Calvin Board Wraps May Meetings

May 17, 2008 == MEDIA ADVISORY

The 31-member Calvin College board of trustees concluded its spring meetings May 16 on the school's campus in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and then wrapped up its weekend with Calvin's Commencement ceremony, which was held this year on May 17 at Van Andel Arena in downtown Grand Rapids.

The spring meeting is one of three annual sessions for the Calvin board which also meets annually in October and February. The May meeting coincides each year with Commencement.

But this year's Commencement, which marked the 88th annual conferring of four-year degrees for the college, was just one highlight of the spring meetings.

In academic business the board met with a number of current Calvin faculty, including approving the reappointment with tenure of associate professor of business Leonard Van Drunen, and promotions to the rank of professor for Gayle Ermer of engineering, Dave Koetje of biology, Won Lee of religion, Todd Vanden Berg of sociology and Dave Warners of biology.

It also ratified a tenure-track reappointment to KaiLonnie Dunsmore and several administrative reappointments, including Jack Bosscher and Jack Du Mez to academic services (and to mathematics and English respectively), Cynthia Kok and Randy Wolthuis to the Broene Counseling Center, and Steven Putt and Lugene Schemper to Hekman Library. And it ratified several new courses, including offerings in architecture, political science (a course on international peace and secutity), computer science and nursing.

The board also endorsed a multitude of Calvin research fellowships, 31 in all, including such topics as the history of Christianity in China, stroke survivors and church communities, musical stuttering and U.S. perspectives on international order.

The board also approved a new Use of Force policy, which had been approved by the college's Faculty Senate in April. That policy includes arming some campus safety supervisors (those who previously were certified police officers) for the first time in the history of the college, and also bans all weapons from campus with a process for requests for exceptions.

At a special dinner on Thursday night it celebrated the careers of Calvin retirees and of this year's Distinguished Alumni award winners -- David and Janice Dykgraaf, missionaries to Nigeria, and Fritz Rottman, molecular biologist. Professors retiring, and honored with emeritus titles, are: Martin Bolt of psychology, Peter De Jong of social work, Anamarie Joosse of the Broene Counseling Center, Ellen Monsma of off campus programs and Glen Van Andel of health, physical education, recreation, dance and sport.

The board also bid a farewell to four of its own members -- Bill Alphenaar, Doug Bratt, Cindi Veenstra and Steven Chong -- all of whom completed their terms of service, and elected its officers for 2008-2009, including Bastian Knoppers, a Chicago-area businessman who continues as chair, Ron Baylor, a Kalamazoo attorney who was elected vice chair, and Ruth Vis, who works in banking public relations and was elected secretary.

The board also recognized a quartet of Calvin employees -- Stan Haan of physics, Dan Miller of history, Rich Nyhof of biology and Jim Vanden Bosch of English -- celebrating 25 years of service to the college, and met new vice president for advancement Ken Erffmeyer who addressed the board briefly and conveyed his excitement about his upcoming duties (he begins at Calvin on June 9).

NOTE: A separate release will be sent this summer highlighting the new members of the Calvin Board of Trustees.

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Received on Sat May 17 20:33:18 2008