FAQs from May 2009 | The Principia Community

FAQs from Meetings with Jonathan Palmer and
College and School Faculty and Staff
During the week of May 4-8, 2009

The purpose of the meetings was to discuss Jonathan’s upcoming assignment as Principia’s Chief Executive (CE) and answer questions regarding his dual role as CE and Principia College President.

During introductory comments, Jonathan expressed appreciation for David Anable’s accomplishments during his term as interim CE of Principia. He highlighted the following and said he plans to continue to focus on these issues during his tenure as CE:

Improved communication with Principia’s internal and external community
Continuous emphasis on the distinction between management and Board policy issues
Improved coordination between the two campuses
Better defining the CE role and strengthening the relationship with the Board

The following is a sampling of frequently asked questions from these meetings:

Q.	How can one person do two jobs (CE and College President)?
A.	The Board has combined two managerial posts, rather than a managerial position and a policy-making position. The move to combine the two positions should cut out the many overlapping responsibilities and duplicate meetings shared by the jobs of CE and College President. It should also allow for streamlining of reporting, decision-making, and communication. I expect to rely on the exceptionally strong leadership teams on both campuses for decision-making and support.

Q.	Please explain what “devolution” means and how it fits in with Policy 15’s mandate that Principia “always be conducted as one institution.”
A.	Devolution is the term assigned by David Anable to the process that he and the campus heads have been using to employ the most effective use of Central Services and deploy the available resources to the two campuses. In some cases, devolution has led to reorganizing a department to serve both campuses; in other cases, it has led to assigning specific department members to one campus or the other.

Q.	How do you view your role as providing metaphysical leadership?
A.	I expect everyone to take part in that responsibility and to hold each other accountable. Principia is a community of practice, and we need to be inspired, confident that Christian Science works, and persistent in demonstrating and sharing healings. I have had the opportunity to address multiple metaphysical topics – including a Commencement address at the College in 2008 focusing on listening for the “still, small voice,” meetings with faculty and staff on both campuses on “the smell of fire,” a College Spring Convocation describing the quick healing of a case of mumps, and a recent Chapel talk to Middle and Upper Schoolers on “Measuring Up.”

Q.	Please share your ideas for the “Fund for Innovation” that you mentioned in your community e-mail.
A.	I would like to use savings from the CE salary for one-time investments to maintain the momentum on innovative projects or programs. These one-time investments should be able to keep things moving forward despite the budget cuts.

Q.	What is the Education Committee of Trustees? What is their role and who is on the Committee?
A.	The Education Committee is a new committee the Board has organized to ensure that Principia’s education programs are adhering to the Policies. They met for the first time in February and again in April. At their April meeting they met with faculty from several School programs to discuss how they are demonstrating Policy 8 (best practices) and Policy 11 (continuous improvement). They plan to hold similar meetings at the College in November. The members of the Committee are five Trustees (Bill Flatley, chair; Janna Hernholm; Cathy Raffles; Julie Sanderude; Tony Wayne; and Carol Worley), the CE, the campus heads, faculty representatives from each campus (Mike Rechlin and Steve Henn), and student representatives from each campus (Heather Libbe and Garrett Wells).

Q.	How do you see mission and values informing our work going forward?
A.	This is the only place I have ever worked where everyone knows the mission statement. How we go about implementing that mission is where things need clearer definition. We hope to have a strategic plan ready to roll out in November to help define objectives.

Q.	Who are the members of the Strategic Planning Committee?
A.	Committee members are: the campus heads (Jonathan Palmer and Marilyn Wallace), three Trustees (Jim Andrews, Cathy Raffles, and Steve Sydness), Chief Investment Officer Howard Berner; School Athletic Director Travis Brantingham; Marketing Director Gretchen Newby, Dean of Enrollment Management Brian McCauley; Chief Advancement Officer Bruce Preston; Dean of Academics Scott Schneberger, and Executive Officer Peter Stevens.

Q.	It sounds like your vision includes expansion, but we are facing tight finances and budget cuts right now. How do those two work together?
A.	We will need to redeploy faculty and staff and consider self-funding initiatives as we move forward. In addition, we will need to do a better job communicating the value of a Principia education to the field.

Q.	Where can we take ideas if we see waste at Principia or have ideas for improvement?
A.	You can speak with a supervisor or send an e-mail to newideas@principia.edu. Fresh ideas and approaches are always welcome.