which I subsequently emailed to Paula and PAC on behalf of FAH.

Further Strategic Plan developments -- Following the very successful community-wide strategic planning day, PAC released a much revised draft of the plan.  I was gratified to see our proposed change adopted almost word-for-word.  Following the faculty meeting on Sept. 8 (our "affinity group"), Paula released another much-revised version to present to the community last Thursday (Sept. 17).  At first, I was dismayed, thinking that our concern for upgrading teaching/learning spaces had disappeared or become too vague, but, looking more closely, I found the statement moved under Priority #1 and rephrased to include all areas of the college.  I think our efforts to create a more inclusive call for improving our facilities have paid off (although Ron pointed out to me afterward that it places resources for academic facilities in a wider competitive field).  Now, of course, comes the nitty gritty:  Developing the Acting Plan.

Other news and developments:  
Regarding the ongoing General Education revision discussion, Jeff Holmes announced in an Academic Council meeting (Sept. 2) that the results of his survey at faculty retreat regarding opinions on the need to change the program--and in what ways--indicate that the faculty is "all over the place" with this exception:  There is almost universal agreement on the need for a foreign language requirement of some kind.  A discussion of what such a requirement would look like and what it would intend should be interesting, with major consequences for the Modern Languages Department.

I've continued trying to help move a few facilities-improvement projects along:  Art (clay mixing room air quality issue, 3-D sculpture/metalworking studio) and Music (the decade-long-delayed conversion of a storage area to a band practice room).  Dealing with FMTS continues to be frustrating, although I honestly think they are trying harder to communicate where things stand--but I'm not sure things are actually moving any faster.  Maybe.  Steve Williams finally had to threaten to lock down the Music Wing in order to get a lock replaced (and the repair is still temporary).  The system is still very, very broken, something that I think PAC realizes.  My plan is to help the process as much as I can so that things actually get done--but not to replace direct communication between departments and FMTS!  If anyone has problems in this area, please let me know.

Writing Department adjuncts are now ensconced in half of Mitchell House (the stone duplex between the amphitheatre and the health center).  During this year, plans will be laid to renovate the entire building for office space--and FAH has priority (I believe!).

Speaking of Modern Languages, I was much involved in a last-minute attempt--successful--to find an adjuct to teach Spanish I & II in the wake of Luis's departure.  Thanks to Leslie Bradshaw's assistance, we found D.D. Swift, who is a welcome addition to the program.

Warren Gaughin has arranged for a consultant to visit the Music Department next month to help in their process to significantly beef up the Appalachian music part of the program, particularly with the upgrading of a part-time position to full-time status (delayed from last year).  As part of the same process, Phil Jamison is already teaching half-time in the Music Department (thanks, Mathematics).

Bette Bates and Don Baker are going to serve on the Sustainability Task Force.  I was bothered by the fact that Margo Flood had no one from FAH on this possibly influential group--now there are two!

I've been involved in two other areas that are not exclusively FAH-related (although both could be):

1)  I'm officially Chair of Integrative Studies.  There are now only three people on that committee:  Lucy Lawrence, John Casey, and me (Mallory McDuff is helping).  There's general agreement that the program much change if it is to continue.  I'll be organizing a conversation to that end.  Meanwhile, students keep talking to us about proposing an Integrative Studies Major.  The program is currently under the Social Sciences Division, but Ben Feinberg and I are talking about bringing it under FAH.

2)  I'm becoming more and more involved in an effort to support service learning and the SLO by promoting community-based research, even to the point of brainstorming about a Center for Community Based Learning, perhaps in partnership with UNCA (my immediate connection is through an interest in the community-based arts movement--particularly regarding performance).  Some of us will be going to a workshop at Maryville College next month--they've got what could be a good model for us.  Recent developments in the Natural Sciences regarding this kind of thing (there are two orphan programs that deal with water quality and lead poisoning issues in the area--and the college might help) could result in interdepartmental initiatives.  I'm an advocate for even greater involvement by faculty and students in helping solve problems in the area, as long as the needs are coming out of the communities themselves--which is what community-based research is all about.  This is something that Franklin Tate--to whom we bid farewell on Friday (though he'll still be in the area)--has been advocating for years.  If anyone in FAH is interested and wants to know more, let me know.

That's all for now.  Too long as it is.  Must make more posts more frequently--and shorter!

Graham

FAH Division Meeting: FAH Space Program!

Dear FAH Colleagues,

Thanks so much for making the FAH Division Meeting held Friday 8/14 such an exciting, energized, productive event.  There was a palpable sense of excitement and purpose in the room, created around the issue of making our voice heard loud and clear, particularly in the context of the development of the new College Strategic Plan and most prominently (but not exclusively) concerning OUR NEEDS FOR SPACE--hence my calling for a FAH Space Program! 

But of course we can't wait and just hope that we have a real voice in that plan; we need to make sure that our needs are addressed in the short run as well as the long run.  That's a big part of my job.  Your job is to make me do it!  You made a great start at the meeting by holding the shortest department meetings in history and then reporting back to the group on your needs.  Now I'm getting those needs we listed at the meeting out in front of us all so we can look at them.  I've also emailed department chairs so we can find a time to meet together soon.

(Department Chairs, please let us all know via comments to this blog posting if your departments have changes to make to the notes below, and please let us know as soon as possible which need is most urgent in the eyes of your department.)

Here's the breakdown according to my notes, by department.  Following this list (or in another post if I run out of time), I'll include other notes from the meeting.

FAH Departmental Needs:

ART:  1 doz. computer stations; metalworking area for safe cutting and welding; offices for five faculty; Holden major repair/renovation, including making Holden Auditorium "smart"; more storage space; conference room; structural improvements to tie three Art buildings together.

ENGLISH:  More space!  Smart classrooms! faculty development funds (or new position?) to work with new MAT (Master of Teacher Ed.) Program; eventually a 6th faculty position.

HISTORY/POLITICAL SCIENCE:  Right-sized classrooms!  Smart classrooms!  Support for working with MAT Program.

MODERN LANGUAGES:  More classrooms!  Smart classrooms!  Restore language lab; Gen. Ed. language requirement, with additional position(s) such a change would make necessary; support for working with MAT Program.

MUSIC:  Additional music rehearsal space (immediate: long-delayed conversion of storage space!); renovate Recital Hall and make "smart"; make K16 classroom "smart"; three additional faculty offices; general renovation of entire Music Wing, most urgently new chairs, tables, carpet; campus web-radio station facility (?).

PHILOSOPHY:  Real office for faculty--with a window!  Upgrade 2/3 position to full-time; right-sized classrooms!  Smart classrooms!  support (time & $$) for curriculum development;

THEATRE:  Space beyond Kitt. stage for instruction, rehearsal, performance (Real dance studio, performance/rehearsal studio, design lab/classroom, smart classroom); 2-3 faculty offices; storage spaces; funds & support for post-graduate internship with local professional theatre + Theatre Dept.

WRITING:  NEW FICTION POSITION!  Smart classrooms!  Unified departmental space.

DIVISION-WIDE NEEDS: 
The "Big Fire" (in Casey's words) seems to be the need for classrooms/studios sized according to pedagogical needs and provided with appropriate technology, but not far behind:
Renovation of Jensen public spaces; serious improvement of entire Jensen environment; Arts communal gathering space (with café); PROFESSIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS!  Money for FAH January Retreat.
(I could list other FAH needs such as informations website, crew support, etc., but these are the items from my notes in the meeting.)

These are the needs I recorded from the meeting.  Chairs, please let us know your department's most crucial priority.  I'll add other meeting notes in another post.

Thank you all for good work.  Please, let's not let the momentum slow. 

Submitted by:
Yr hmbl & ever-vigilent Chair,
Graham Paul

Trying to summarize summer

Hello, FAH folks--

Well, I re-started the "New" FAH Blog as a conduit for information about what I'm doing as FAH Chair and then--of course--added nothing.  Okay, here goes:

What I Did On My Summer Vacation by Graham Paul

Mid-May:  After reviewing files and ARSEs at hand, I meet with Paula to advise her as she makes decisions on merit raises and salary inequities (she asked all division chairs to do this).  Not very much in the way of big bucks to work with, but something.  Presumably, this task will become routine, so make sure you put all your many achievements in your ARSEs (if you know what I mean).
        Soon after Commencement, I join many of you for a workshop for department chairs.  We discuss leadership philosophy and qualities, the many tasks of the department chair, assessment, adjunct issues, division ideas, legal issues, department chair compensation, etc.  A good day.

End of May:  Warren Gaughan and I travel to lovely Boston, MA (rain & gray weather, but not bad) for a jam-packed three-day Workshop for Department and Division Chairs (hosted by the CIC) at the lovely Cambridge Hyatt Regency.  An amazing amount of information, conversation, and stimulation (of the intellectual kind only, of course).  Terrific presentations.  I scribble furiously, and I eventually transcribe about half of those scribbles into a document-in-progress which can be found HERE.  I can't tell you department chairs and potential chairs (and potential division chairs hey-hey!) how beneficial these annual workshops can be.  I strongly, strongly urge you to go to the next one.  Paula will pay, and it doesn't come out of your personal faculty development kitty.  For someone like me, who still considers administration something of a foreign country, it was quite a trip.  Three of the thousands of thoughts I came away with:  1)  It is wonderfully illuminating to learn to "think like a dean", if only a little bit, and can take you a long way toward getting the resources a department may need;  2)  it's vitally important that faculty receive all the information they need to improve their programs; and 3)  don't ever lose sight of the main thing in making decisions:  It's what's best for the students that counts; and 3)  Warren and I and a couple of other folks we've met have an amazing night of theatre when we attend Jerry Springer: The Opera.


Sometime in June:  I get more deeply involved in the issues around who and what Bryson Gym will be for when it finally re-opens (if ever).  A couple of meetings reveal that Outdoor Leadership needs the space desperately, as does Wellness for their classes, and of course the Old Farmers Ball (contra dancing), but We Can All Get Along.  Some of us get excited about possible inexpensive renovations beyond what's planned to make the space suitable for performances, rehearsals, and maybe offices--as well as classes (I know, this sounds like Theatre business exclusively, but more FAH departments could find a use for it, too, perhaps).  However, visions come crashing down in the face of some building code questions.  What Will Happen?  We still don't know.  Stay tuned.

May-June-July:  I read again and with care lots and lots of Annual Reports and Self Evaluations, as well as cv's, and draft lots and lots of responses, which I eventually send to you and to your file (still finishing up two, truth be told).  I try to make the responses substantial--moreso that in the future, perhaps--because this is the first time in a long time you've gotten some kind of written responses.  I'm hugely impressed by the amount of work that you all do.  Just amazing and humbling.  (Of course, I'm still lacking a very few of these exciting documents: You Know Who You Are.)  And be ready:  the new deadline for Annual Reports & Self Evaluations is January 15!  I hope the new, streamlined format Ben Feinberg and I developed makes them easier to write.
    Also in this time, I give Paula my own self-evaluation as FAH Chair and goals for the future.  Thanks to those of you who responded to the questionnaire about my, ahem, performance.  After I look over the goals I listed for the coming year (and perhaps thin them out a bit), I'll post it on the FAH Faculty Website.

In June, I meet with the former president of the board of ArtSpace, the charter school just down the road.  Looks like I might possibly be on their board of advisors, and serve as a kind of liaison between ArtSpace and WWC (or at least FAH).  We'll see.

At the end of June, I join some of you for breakfast with a bunch of traveling high school guidance counselors.  Interesting conversations!  I'll have lots more to say about recruiting strong students soon.  Speaking of which...

July:  I join many of you at the Admission Open House, talk to several students and their parents.  Many students are rising seniors in high school, and one student (at least) is a rising junior!  Bears out what I learned at the CIC workshop:  We need to start working with students earlier than we might think if we want them to come to Wilson.
      Later in July, I meet with Paul Braese, head of FMTS, to try to understand what keeps projects like the Music Department's request that a storage area be turned into a band practice room, what keeps these projects in limbo for as long as ten years(!!!).  I learn a good deal but there's still a good deal of mystery.  We clearly need to develop a clear, simple way for projects to be proposed and then approved by PAC and then started and completed within our lifetimes!   I will keep pushing with the projects that I'm aware of (two for Art, one for Music, maybe one for Theatre; other chairs, talk to me), and I'll keep pushing for a more efficient system.
     During the month, I also put together the FAH Faculty Website (see the link above and also on the side of this blog), which I intend to serve as an information and resource conduit for all of you and a way for me to keep track of all the projects and issues that I need to work on.
     And during this month, I also learn that Luis Arévalo will not be returning in the fall.  I wish him the best of luck, and also wish the members of our Modern Languages Department encouragement--and my assistance--as they deal with the sudden situation.  Luis will be missed.  Thank goodness for Alberto!

    At the end of July I participate in a walk-through of Mitchell, the stone duplex behind the Amphitheatre, half of which will become offices for some Writing faculty who got kicked out of Sunderland basement--and perhaps others).  The other half of Mitchell is slated to become more space for academics after this year.  At last.

     Later that day, Paula's Executive Committee which is made up of Paula, Carol, and Ben/Paul/Graham/Chris as division chairs, has a half-day retreat at which we discuss broad visions for academics at WWC, our goals for the coming year, and numerous more specific issues.   We talk about the need for all of us to clarify and articulate what "liberal arts" means at Warren Wilson.  What do we want it to mean?  What is strong and distinctive about what we do?  What needs to be made stronger?
     As division chairs, we all pretty well agreed that last year we were spending much of our time developing the new academic structure and figuring out what we were trying to accomplish; this year, more of our time needs to be spend working with and supporting departments and department chairs.  For my own part, I feel that I clearly need to work with all departments more--but especially those in the humanities, who got less of my time last year that the fine arts departments.  To that end, I have moved my office from Kittredge Music Wing to the [very happening] second floor of Jensen.  Hopefully, familiarity won't breed contempt.  And don't worry, arts folks:  I'll still be in Kittredge a good deal of the time, as well as in your hair.

On the last night of July, I attended John Crutchfield's performance of his The Songs of Robert at the BeBe Theatre, a fundraiser to help pay for him to take it to the New York Fringe Festival, where he has been invited.  A great night.

August:  Here we are.  I find myself having attended two meetings about efforts to digitize and make accessible course evaluations and eventually much of our personnel files--how to do it, how to make sure nothing gets lost, how to preserve confidentiality, and how to make sure that files are complete in one form or another--especially important when we come up for extended contract reviews, of course.
      I also find myself moving into a new office, preparing syllabi for two new courses, and preparing to direct A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum with Steve Williams.
      And I make plans for our FAH Division meeting on Friday, Aug. 14 in Kittredge Music Wing.  I'll work on an agenda as well as on some kind of refreshments.  I'll communicate again with some agenda ideas, but please email me with what you think should be on that agenda.  It's a time to get focused and excited rather than meeting'd out, so let's have a lively, productive and not-too-long meeting. 

Don't know if you made it this far, but if you did:  Thanks.  Subsequent posts will be shorter!

Cheers,

Yr Hmbl & Ob't FAH Servant,

Graham

The new blog

Dear FAH Colleagues,

I've revamped this blog into a site where you can find out what your fearless FAH Chair has been up to in meetings (and there are plenty of them, believe me).  It's my aim to make communication between us as clear and effortless as possible, so that you may find out what decisions are being discussed and what actions are being taken that might well affect your professional lives.  AND where, in your comments on these posts, you can tell me and each other what you think about said discussions and decisions.  And if you don't feel like posting a comment for all to see, please email me.

This blog is intended to work in tandom with THE FAH FACULTY AND CHAIRS WEBSITE (just published!)  Check it out if you haven't already done so.

I'm hoping that, not only will this be a way for you to stay informed, but it will also provide a means by which you can tell me just what you think about what I'm doing--or what I should be doing.

This post is by way of explanation.  My next post will report on meetings this summer (yes, there have been meetings . . . there will always be meetings . . . meetings and more meetings . . .)