MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF TRUSTEES CLARION UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA JULY 15, 2010 ROOM 204 CARLSON LIBRARY, CLARION CAMPUS CLARION, PA 16214 7:00 P.M. I. RECORDING OF ATTENDANCE The meeting was called to order by Mr. James, Chairperson, with the following Trustees present: Dr. Syed Ali-Zaidi Mrs. Susanne Burns Mr. Ross Cioppa Ms. J.D. Dunbar Mr. R. Lee James, Chairperson Mr. James Kifer, Vice Chairperson Ms. Donna Oberlander Mr. Larry Pickett Mr. Howard Shreckengost, Secretary The following trustee was absent from the meeting: Mr. Jeffrey Szumigale The following members of the University administration attended the meeting: Mr. Paul Bylaska, Vice President for Finance and Administration Dr. Jocelind Gant, Assistant to the President for Social Equity and Associate Vice President for International Programs Dr. Valentine James, Provost and Academic Vice President Dr. Christopher Reber, Executive Dean, Venango Campus Mr. Harry Tripp, Vice President for Student and University Affairs Dr. Karen Whitney, President II. MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF APRIL 15, 2010 A motion was made by Mrs. Burns, seconded by Mr. Cioppa, that the minutes of the April 15, 2010 regular meeting of the Council of Trustees be approved as distributed by mail. The motion carried unanimously. 1063 III. COMMUNICATIONS A. Public Comments - None B. Report of Student Senate - None C. Report of Faculty Senate Dr. Todd Pfannestiel, Chair of Faculty Senate for 2010-2011, indicated that he was looking forward to working with President Whitney and the trustees in the coming academic year. He noted that Faculty Senate had made appointments to the search committee for the Associate Provost position and that the Senate’s Academic Standards Committee would be hearing appeals filed by students who had been placed on academic suspension. In response to a question from Dr. Ali-Zaidi regarding plans to revise the university’s General Education program, Dr. Pfannestiel indicated that rather than an overhaul of the program, some adjustments might be made to flagged competencies. He further indicated that efforts were underway to look at the assessment of student learning outcomes. Mr. James congratulated Dr. Pfannestiel on his promotion to Full Professor. D. Council Chairperson’s Report Mr. James introduced Mr. Christopher Myers, newly appointed Student Trustee, noting that Mr. Myers was replacing former Student Trustee Kyle McMunn who would be entering pharmacy school in the Fall. Mr. James noted that Mr. Myers, a junior Industrial Relations major, was attending the meeting as an observer since he had not yet received paperwork from the PA Department of State that would allow him to complete his oath of office. Mr. Myers noted that he was excited to join the Council and looked forward to working with its members. Mr. James shared a final listing of Council of Trustees committee assignments for 2010-2011. He thanked Mr. Kifer for agreeing to represent the Council on the university’s Middle States Steering Committee. 1064 Finally, Mr. James called attention to a trustee training opportunity sponsored by the PA Association of Councils of Trustees (PACT) and hosted by Kutztown University on August 11. Trustee and PACT Secretary Sue Burns noted that the trustee training event held in April had been excellent. She further noted that the training was also available on line. V. REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PRESIDENT A. President Information Items 1. Setting Presidential Priorities Dr. Whitney shared information on a process she planned to use in setting presidential priorities. She noted that she would devote the first 90 days of her presidency to “Hitting the Ground Listening” in order to become acquainted with Clarion’s organization and culture, achieve results, build trust and relationships with constituent groups, and continue to build on Clarion’s leadership team. She further noted her goal of holding individual meetings with each of the trustees prior to the Council’s September 16th meeting in order to learn their thoughts on directions that Clarion University should pursue. Dr. Whitney provided each trustee with a new design Clarion lapel pin and discussed her use of the pin as a means of meeting and engaging people. 2. Enrollment Update Dr. Whitney indicated that while June had been a very strong month for Admissions, deposits had fallen a bit in July. She noted that the deans and others would be redoubling their efforts to achieve a 2% increase in overall enrollment. 3. Faculty Promotions and Tenure Dr. Whitney expressed her congratulations to the faculty listed within the Council of Trustees agenda that had been promoted or granted tenure effective August 28, 2010. 1065 B. Academic Affairs Action Item 1. Approval of Proposed 2011-2012 Academic Calendar A motion was made by Dr. Ali-Zaidi, seconded by Ms. Dunbar, to approve the following resolution. The motion carried unanimously. RESOLVED, that the Council of Trustees, Clarion University, approve the 2011-2012 Academic Calendar. Information Items 1. Update on Low Enrolled Programs Dr. James shared copies of a draft listing of low-enrolled Clarion University programs and pending actions for each as a result of a PASSHE review. He indicated that the BS in Industrial Mathematics and BA in Social Psychology had been placed in moratorium while the continuance of the BA in Economics would be defended. He explained that the review of low-enrolled programs had been driven by graduation numbers and that faculty had become more involved in recruiting for the listed programs as well as exploring collaborative programs with other PASSHE universities. 2. Update on Middle States Self-Study Dr. James reported that the Middle States Steering Committee had met about six times, with its next meeting scheduled for August 10. He noted that Dr. Colleen McAleer, Steering Committee Chair, was very confident that the university would be able to meet its Spring 2012 deadline for submitting the self-study to Middle States. In response to a question from Trustee Ali-Zaidi about the status of the university’s International education efforts, Dr. James reported that the university had signed an agreement with an institution in Africa, that a group of Chinese students would be arriving in July to study English for three weeks, and that an instructor of Arabic had been hired. Dr. Ali-Zaidi cited the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009 that had set aside funding for Fulbrights and leadership education in Pakistan. 3. Accountability and Performance Funding 1066 Dr. James shared that the PASSHE Chief Academic Officers (CAO’s) had been discussing a framework for revising performance funding. He noted that the CAO’s had come up with standards and criteria for allocating resources based on student success, access, and stewardship. 4. Criteria and Definitions for Earned Academic Degrees Dr. James noted that a PASSHE task force was reviewing policy with regard to practice doctorates and where they can be offered. He indicated that Clarion had drafted a proposal to offer a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree that is awaiting completion and approval of the task force report. C. Finance and Administration Information Items 1. Budget Update Mr. Bylaska distributed copies of a memo to University Presidents from PASSHE Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance Jim Dillion on the 2010-2011 Commonwealth budget and its impact on PASSHE universities. Among the items highlighted by Mr. Bylaska were a flat Education and General (E&G) budget and zero funding for Key 93 Deferred Maintenance projects. He noted a possible System-wide initiative to address deferred maintenance needs through monies carved out of the capital budget. Mr. Bylaska further noted that although there had been no change in the PASSHE appropriation, the effect of the allocation formula would mean a 0.3% decrease for Clarion University in appropriation dollars. 2. Status of Facilities Report Mr. Bylaska reviewed projects on the Status of Facilities report attached to the trustees’ agenda, including the completion of the design for the Becht Hall renovation, chiller work in the Gemmell Student Complex, and landscaping at the Science and Technology Center. He indicated that smoke stack removal work at the Boiler Plant was expected to be completed by August 1. In response to a question from Trustee James about changes to the main entrance to Venango Campus, Mr. Bylaska invited Dr. Reber to share details on the project. Dr. Reber indicated that a design had been completed that would change the angle of the entrance and widen it to improve visibility and safety. In response to a question from 1067 Trustee Dunbar, Dr. Reber also noted plans to fly the flag of the Commonwealth as part of the entrance improvement project. Mr. Bylaska added that Facilities personnel were also looking at ways to enhance the Wood Street entrance to the Clarion campus. D. Student and University Affairs Information Items 1. Fund-raising Report Mr. Tripp reported that private support to the Clarion University Foundation, Inc. for FY09-10 had reached $3.4 million, some $450,000 over the previous year. 2. Summer Orientation and Housing Mr. Tripp provided an update on student housing as a result of applications received during the university’s spring and summer orientation sessions. He noted that Clarion’s suite-style housing had been filled in March and that Reinhard Villages was within 20 spaces of being filled. He further noted that applications were running about two weeks later than the prior year. V. REPORT OF COMMITTEES A. Executive Committee Mr. James reported that the Executive Committee had not met in July. B. Finance Committee A motion was made by Mr. Kifer, seconded by Ms. Dunbar, that the following resolution be approved. The motion carried unanimously. RESOLVED, that the Council of Trustees, Clarion University, approve the Finance Committee Report of January 12, 2010. C. Facilities Committee Mr. Bylaska reported that this year’s trustee tour of university facilities would involve buildings on the Venango Campus. He noted that given the schedules of members of the Facilities Committee, the tour had been postponed until August and that the Committee planned to report its findings to the full Council in September. 1068 D. Naming Committee Mr. James reported that the Naming Committee had met on June 11, 2010, to consider a proposal from the Division of Student and University Affairs to name the university’s Science and Technology Center the Joseph P. Grunenwald Center for Science and Technology. He indicated that copies of the minutes from that meeting were at the trustees’ places. Mr. James noted the proposed naming of the Science and Technology Center for President Grunenwald was viewed as particularly appropriate because of Dr. Grunenwald’s innumerable contributions to the development of the facility and the university’s science and technology agenda, his personal interest in the design and construction of the building and its Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design (LEED) certification, his leadership for fund-raising to support the $34 million project, as well as his efforts on behalf of the university’s Barnes Center for Biotechnology Business Development. Mr. James read the resolution formalizing the proposed naming. A motion was made by Dr. Ali-Zaidi, seconded by Mr. Pickett, to approve the following resolution. The motion carried unanimously. WHEREAS, Clarion University was not only successful in meeting the $3 million goal of its Science and Technology Campaign but exceeded that goal by $400,000; and WHEREAS, during his tenure, President Joseph P. Grunenwald provided critical leadership to the Science and Technology Campaign and to other fund-raising initiatives that have collectively generated more than $23 million in private support and over $3 million in outstanding pledges to be paid over the next five years; and WHEREAS, President Grunenwald, through his exceptional and long-term contributions to Clarion University, created a legacy of excellence and inspired private support that will help the university to attain even higher levels of achievement and recognition in the decades ahead; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of Trustees, Clarion University, approve the naming of the university’s Science and Technology Center the Joseph P. Grunenwald Center for Science and Technology. VI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None VII. NEW BUSINESS - None VIII. ADJOURNMENT 1069 Mr. James announced that the next regular meeting of the Council of Trustees would be held on September 16, 2010, at the Venango Campus. The meeting adjourned at 8:26 p.m. Respectfully submitted _________________________ Howard Shreckengost, Secretary Council of Trustees 1070