APPROVED

MINUTES OF THE RC MANAGERS MEETING
October 16, 2014
9:00 a.m. – Noon, 107/108 Eagle Commons

Present:

B. Bailey, L. Campbell, P. Fackler, J. Geiger, D. Katis, T. Latour, C. McAleer, R.
Nowaczyk, T. Pfannestiel, S. Puleio, T. Varsek, and K. Whitney. Also attending
were Ray Moneta for Item#1, Juanice Vega for Phil Frese, and Dot Allio for Harry
Tripp.

Minutes
The minutes of the RC Managers’ Meeting of September 11, 2014, were approved as drafted.
Agenda Items
1.

2013-2014 Performance Results
R. Moneta reviewed preliminary results of Clarion University’s 2013-2014 performance
on the Performance Indicators. He began by reviewing those indictors on which the
university was not expected to earn funds and reasons why Clarion did not meet various
targets. He noted that for Indicator 1.A. (Degrees Conferred), the PASSHE had set
unrealistic benchmarks given the System-wide enrollment decline. R. Nowaczyk agreed
that PASSHE needed to rethink measures related to enrollment. K. Whitney asked about
getting points for those students who had already completed the required number of
credits for an associate degree. B. Bailey noted the need for proactive advising by faculty
to let students know that they, in fact, qualified for an associate degree. K. Whitney asked
that R. Nowaczyk and the Deans give consideration to strategies in this area.
R. Moneta noted that additional indicators on which Clarion did not meet targets were
6.A. (Closing the Transfer Achievement Gap for Pell Recipients), 6.B. (Closing the
Transfer Gap for URM Students), 1.B.2. (Closing the Freshman Access Gap for URM
Students), and 2.A. (Percent of Full-Time Tenure/Tenure-Track Faculty who are
Nonmajority Persons). He agreed to provide the exact numbers that would have been
needed to close those gaps.
R. Nowaczyk noted the need for a report from Rogers Laugand on URM transfers. He
agreed to discuss with the Deans curriculum development for areas of study that would be
attractive to people of color. K. Whitney asked that R. Nowaczyk and the Deans also
consider the university’s desired faculty profile. Also discussed was the need to examine
the profile of Clarion’s on-ground and on-line students and goals for that profile. K.
Whitney noted that the assessment of on-line learning was another important
consideration. R. Moneta noted the decline in Clarion’s MSLS online enrollment. R.
Nowaczyk indicated his hope that the department’s new connection with COBAIS will

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help to revive the program. R. Nowaczyk also shared his belief that the new Inquiry
Seminars would help to raise student awareness of the nature and value of HIPs and
thereby enhance Clarion’s performance on Indicator 12.B. (Percent of seniors who
participated in at least one HIP).
K. Whitney indicated that RC Managers should let her know if they wanted any follow-up
discussion on Performance Funding issues.
ACTION: R. Moneta will provide the exact numbers of students needed to close the
gap on Performance Indicators 6.A, 6.B., 1.B.2., and 2.A.
ACTION: R. Nowaczyk and the Deans will discuss the following:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.

Strategies for increasing university performance on Performance Indicator
1.A. (Degrees Conferred) through earning points for associate degrees
Curriculum development for areas of study attractive to people of color
The university’s desired faculty profile
Assessment of on-line learning
On-ground and on-line student profile
Increasing student awareness of HIPs.

ACTION: R. Nowaczyk will look into a report from Rogers Laugand on URM
transfers.
2.

Update on Athletics Plan
K. Whitney noted that all RC Managers had a stake in the success of the Athletics Plan in
terms of its contribution to enrollment and impact on Title IX compliance. D. Katis
acknowledged the efforts of H. Tripp, W. Snodgrass, and D. Allio in the development of
the plan.
Reviewing a handout/update on the plan, D. Katis highlighted funding recommendations
of the Athletics Task Force, including the replacement of the equipment manager who
was leaving the university in December and sports information director, who was
expected to retire. He noted the importance of the equipment manager in properly
handling student-athlete laundry to protect against MRSA and other infections. D. Katis
also noted the recommendations to add a coach in Cross Country and a Women’s
Lacrosse program, invest $150,000 for scholarships in four selected athletics programs,
increase funding for Athletics from the Clarion Student Association, and invest $5
million over a period of time to upgrade current athletic facilities.
P. Fackler suggested establishing a model in which coaches’ contracts were tied to the
achievement of certain enrollment targets. D. Katis noted problems with such an
approach due to caps on the number of athletes in certain male sports.

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K. Whitney asked J. Geiger to speak with H. Tripp about the plan’s recommendation that
university alumni be challenged to raise $75,000 annually for athletic scholarships. She
noted her need to be convinced that it was possible to raise the recommended amount.
She noted her efforts to revise the PASSHE’s policy related to funds that can be counted
as athletic scholarships. She also indicated that she had asked PASSHE if they would
cover capital requirements related to Title IX compliance.
D. Katis noted that the expansion of Clarion’s sports would be impacted by Title IX
requirements that a survey of student interest be conducted. K. Whitney indicated that she
wished to review the survey instrument before it was released.
Also discussed was the Task Force recommendation to invest $120,000 for athletic
scholarships to maintain proportionality, with RC Managers wanting to know the source
of those funds. D. Katis noted that W. Snodgrass could address that question and D.
Allio promised to get the answer to K. Whitney and P. Fackler.
J. Geiger asked about the nature and timing of press releases on the implementation of the
plan. K. Whitney noted her need for a recommendation on the source of funds from H.
Tripp and P. Fackler prior to the release of information.
ACTION: J. Geiger will speak with H. Tripp about the Athletics Plan
recommendation that university alumni be challenged to raise $75,000 annually for
athletic scholarships.
ACTION: D. Katis will ensure that K. Whitney reviews the survey of student
interest in sports prior to its release.
ACTION: D. Allio will ensure that an answer to the question of source of funds for
the recommendation investment of $120,000 in scholarships to maintain
proportionality is provided to K. Whitney and P. Fackler.
3.

Scholarship Proposal
R. Nowaczyk noted the need to get scholarship offers at the level of $1,000 out to
prospective students sooner than had been done in the past. He asked the Deans to tell
him where they had capacity in strategic areas such as STEM and health sciences. J.
Geiger noted that he would consider how best to leverage the information on scholarship
availability in press releases.
B. Bailey noted the efforts of Education faculty to identify additional dual certifications
for which scholarships would be available. C. McAleer noted the desire of the CSD
department to do a dual certification with Modern Languages to recruit students from the
Lancaster and Philadelphia areas.

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4.

FY13-14 Audited Financials
P. Fackler noted that PASSHE had not yet completed its audit of the university’s budget
for year ended June 30, 2014. He indicated that the auditors’ report would be presented
to the Council of Trustees at their November 20, 2014 meeting. He further noted that the
FY13-14 Audited Financials would be emailed to the RC Managers.
ACTION: P. Fackler will email the FY13-14 Audited Financials to the RC
Managers.

5.

Budget Handouts
P. Fackler shared copies of a report on the university’s FY15 budget that had been
prepared for the Council of Trustees. He noted that the document was also available
online on the Financial Planning webpage. He further noted that he would welcome
invitations to meet with departments within the RCs to enhance understanding of the
budget.
T. Varsek distributed several handouts. She reviewed one that showed the reconciliation
of the FY14 Budgeted Reserve to the FY14 RC Tuition and ISF Actual Budget. She
noted that a decision would be needed on the allocation of $611,590 in funds held in
reserve for FY14.
C. McAleer asked about the budget for the Venango College Executive Dean search. K.
Whitney advised that C. McAleer, P. Fackler and T. Varsek meet to address the question.
T. Varsek reviewed two additional handouts showing the FY14 RC Actual Revenue and
Expenditures and FY14 RC Carryforward Analysis. T. Pfannestiel asked about the
impact of academic reorganization on Academic RCs. R. Nowaczyk noted that while RC
Managers needed to be aware of departmental differences, they should focus on what
made sense for the RC as a whole. P. Fackler suggested that negotiation should occur
within RCs to determine what was reasonable.
T. Varsek noted again the need for a decision on the reconciliation of the FY14 Budgeted
Reserve of $611,590. R. Nowaczyk indicated that he was working with the Deans to
reach a decision by the next day (October 17).
ACTION: C. McAleer, P. Fackler, and T. Varsek will meet to talk about the budget
for the Venango College Executive Dean search.
ACTION: R. Nowaczyk will work with the Deans to reach a decision on the
reconciliation of the FY14 Budgeted Reserve of $611,590 by October 17.