1998-2000 - Past and Present - Viterbo University

NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL MINUTES 

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1998 

Members Present: Honorable Shirley Abrahamson; S. Melanie DiPietro, SC; 

S. Fran Ferder, FSPA; Robert Froehlke; C. Daniel Gelatt, S. Eleanor 

Granger, OSF, John Hansen; Donna Hansen; S. Romana Klaubauf, FSPA; Wayne 

Kostroski; A. Diane Moeller; John Mooney; S. Katarina Schuth, OSF; D. 

David (Dewey) Sebold; Nola Jo Starling-Ratliff; R. Samuel Sundet 

Also Present: Kenna Christians; Todd Ericson; Fr. J. Thomas Finucan; 

Jack Havertape; S. Alice Kaiser, FSPA; President Medland; Roland (Buzz) 

Nelson; Marikay Robers, S. Marlene Weisenbeck 

Next Meeting: Tuesday, September 21, 1999 -- 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 

President Medland welcomed the Council on behalf of the Board of 

Directors and led the opening prayer. 

Bill distributed a packet of information to the Council members 

including various bulletins on the topics to be discussed. Also 

included were two news releases issued by the public relations 

department of Viterbo College. The first news release in the packet of 

August 28, indicated that the most recent issue of U.S. News and World 

report indicated that Viterbo College ranked number one among regional 

Midwest universities and liberal arts colleges in graduation performance 

rate, a rate designed by U.S. News to capture the effect of a college’s 

programs and policies on the graduation performance rate of students. 

The other news release announced the record enrollment for the tenth 

consecutive year. Enrollment at Viterbo College for the 1998 fall 

semester is 2,098. Viterbo College currently is at capacity in 

relationship to students and its physical campus. This year, Viterbo 

College took in 10% less new students than last year. The president 

indicated that there will be a cap placed on undergraduate enrollment as 

the college assesses its “right size.” 

Tuition Discounting versus Tuition Reduction 

The role of tuition discounting in the recruitment of students at 

Viterbo College generated much discussion. The general consensus at the 

end of the discussion was that Viterbo should continue to discount its 

tuition rather than reduce its tuition. However, as one member stated, 

Viterbo should insure that high school counselors know about the tuition 

discounting. 

Several individuals suggested that Viterbo College review its mission

and vision statements and assure that the principles of those statements 

are congruent with the procedures that are being followed in tuition 

discounting. 

Dr. Roland Nelson and Mr. Todd Ericson will take it upon themselves to 

review our policies and procedures regarding tuition discounting and our 

mission and vision statements. The entire tuition discounting 

methodology is based upon a very objective basis in that any tuition 

discount is based upon a student’s ACT and GPA. However, it was noted 

by some members that perhaps there could be confusion in discounting if 

people believe that everybody gets a scholarship. 

Partnering with Business 

Bob Dean, Dean of the School of Business, shared some of the ways that 

Viterbo is partnering in the La Crosse community. The dean indicated 

that Viterbo College offers internships through Kauffman Entrepreneurial 

Grantswhereby students work 250 hours per semester on real jobs in the 

La Crosse area. 

Members of the Council suggested that there might be ways that 

internships might be expanded. Is there a way to mentor women, female 

students in business? Can colleges and business be in partnership in 

the teaching and learning processes? 

Management Information Systems 

Members of the Council emphasized students going into management 

information systems should have the ability to learn more and to expand 

his or her knowledge with the passage of time. The student also needs to 

be taught skills in problem solving and maintaining the accuracy and 

updatedness of their knowledge. Further, the college should give 

attention to a balance within the lives of students and not let students 

become obsessed with the computer technology. “Cyber-addiction” 

awareness is how this was referenced. 

Viterbo needs to recruit and retain competent faculty; recruit 

sufficient competent students, and provide “real world” learning 

experiences to these students. The computer information systems major 

may need to be updated to keep pace with progress and technology. 

The National Advisory Council meeting adjourned at approximately 3:30 

p.m. The next Council meeting is Tuesday, September 21, 1999 from 10 

a.m. until 4 p.m.


TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1999 

Next Meeting: Tuesday, September 19, 2000 -- 11:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. 

Members Present: Honorable Shirley Abrahamson; Milton Bevington; S. 

Melanie DiPietro, SC; S. Fran Ferder, FSPA; Robert Froehlke; C. Daniel 

Gelatt, S. Eleanor Granger, OSF; Donna Hansen; John Hansen; Ron Houser; 

S. Ramona Klaubauf, FSPA; Tom Meilinger; A. Diane Moeller; John Mooney; 

George Schneider; Virginia Schneider; S. Katarina Schuth, OSF; R. Samuel 

Sundet 

Also Present: Fr. J. Thomas Finucan; S. Alice Kaiser, FSPA; President 

Medland; James Senty; Deak Swanson; S. Marlene Weisenbeck 

Not Present: Richard Campbell; His Eminence Cardinal Keeler; Wayne 

Kostroski; Gary Poehling; Tom Schini; D. David Sebold; John Swendrowski 

President Medland welcomed the Council on behalf of the Board of 

Directors and led the opening prayer. 

The President distributed a packet of information to the Council members 

including various bulletins on the topics to be discussed including 

information pertaining to the speakers for the D.B. Reinhart Institute 

for Ethics in Leadership for the 1999-2000 academic year. 

Emerging areas for new undergraduate and graduate majors? 

Dr. Jack Havertape, Academic Vice President, shared information 

pertaining to the programs available at Viterbo College including 

graduate and cooperative service programs and new undergraduate programs 

that are currently being considered (e.g. Social Work). 

A suggestion was made that prior to making any changes in the curriculum 

Viterbo should not only evaluate the demand, but also determine if 

Viterbo is able to do a first class job in the given changes. A 

question was raised as to whether Viterbo shares programs with UW-La 

Crosse or WWTC. Viterbo does not share programs but does share courses 

with other institutions including UW-L and WWTC. Viterbo tries not to 

compete directly with programs with other schools in the region. 

Other topics discussed were long distance learning over two-way video,

on-line teaching, curriculum differentiation between Bachelor of Science 

in Organizational Management and Bachelor of Integrated Studies. A 

suggestion was made to consider an on-line master’s program in 

non-profit management. It was also suggested that an ‘Ethics’ major or 

program in ‘Ethics’ be implemented to coincide with D.B. Reinhart 

Institute for Ethics in Leadership. Minimally, Viterbo should offer a 

course that addresses ethics specifically. Jack Havertape did explain 

that our students are required to take six credits of religious studies 

and that ethics is a part of every course taught in the general 

education curriculum. 

Viterbo College or Viterbo University? 

President Medland posed the question whether Viterbo College should 

retain its name or change the name to Viterbo University. Viterbo 

College is considered a comprehensive II university by the U.S. 

Department of Education. Several reasons were given by the President 

both to retain the name of Viterbo College as well as to change the name 

to Viterbo University. The estimated cost to change the name is 

$30,000; the by-laws of the college would not need to be revised, and 

the mission and vision of Viterbo College would remain as they are. It 

was noted that at the college forum there was virtually no opposition to 

the name change; alumni have been presented with the question with 

little to no opposition; and the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual 

Adoration are in support of the change to Viterbo University. 

At the suggestion of John Mooney, a poll was taken of the National 

Advisory Council with an overwhelming majority in favor of the name 

change from Viterbo College to Viterbo University. There were 20 in 

favor, one opposed, and two neutral. 

What is the future of liberal arts colleges in meeting the needs of an 

ever-changing and career-oriented society? 

According to Peter Drucker, small liberal arts institutions, except for 

a few that have a national recognition, will cease to exist in the next 

ten years. What can or should Viterbo do? 

Viterbo College believes that students may learn better by a different 

delivery system such as two courses in an eight-week block. However, 

there are more perspectives to consider than that of Peter Drucker. 

What are the employment levels of Viterbo graduates? What is the 

environment within the campus community? Are people getting their 

money’s worth? As long as Viterbo continues transforming itself and

meeting the needs of society, the size or the nature could be viable. 

The college must continue to fulfill its mission. 

With respect to Peter Drucker’s statement and the term ‘Liberal Arts’, 

some people had the view that the courses are being diluted. ‘Liberal 

Arts’ remain critical to a good education. Question: What is a ‘Liberal 

Arts’ education now and what credibility does it hold within the job 

market? 

Prepaid tuition plans and Taxpayer Relief Act of ‘97 

If Viterbo College informs parents and others of the existence of the 

pre-paid tuition plans or tuition savings programs, that is sufficient. 

Viterbo should be sure not to use a guaranteed tuition rate for future 

years. This could be very dangerous to the future financial viability 

of the college. 


p.m. The next Council meeting is Tuesday, September 19, 2000 from 11:00 

a.m. until 3:30 p.m. 

Please feel free to suggest future topics that the National Advisory 

Council may wish to address.


SEPTEMBER 19, 2000 

Next Meeting: Tuesday, September 18, 2001 -- 12:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. 

Members Present: Honorable Shirley Abrahamson; Richard Campbell; Robert 

Froehlke; C. Daniel Gelatt, John Hansen; Ronald Houser; S. Ramona 

Klaubauf, FSPA; Wayne Kostroski; S. Grace McDonald, FSPA; Marikaye 

Robers; Thomas Schini; R. Samuel Sundet 

Also Present: Todd Ericson; Fr. J. Thomas Finucan; Mark Franz; Jack 

Havertape; S. Alice Kaiser, FSPA; Pat Kerrigan; President William 

Medland; S. Marlene Weisenbeck, FSPA 

Not Present: Milton Bevington; S. Melanie DiPietro, SC; S. Fran Ferder, 

FSPA; S. Eleanor Granger, OSF; His Eminence Cardinal Keeler; Tom 

Meilinger; A. Diane Moeller; John Mooney; Gary Poehling; George 

Schneider; Virginia Schneider; S. Katarina Schuth, OSF; D. David Sebold; 

John Swendrowski 

President Medland welcomed the Council and led the opening prayer, the 

Prayer of Saint Francis. 

President Medland distributed a packet of information to the Council 

members including the President’s Report 1999-2000, VISION 2005, and the 

booklet A New Image for a New Millennium. 

Jack Havertape began the meeting by stating that Viterbo University has 

been integrating technology into the classrooms for several years. This 

past summer faculty were trained on a new web enhanced teaching package 

entitled “Blackboard”. Jack then introduced Mr. David Schulz, an 

instructor in the School of Business, to demonstrate the “Blackboard” 

program. 

Mr. Schulz explained the difference between distance education and 

web-enhanced coursework. Distance education has students all over the 

country and the instructor on a single campus; web enhanced coursework 

is use of the web to enhance the classroom coursework with students and 

instructor on campus in the classroom. Web enhanced coursework can 

extend outside the classroom by enticing students to attend Viterbo 

University via entering the Viterbo web page for course offerings, 

syllabi, faculty listings, etc.

“Blackboard”, the web enhanced program purchased by Viterbo, allows the 

instructor to post announcements, the day’s calendar agenda, tasks for 

the day for each class, and class notes for each course offered by the 

particular professor. 

Mr. Schulz explained the possible need of “Dumbing Down” classrooms to 

meet the perceived reality of available resources. Mr. Schulz stated 

that by using “Blackboard” as a teaching tool the professor is able to 

be more efficient and cognizant of student’s work. Using “Blackboard”, 

he demonstrated the use of computers in the classroom. Since notes can 

be posted to the web, a student does not need to take notes during 

class; thus, the student is better able to pay attention to the subject 

matter and interact in the classroom discussion. The student may read 

or print the daily classroom discussion notes from “Blackboard”. 

Students can take practice quizzes with immediate correction of the 

given answers. Instructors can view the scores of the quizzes for each 

student. Students may view their own scores and grades throughout the 

semester including the final test that is take on the computers. With 

immediate correction of the final test, the score will be given for the 

test, immediately post to the grade book, and calculate the final 

grade. In this way, the student will know the final grade without 

having to wait for the instructor to correct the test and post the 

grade. 

Within “Blackboard”, as a requirement of the coursework and final grade, 

an instructor may post questions in the “discussion board” for 

students. This may be done by asking all students to participate on the 

same question/topic, or the instructor may direct certain 

questions/topics to certain individuals and check on the interaction of 

each student. The instructor also may notify students, via the web, of 

time he/she is available to chat on the web; thus allowing students to 

ask questions of the instructor with immediate responses, outside of 

classroom hours. 

Mr. Schulz reported that he had attended a syllabus conference with 

educators from around the world. He stated that Viterbo is considered a 

leader in utilizing technology. Other major institutions are just 

beginning to look at the available tools. A question asked of Mr. 

Schulz at the conference was ‘how does Viterbo get the faculty to “buy 

in” on the use of technology?’ Are there financial incentives to 

faculty to attend the training and use of “Blackboard”? Jack noted that 

approximately 70 percent of Viterbo faculty are currently using 

“Blackboard”. There are financial incentives given to faculty for the 

training and use of “Blackboard”. Jack mentioned that the faculty 

actually are proud to mention that they use “Blackboard”, and students 

also have responded favorably to the technology.

“Blackboard” increases the workload for faculty as well as the students, 

thus the question access arises. Are there enough computers at Viterbo 

for the faculty and students to access the necessary information for 

each course offered via “Blackboard”? And, do the students and faculty 

have the necessary ability to use a computer to access the coursework 

and utilize “Blackboard” for coursework instruction? 

President Medland reported results from a student poll among high school 

seniors that plan to attend college. According to the poll, 94 percent 

of the students will have access by the end of this year. Ninety-three 

percent of students have access both in school and at home. All 

students with a household income of $100,000 or more have access to a 

computer; fifty percent of the students with a household income of 

$50,000 also have access. 

Jack Havertape responded to questions by stating that the faculty is 

eager to receive the training and implement “Blackboard” into their 

course of instruction. The access to computers is the concern here at 

Viterbo. Viterbo has only four computer labs intended for student use. 

Now faculty are taking more time on those computers in the labs, and 

therefore leaving the students with less accessibility. 

Mark Franz, the Director of Computer Services, mentioned that the 

chemistry class is utilizing computers for molecular modeling, and 

history classes view video clips and documents on the computers. With 

more access to the computers being required by professors for 

coursework, Viterbo no longer has adequate access for student use. Mark 

also stated that twenty classrooms on campus have podiums with access to 

the web for instructors’ use during class, and that every classroom is 

wired as well as most of the residence rooms. 

Questions: How does Viterbo increase access? If Viterbo increases the 

need for computers, should Viterbo buy or lease the computers necessary 

to fulfill the accessibility? 

According to Jack Havertape, Seton Hall charges students $1,000 each 

year for the use of a computer. This would increase tuition the first 

year by that amount. This also would require an increase in faculty and 

computer personnel to adequately handle the necessary maintenance on the 

additional computers. 

Todd Ericson, Vice President for Finance, noted that this increase would 

become a part of the cost of attending Viterbo. When increasing the 

financial need, there is also an increase in financial aid 

expenditures. There are cost considerations as to what kind of

computers would be purchased or leased, laptops or desktops, hardware 

costs, and the “turn over” rate of the computers to keep them up to 

date, knowing that the “turn over” rate is approximately two years; for 

word processing use only, the rate is three to five years. Each of 

these questions will need to be answered prior to making a final 

decision. An increase of approximately five employees would be 

necessary in the computer department, and Viterbo would need to adopt a 

single platform for ease of repair, etc. 

A question was raised as to why would a student need to attend class if 

he or she were using “Blackboard” for coursework. The answer is that 

classroom attendance is a requirement of each course and students learn 

from students. 

Jack Havertape noted that the completion rate for an on-line course is 

very low except among people who have a specific reason to take an 

on-line course. Those few people are more determined to complete the 

coursework so as to obtain a degree. 

Daniel Gelatt stated that it seemed the network and equity issues are 

more important than to complete high speed access to all students on 

campus or at home. He also asked if Viterbo could get special 

contractual agreements for the necessary equipment. 

Robert Froehlke said that he believes a good place to start the 

implementation would be within the business program. He reasoned this 

on the belief that getting into the workplace in a business field 

required one to be computer literate. 

Thomas Schini inquired as to how Viterbo makes certain that the faculty 

keep their “Blackboard” information current? Jack Havertape answered 

that this is included in the faculty annual evaluation. He also stated 

that it would be rather embarrassing to the faculty member should 

students not be able to access the necessary class discussion notes, 

daily calendar, or coursework tasks. 

A question was posed to the Council whether to use laptops or desktops. 

Responses were that desktops are half the price of laptops; laptops can 

be used in the classroom and can be taken with the student; a desktop is 

stationary and not as flexible. 

If Viterbo decided favorably in implementing computer usage campus wide, 

this would be seen as an enhancement to the formal degree as all 

graduates would be computer literate in the field in which they 

graduate.

Jack Havertape took a “straw poll” on the question: who believe that 

Viterbo should require computers in the next three to four years? 

Approximately half of the Council members voted favorably. A suggestion 

was made to implement a pilot program first, such as with business 

majors, or to implement a pilot program with only juniors and seniors. 

It was the consensus that there was not enough information obtained to 

vote on a question of whether to lease or buy the necessary equipment. 

In answering the question as to how to increase access without any 

additional classroom space or labs available, Council members suggested 

finishing the wiring of the dorms first. However, this does not satisfy 

the need of the off campus students; it was suggested that a student 

loan from the university may be available for the financially needy. 

After the break, the topic of Viterbo’s presence on the web was 

addressed. Jack Havertape stated that Harvard has online degrees and 

Lakeland College in Sheboygan has full courses on the web. Viterbo 

currently has students who drive 250 miles to class one evening a week. 

With the use of the web, students would not need to travel to campus. 

This would be particularly helpful in the Graduate Program in Education, 

and in the RN to BSN program. 

Is there a market for online courses? Suggestions were to do a market 

survey, to not offer online courses to undergraduates, and to offer 

online course only to non-traditional adult undergraduates. 


p.m.

1998-2000 - Past and Present - Viterbo University

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?