MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF TRUSTEES
CLARION UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SEPTEMBER 20, 2012
ROBERT W. RHOADES CENTER AUDITORIUM
VENANGO CAMPUS, OIL CITY, PA 16301
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
Ms. JD Dunbar (via conference phone)
Mr. R. Lee James, Chairperson
Mr. James Kifer, Secretary
Ms. Donna Oberlander
The following trustees were absent from the meeting:
Mr. Larry Pickett, Vice Chairperson
Mr. Jeffrey Szumigale
Mr. Howard Shreckengost
The following members of the University administration attended the meeting:
Mr. Paul Bylaska, Vice President for Finance and Administration
Dr. Ronald Nowaczyk, 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
A motion was made by Dr. Ali-Zaidi, seconded by Mrs. Burns, that the
minutes of the July 19, 2012 regular meeting of the Council of Trustees be
approved as distributed by mail. A roll call vote was taken. The motion carried
unanimously.

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III.

COMMUNICATIONS
A.

Public Comments - None

B.

Report of Student Senate
1.

Venango Campus
Venango Campus Student Senate President Beth Griebel outlined
activities of her group, including a Meet ‘n Greet for new students, a
voter initiative, and leadership retreat.

2.

Clarion Campus
Clarion Student Senate President Sara Dickson indicated that
Senate elections would be held the following day. She noted that
among the projects Senate would be undertaking in 2012-13 were
a collaboration with the Black Student Union to embrace diversity,
an effort to promote voting in the November National Election, and
revisions to the Student Senate budget allocation process.

C.

Report of Faculty Senate
1.

Venango Forum
Dr. Jessica Crespo, Chair of the Venango Forum, spoke briefly
about new programs and faculty at Venango College. She
expressed the appreciation of Venango faculty and staff for the
support of community and university boards and the university
administration.

2.

Clarion Faculty Senate
Chair Dr. Ellen Foster shared that in response to a
recommendation of the Middle States evaluators who visited the
university in Spring 2012, a committee of past Faculty Senate
chairpersons and vice chairpersons would be reviewing the Faculty
Senate’s constitution and by-laws. Dr. Foster noted that a new
syllabus policy had been implemented and that violations of the
university’s academic integrity policy would be reviewed. She also
reported on the joint effort of the Faculty Senate Student Affairs
Committee and the Subcommittee on Student Activities to present
the Academic Speaker Series for Students.

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D.

Council Chairperson’s Report
Mr. James thanked Executive Dean Chris Reber and the Venango College
staff for hosting the Council of Trustees dinner and meeting. He also
acknowledged members of the Venango College Advisory Council who
were on hand.
Mr. James reported on Governor Corbett’s nomination of two individuals to
the Clarion University Council of Trustees. He indicated that Milissa Bauer
of Clarion had been nominated to fill the seat vacated by Ross Cioppa and
that Randy Seitz of Franklin had been nominated to replace trustee Larry
Pickett, whose term expired in 2011. Mr. James further indicated that the
Governor’s nominations were subject to confirmation in the State Senate.
Trustees noted the outstanding service of Mr. Pickett during his time on
the Council. Mr. James indicated that a resolution of appreciation for Mr.
Pickett would be considered later in the meeting.
Mr. James relayed news of the Fall 2012 PACT Conference, scheduled to
be hosted by Millersville University on October 17-18. He reminded
trustees that Clarion University would serve as host for the Fall 2013
PACT Conference and he asked that trustees hold their calendars for the
dates of October 9-10, 2013 for the event.
Chairperson James indicated that since Trustee Dunbar was participating
via conference phone, the agenda would be reordered to consider all
Action Items before divisional reports. He further indicated that at the
conclusion of the Action Items, Ms. Dunbar could either be excused from
the meeting or remain on the line.

IV.

ACTION ITEMS
A.

Approval of the Annual Budget
In follow up to the presentation of detailed information at an afternoon
budget workshop for trustees, Mr. Bylaska reported that the university had
ended FY11-12 in a relatively healthy condition with a positive balance of
approximately $350,000 in its Educational and General Budget. He added
that those funds would be looked at to help offset required reductions in
FY12-13. Mr. Bylaska noted that for FY11-12 the General Operating
Reserve stood at $3.0 million. He reported that for FY12-13, the university
had experienced a 3.5% decrease in appropriation which translated into a
loss of $760,000. He further noted that tuition and fee revenue was down
$3.3 million. Mr. Bylaska reviewed adjustments to the current year
budgets of the university’s Responsibility Centers (RC) and indicated that
the university’s FY12-13 budget had been balanced as a whole and by

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RC. He acknowledged the work of Jill Spence, Interim Budget Director,
and his office staff in preparing the budget presentation materials.
A motion was made by Mr. Kifer, seconded by Ms. Dunbar, that the
following resolution be approved. A roll call vote was taken. The motion
carried unanimously.
RESOLVED, that the Council of Trustees, Clarion University,
approve the annual budget for 2012-2013 and its submission to the State
System of Higher Education.
B.

Finance Committee Report
A motion was made by Mrs. Burns, seconded by Mr. Kifer, that the
following resolution be approved. A roll call vote was taken. The motion
carried unanimously.
RESOLVED, that the Council of Trustees, Clarion University,
approve the Finance Committee Report.

C.

Resolution of Appreciation
A motion was made by Dr. Ali-Zaidi, seconded by Mrs. Oberlander,
that the following resolution be approved. A roll call vote was taken. The
motion carried unanimously.
WHEREAS, Mr. Larry C. Pickett has served his alma mater, Clarion
University of Pennsylvania, as a member of its Council of Trustees since
June 24, 2009; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Pickett, during his distinguished tenure on Council,
provided leadership as its Vice Chairperson and also served as a member
of the Council’s Executive Committee, Facilities Committee, Finance
Committee, and Presidential Leadership Review Committee; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Pickett has been a steadfast participant in the life of the
university, faithfully attending campus events, such as University
Convocation, Commencement, and Equity Week activities, as well as
numerous other special events and celebrations; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Pickett has actively pursued trustee professional
development opportunities, attending workshops and conferences of the
Pennsylvania Association of Councils of Trustees (PACT), as well as
supported the professional growth of Clarion University students sharing
his management expertise with undergraduate classes; and

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WHEREAS, Mr. Pickett, through his unwavering loyalty and dedication to
the Council of Trustees and to Clarion University, has contributed to the
institution, its students, and its faculty and staff; now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of Trustees and the President of the
University express their deepest appreciation of Mr. Larry C. Pickett and
his service to the University; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution be made a part of the
Council of Trustees minutes of the meeting of September 20, 2012, with
copies delivered to Mr. Pickett and another placed in the permanent
archives of Clarion University of Pennsylvania.

V.

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PRESIDENT
A.

President
Information Items
1.

PASSHE Update
Noting her recent return from a meeting of PASSHE Presidents, Dr.
Whitney indicated that the entire State System had been
challenged with a system-wide enrollment drop of 4,100 students.
She reported that she had just received some good news from the
Chancellor’s Office with the release of FY12-13 Performance
Funding totaling $1.8 million for Clarion University.

2.

Strategic Directions Brochure
Dr. Whitney called the trustees’ attention to brochures at their
places outlining the university’s mission, vision, core values, and
strategic directions developed during the 2011-12 academic year.
She noted that the university’s Vice Presidents were leading efforts
this year to establish divisional plans in support of Clarion’s
strategic plan.

4.

Venango Campus Update
Dr. Whitney turned the podium over to Executive Dean Dr. Chris
Reber who provided an update on Venango College. Dr. Reber
reviewed programming and facilities renovations that had occurred
over the summer, including work on the Nursing and Allied Health
Simulation Lab, which had been visited by the trustees prior to their
dinner and meeting. He also highlighted the college’s strategic
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planning, two new degrees, new faculty and staff, fundraising to
construct additional student apartment buildings, participation in a
$15 million consortium grant proposal currently under review to
support dislocated workers, and a Venango College All-Class
Reunion attended by some 100 Venango Alumni. Dr. Reber
introduced Dr. Joe Carrico, new chair of the Venango College
Advisory Council. Dr. Carrico introduced other Council members
who were present at the meeting and expressed gratitude for the
transformational leadership provided by Dr. Whitney and Dr. Reber.
At the conclusion of the President’s reports (8:07 p.m.),Trustee Dunbar left
the meeting, with Chairman James expressing the Council’s appreciation
for her participation via phone.
B.

Academic Affairs
Information Items
1.

Report on Student Participation in the National Political Convention
Experience
Dr. Nowaczyk introduced Dr. Kevan Yenerall, Professor of Political
Science, who discussed the university’s partnership with The
Washington Center that had provided the opportunity for 16 Clarion
students to participate in the 2012 national political conventions.
He noted that the students had spent the week before each
convention listening to speakers, including elected officials and
media scholars, who helped to frame the election prior to students
being placed with a media outlet, party organization or interest
group. He further noted that after their return to campus, the
students would integrate their convention experiences with
classroom discussion and readings.
The trustees then heard presentations from Cassandra Hartman
and Lauren Sigmund, who had participated in the Democratic
National Convention in Charlotte, NC, and students John Owens
and Michael Friend, who had participated in the Republican
National Convention held in Tampa, FL. The students expressed
appreciation for the opportunities their experiences had provided in
gaining insight into the political process, learning how to network,
and making connections with news outlets and other organizations
for summer internships. Noting that Clarion University had sent
more students to the conventions than any other Pennsylvania
institution, Dr. Yenerall thanked the administration and trustees for
their support of the program.

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2.

Enrollment Management
Dr. Nowaczyk distributed fall 2012 data for undergraduate and
graduate enrollments based on college or area. He reported an
overall decline in headcount of 6.7%, noting that the largest drop
had occurred in the College of Education and Human Services. He
reported that drops in Education had occurred across the PASSHE
and that a System-wide conference of Education deans would be
held to address the situation. Dr. Whitney noted the importance
also of retaining current students.

3.

NSF Grant
Dr. Nowaczyk announced that through the efforts of Professor of
Physics Chunfei Li and a team of university faculty, the university
had received notice from the National Science Foundation (NSF)
that its grant application to acquire a scanning electron microscope
had been funded at $353,530. Dr. Nowaczyk indicated that once
purchased, the high-quality microscope would be used for facultystudent research and instruction and made available on a contractbasis to area businesses who wished to do research.

C.

Finance and Administration
Information Item
1.

Status of Facilities Report
Mr. Bylaska reviewed items from the Status of Facilities Report
attached to the trustees’ agenda. He also invited the trustees to
visit the new Starbucks patio area.

D.

Student and University Affairs
Information Items
1.

Fund-raising Report
Mr. Tripp reported that for FY12-13, the Clarion University
Foundation, Inc. had thus far raised approximately $447,000
through 705 gifts, a 10% increase over last year. Mr. Tripp
expressed appreciation to President Whitney and Dr. Peggy Apple
for their lead gift for the new soaring eagle sculpture installed in the
atrium of Eagle Commons. He also thanked donors from the
Council of Trustees and Clarion University Foundation who had
provided monetary support for the sculpture.
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2

Opening of the Fall 2012 Semester
Mr. Tripp shared that over 250 faculty, staff and students helped to
welcome new students to campus and assisted them in moving into
their residences on Discovery Weekend.

V.

REPORT OF COMMITTEES
A.

Executive Committee
Mr. James reported that the Executive Committee had not met in
September.

VI.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None

VII.

NEW BUSINESS
A.

Call for Executive Session

The trustees entered into executive session at 8:52 p.m. to discuss personnel issues
and returned to public session at 9:25 p.m.

VIII.

ADJOURNMENT - The meeting was adjourned at 9:25 p.m.

Respectfully submitted

_________________________
James Kifer, Secretary
Council of Trustees

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