Tuesday, January 9, 2018 – 1:30 p.m.
102 Kern Graduate Building
Members Present: Ansari, M. Bérubé, V. Brunsden, C. Eckhardt, G. Grimes, N. Jones, L. Kitko, J. Nousek, J. Ozment, J. Plummer, L. Posey, N. Rowland, Smithwick, J. Strauss, M. Strickland, A. Taylor, R. Troester, W. Wenner, M. Woessner, D. Wolfe
Absent: R. Jolly, R. Shannon, R. Shurgalla, B. Szczygiel
Guests/Others: K. Bieschke, D. Blasko, P. Brown, R. Engel, M. Hanes, R. Pangborn, E. Seymour, M. Whitehurst
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Woessner called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 9, 2018, in 102 Kern Graduate Building.
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF NOVEMBER 14, 2017
The minutes of the November 14, 2017, meeting were approved.
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REMARKS
Chair Woessner reported that the Faculty Advisory Committee met this morning with Provost Jones and discussed the following topics:
- Ongoing concerns about faculty raises. Identify the appropriate venue to highlight faculty concerns, both with the administration and the Board of Trustees
- Update on the progress of the proposed centralized academic integrity policy. Identify a possible timeline to get the recommendations to the Undergraduate Education and Faculty Affairs Committee
- Update on the electronic student petition system
- Discussed the new Penn State speaker’s policy and its probable impact on free speech
- Discussed how the administration can support faculty academic freedom in an increasingly fragmented political climate
- Discussed the Liberal Arts Dean search, and the administration’s stated commitment to high academic standards
- Updates on Search, Admissions, Strategic Plan, LionPATH and WorkLion
The next regularly scheduled FAC meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 20, 2018. Please submit any topics for discussion at that meeting to elected FAC members Victor Brunsden, Rosemary Jolly, and Galen Grimes or to any of the Senate officers.
Comments by the Executive Vice President and Provost Jones and Vice Presidents/Vice Provosts.
Provost Jones discussed the importance of cyber security with many accounts compromised by phishing, when people click on an email that appears to be from a reputable source but is allowing hackers access to the network. The University is beginning a campaign to highlight this issue by sending out mock emails to University employees and if someone clicks on them, they will receive an email explaining the problem of phishing and offer training on detecting suspicious emails. The University systems are also being tightened to filter out more emails determined to be spam or security risks. This could interfere with some legitimate emails. The LionPATH team is making progress on fixing the 10 most annoying problems that have been identified in the system.
Vice Provost for Educational Equity Marcus Whitehurst discussed student activism, and the upcoming Martin Luther King Day of Service that many students and faculty will participate in on January 15.
Vice President of Faculty Affairs Kathy Bieschke announced that Tineke Battle will become Penn State’s first Assistant Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs-Human Resources. Battle will begin her appointment on January 15, 2018. Bieschke also reported that the searches for the Dean of Nursing and the Dean of Health and Human Development are ongoing.
Vice President of Commonwealth Campuses Madlyn Hanes announced that the search for a new chancellor for Penn State Harrisburg is ongoing. She also mentioned that help with support for institutional research for the campuses is available.
Vice President for Undergraduate Education Rob Pangborn, discussed trends in applications and enrollment. He also reported that the search for the position of Assistant Vice President for Undergraduate Education and Executive Director for Students Aid is progressing, with interviews for finalists being scheduled.
Interim Vice Provost for Online Education Renata Engel reported that Penn State World Campus received the most top-10 rankings in US News and World Report’s list of leading on-line programs. World Campus has also been rated among the best online programs for military students and veterans.
Comments by the Senate Officers
Immediate Past Chair Jim Strauss stated that he was very encouraged by the excellent and open communication between Senators and the Administration.
ACTION ITEMS
A special election was held for a replacement position to serve on the Committee on Committees and Rules for spring, 2018. Keith Shapiro was elected to the position.
DISCUSSION ITEMS: None
REPORT OF GRADUATE COUNCIL
Councilor Eckhardt reported that current discussion in Graduate Council has focused on improving the relationship between supervising faculty and graduate students. Graduate student advising guidelines are being developed. Chair Woessner announced that Graduate Council will have their next meeting on Wednesday, January 17, 2018.
SENATE AGENDA ITEMS FOR JANUARY 23, 2018
Forensic Business: None
Unfinished Business: None
Legislative Reports
Committees and Rules – Revisions to Bylaws; Article IV – Committees, Section 6. This report was placed on the Agenda on a Wolfe/Brunsden motion.
Curricular Affairs – Guidelines for Academic Program Information Appearing in the University Bulletin. This report was placed on the Agenda on an Eckhardt/Nousek motion.
Advisory/Consultative Reports
Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity – Proposed Changes to Penn State Policy SY 45, Use of Unmanned Aircraft (“UA”). This report was placed on the Agenda on a Eckhardt/Brunsden motion.
Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity – Proposed Revisions to Penn State Policy RP06, Disclosure and Management of Significant Financial Interests (formerly RA20). This report was returned to committee for clarification.
Informational Reports
Admissions Records, Scheduling, and Student Aid – Annual Report on the Reserved Spaces Program. This report was placed on the Agenda on a Brunsden/Nousek motion. The report will be posted online.
Admissions Records, Scheduling, and Student Aid – Update on LionPATH Implementation. This report was placed on the Agenda on a Rowland/Wolfe motion. Twenty-five minutes was allocated for presentation and discussion.
Elections Commission – University Faculty Census Report 2018-2019. This report was placed on the Agenda on a Rowland/Wolfe motion. The report will be posted online.
Libraries, Information Systems, and Technology – PSU Libraries Collection Budget Report, 2017. This report was placed on the Agenda on an Eckhardt/Smithwick motion. Twenty minutes was allocated for presentation and discussion.
Undergraduate Education – Summary of Petitions by College, Campus, and Unit 2016-2017. This report was placed on the Agenda on a Brunsden/Nousek motion. This report will be posted online.
NEW BUSINESS: None
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Woessner thanked Council members for their attendance and participation. The meeting was adjourned at 3:05 p.m.
Dawn G. Blasko
Executive Director