Instructional Support Committee

Spanish proposal: Bob will send draft of approval note to ISC for comments.

Minutes: Approved with slight revision to Library Planning section. To clarify, faculty who have submitted proposals will not be named in online minutes.

GIS proposal (Jen Green): Faculty member is working with NITLE (National Institute for Technology and Liberal Education) to develop instructional modules. These modules will target a national audience, rather than just Grinnell, so ISC questions whether this proposal is related to scholarship or pedagogy, or if it is a mix of both. Mark will draft a note to request more information. First, the proposal needs to expand its case for the type of funding requested (scholarly/pedagogical). If it is clearly tied to both, and if it is approved, ISC will request splitting the funding with CSFS. ISC would like to know why eight visits are required and where they will be. The description of the intended modules also needs to be expanded. What are the goals of the modules? What impact is foreseen? Who is the target audience? The budget also needs to be better defined.

CIT Proposal: FOC has requested that a committee be formed to take over Academic Computing responsibilities from ISC. Some faculty members have expressed concern that the ISC does not have or take adequate time to address computing issues.
The Deans' Office recommends waiting a year of so before forming another committee. ISC has taken a more active role in academic computing and long-range planning. The College does need to develop a mechanism for addressing non-academic computing issues.
Jon will distribute the CIT document to ISC members.

Library Planning meeting: There seem to be three basic options under consideration:
Renovating the Reference Desk area
Renovating Burling 1st floor
Major renovation/expansion of Burling

ISC recommends that a full renovation of Burling 1st floor not be planned unless or until a Master Plan for the Library is in place. The focus of a medium-range plan is to make the entrance to Burling more open and inviting, as well as making Trustees and others aware of the Library's needs and issues. It is not clear exactly what role ISC should play in Library planning. Members expressed that they should focus on areas concerning pedagogy and computing.

ISC would like any discussion of Library planning to lead to a discussion of ITS planning as well, as the two areas are likely to be linked in the future.

ISC applauds the architects' commitment to a small-scale remodel of the reference desk area as a lead-in to the larger strategic plan. ISC recommends going forth with this small-scale renovation. Jon will draft a note stating such for ISC approval. Bob will send the final note to President Osgood.