By Christian Bell

News Editor

Questions and answers were all the rage at Monday's monthly meeting of the Faculty Senate. On the agenda for the meeting were approval of new programs, establishment of a new center for the study of Christianity and Science, and

``Our agenda today is modest,'' said President Gaylen Byker as he opened the meeting.

The meeting began with a proposal from the Committee on Governance for changing the committees that oversee the Education program.

Over 850 Calvin students list education as their academic program, including 70 graduate students. The proposal will restructure the way the Education program is governed with the hope of providing a greater advisory role as well as allowing for future expansion of the program.

``The Master Plan does not look for expansion now, but possibly in the future,'' Byker said.

Next on the agenda was the approval of the 150-hour accountancy program. The new major will reflect national standards by CPA professional organizations and state guidelines.

The length of the program concerned some members of the faculty, who cited an apparent trend in education towards five-year programs. Other professional programs such as engineering have been under increased pressure in recent years to expand to five-year programs to ease student workloads and better incorporate core liberal arts requirements.

``The four-year benchmark is a historical artifact,'' said Academic Dean David Diephouse.

Diephouse downplayed the notion that other college programs were leaning toward a five-year position, however.

``We're not setting a legal trend, but we are setting a possible precedent,'' he said. ``Our marching orders are to keep out programs to four years.''

After discussion had subsided, the new program was approved.

Next from the Educational Policy Committee was a new minor in Biotechnology. A major in Biotechnology is already available, but there was also a desire for a minor in the same.

According to the meeting, a Biotechnology minor would strengthen existing offerings to science majors while adding very little new content.

The new minor ``uses available resources and provides a program that certainly will be an impressive credential for students,'' according to the discussion at the meeting.

The biotechnology minor was also approved.

The third item for approval by the Faculty Senate was an as-of-yet unnamed academic center for the ``study of Christianity and the Natural Sciences.''

``This is an expression of scratching where it itches,'' said Provost Joel Carpenter of the foundation of the new center.

The center would focus on issues of how Christians study and conducting themselves in scientific fields, including ethical issues.

Carpenter described the study of Christianity and science as an ``area of animated discussion'' that is ``absolutely critical to Calvin's education in that area.''

The new center would utilize either an internal or an external director, would occupy existing office spaces as other research centers currently do, and would seek external funding for its foundation and continuation.

The faculty agreed with the proposal and approved it unanimously, pending the availability of funding.

Towards the end of the meeting, reports from heads of the administration were given.

Vice President for Administration, Finance, and Information Services Henry DeVries presented updates on the East Campus construction and updates on the forthcoming 2002-2003 budget, the details of which will be announced next Monday.

He also spoke about adjustments to the faculty pay scale, an increase in discounts to children of faculty and administrators, and the implementation of a new billing system which should streamline the tuition billing process and hopefully make Calvin bills more easy to read and interpret.

The final portion of the meeting was taken up with President Byker's report to the Senate and an ensuing discussion that took place.

Byker discussed several issues of general importance, including a proposed upcoming capital campaign to raise more money for the college's endowment.

Byker also touched briefly upon a committee that was looking into the exemption policy regarding the Christian schooling requirement that has been the subject of much heated debate over the past several months, especially in the case of Broene Center counselor Bob Reed, who was forced to leave Calvin because of the issue.

Faculty members brought the committee under immediate fire. Faculty members pointed out that the committee includes several members of the Board of Trustees, who have opposed changes to the requirement, and that the committee includes only one woman, despite findings from the recent Gender Climate survey which indicate that the issue of Christian schooling is high on the minds of female faculty and staff members.

Byker asserted his position by stating that it was a ``tough decision'' but that the committee would evaluate the criteria upon which exemptions to the requirement are granted.