I learned something new today. The faculty do not have any authority to make any curricular or policy decisions. Surprise!
No wonder there is no voting in the faculty meetings. It is not just because the Swedes like flat organizational structures and working toward consensus. In reality, the faculty can discuss things, and even make proposals, but they have no authority to adopt proposals or make official decisions. These rest completely in the hands of the recktor.
So, I’m learning the systems, or lack there of. However, there are still possibilities to influence what goes on. It would help to understand Swedish to know what really is being talked about in the faculty meetings.
Fortunately, I’m having good conversations with the students outside of class and some good engagement with the Bible school lessons. In the Bible school, the instructors can make confessional faith statements. In the accredited academic classrooms, the instructor, by law, cannot make any confessional faith statements. This next fall, I will be inviting students to join me for lunch weekly to continue the conversation after class.
With blessings,
Beth