MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF TRUSTEES
CLARION UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SEPTEMBER 18, 2008
ROOM 403 MONTGOMERY HALL, 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
Mr. Richard Hilinski, Secretary
Mr. R. Lee James, Chairperson
Mr. James Kifer
Mr. Kyle McMunn
Mr. Jeffrey Szumigale
The following trustees were absent from the meeting:
Mr. H. John Drayer
Mr. Howard Shreckengost, Vice Chairperson
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 Assistant
Vice President for International Programs
Dr. Joseph Grunenwald, President
Dr. Valentine James, Provost and Academic Vice President
Dr. Christopher Reber, Executive Dean, Venango Campus
II.

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF July 17, 2008
A motion was made by Mr. Kifer, seconded by Mr. Szumigale, that the
minutes of the July 17, 2008 regular meeting of the Council of Trustees be
approved as distributed by mail. The motion carried unanimously.

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III.

COMMUNICATIONS
A.

Public Comments - None

B.

Report of Student Senate
1.

Venango Student Senate
Venango Student Senate President Jaimie Renwick reported on
activities of her group, including efforts to strengthen clubs and
organizations on the campus and to raise awareness about the
2008 Presidential election and voter registration. She noted
that the Senate was also working with the Venango Campus
administration and the Clarion Student Association to refurbish
the student lounge on the fourth floor of Montgomery Hall.

2.

Clarion Student Senate
Clarion Campus Student Senate Treasurer Heather Puhalla
reviewed activities of her organization, including a Labor Day
Weekend planning retreat, election of two freshman
representatives, outreach program to Recognized Student
Organizations (RSO’s), voter registration drive, planning for
annual Social Equity Banquet, and efforts to revamp the Student
Senate Constitution.

C.

Report of Faculty Senate
1.

Venango Faculty Forum
Reporting for Venango Faculty Forum Chairperson Dr. Ellen
Foster, Assistant to the Executive Dean Kay Ensle reviewed
various campus facilities improvements and programming
initiatives. She noted that the Venango Campus Honors
Program now has 25 students enrolled.

2.

Clarion Faculty Senate
Clarion Faculty Senate Chairperson Dr. Sally Sentner reported
that her group had been filling committee appointments and
would be providing representatives for the Search Committee
for Associate Provost. She also reviewed faculty activities,
including the 2008-09 Faculty Author Series, a faculty art

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exhibit at the university gallery until October 2, and the
appointment of History Professor Dr. Todd Pfannestiel to the
Pennsylvania Humanities Council.
D.

Council Chairperson’s Report
Mr. James thanked trustees Ali-Zaidi, Hilinski, and McMunn for their
participation in the August 24th Freshman Convocation. He also
reminded Council members that the Fall 2008 Conference of the
Pennsylvania Association of Councils of Trustees (PACT) would be
hosted by Shippensburg University on October 15-17.

V.

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PRESIDENT
A.

President
Information Items
1.

Enrollment Management
Dr. Grunenwald reported that university overall headcount for
Fall 08 was approximately 7,100, while FTE stood at 5,900.
He noted increases in enrollment at off-campus teaching sites
and for distance and graduate programs.

2.

State System Update
Dr. Grunenwald touched on the following issues related to the
implementation of Commonwealth statutes/legislation and
PASSHE initiatives:
a.

PA Clean Indoor Air Act
Dr. Grunenwald explained the PASSHE’s position that the
PA Clean Indoor Air Act prohibiting smoking in the
workplace and in locations defined as “public places”
extended to the entire grounds of PASSHE campuses. He
noted that this interpretation had been echoed by the PA
State Attorney General. He discussed the educational
approach being used by the university to encourage
compliance as well as plans for long-term enforcement
for serial offenders.

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b.

PA Right to Know Law
Dr. Grunenwald reported on recent changes to the state’s
Right-to-Know legislation. He explained that the law now
assumes that all forms of university reporting or
correspondence, including email messages, are public
information. Under the changes, he noted, the university
must also electronically submit to the PA Treasury
Department redacted copies of all contracts. The revised
law also provides less turnaround time for responding to
Right-to-Know requests and does away with the former
restriction that requests can be made only by PA
residents.

c.

PASSHE Shared Administrative Software System
Dr. Grunenwald noted that the Board of Governors had
requested that Chancellor Cavanaugh advance a
recommendation to the board at its October 2008
meeting concerning a proposal developed by PASSHE
presidents for an alternative to the Shared Administrative
Software System.

d.

Performance Indicator Funding
Dr. Grunenwald reported that Clarion University expected
to earn its fair share of 08-09 Performance Indicator
funding.

3.

Venango Campus Update
Dr. Grunenwald turned the podium over to Executive Dean Chris
Reber, who provided an update on progress at the Venango
Campus. Dr. Reber reviewed Summer 2008 events and
programs hosted by the campus, including the Second Annual
National Birding Festival, National Hardwood Lumber
Association’s Lumber Grading School, Second Annual Barbara
Morgan Harvey Community History Days celebration, and the
Kids In College program. In academic news, Dr. Reber noted the
campus’s continuing collaboration with area medical centers to
provide the Associate of Science in Nursing program;
accreditation self-study for the Applied Technology program;
review of possible partnership programming in areas including
sustainability, alternative energy, and robotics; and proposals

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underway for two new B.S. degree programs in Industrial
Operations and Health Sciences. Outside the classroom, Dr.
Reber reviewed plans for a new club sports program to be
implemented in Fall 2009, progress on the renovation of the
West End Pond, construction of two additional student
apartment buildings, and renovations to the locker rooms and
rest rooms in the lower level of Rhoades Center.
Dr. Reber introduced Mrs. Libby Williams, President of the
Venango Campus Advisory Council, who discussed the
Venango Campus Fall 2008 Cultural Arts and Events schedule
and gifts and grants received for campus capital projects and its
annual fund.
B.

Academic Affairs
Information Items
1.

International Efforts
Dr. James discussed the university’s efforts to internationalize
its curriculum and campus culture and enhance educational
opportunities abroad for students and faculty. He noted that he
would be traveling to China in October to meet with
representatives of various universities, including Sanda
University with which Clarion University recently signed an
affiliation agreement.

2.

Moratoriums
Dr. James reported that the School Nurse Certification Program
had been placed in moratorium due to declining enrollment. He
further reported that the Principal Preparation Program had been
placed on a one-year moratorium to allow the department
faculty and dean time to review, assess, and revise the
program.

3.

Paralegal Program Ranking
Dr. James noted that the university’s Paralegal program was
one of two in the state approved by the American Bar
Association. Dr. Grunenwald added that the program had been
recently cited among the best 100 paralegal programs in the US
and Canada by Paralegal News.

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C.

Finance and Administration
Action Items
1.

Annual Budget
In follow up to the presentation of detailed information at an
afternoon budget workshop for trustees, Mr. Bylaska
highlighted elements of the university’s FY08-09 budget. He
reported that the university had ended the prior fiscal year with
an Education and General (E&G) surplus of $834,000. He
indicated that the E & G budget for FY08-09 of $72 million was
balanced at the start of the fiscal year and he thanked
Comptroller John Frances and his staff for their good work,
noting that Mr. Frances planned to retire in January, 2009.
A motion was made by Mr. Hilinski, seconded by Mr.
Szumigale that the following resolution be approved. The
motion carried unanimously.
RESOLVED, that the Council of Trustees, Clarion
University, approve the annual budget for 2008-2009 and its
submission to the State System of Higher Education.

2.

Clarion University Hazard Mitigation Plan
Mr. Bylaska provided background on the university’s
development of a Hazard Mitigation Plan. He noted the
document had been prepared as a result of the need to develop
a long-term approach to reducing the university’s vulnerability
to natural and human-caused hazards. He indicated that the
plan met PEMA and FEMA requirements and that completion of
the report would provide eligibility for the university to receive
grants and other assistance
A motion was made by Mr. Hilinski, seconded by Mr.
Szumigale that the following resolution be approved. The
motion carried unanimously.
WHEREAS Clarion University in Clarion County,
Pennsylvania, is vulnerable to natural and man-made hazards
like flooding, severe weather, earthquakes, hazardous materials

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releases, and terrorism that can result in property loss, loss of
life, and threats to health and safety of the University
community; and,
WHEREAS, a Disaster Resistant University (DRU) Hazard
Mitigation Plan has been developed by the University hazard
mitigation planning committee; and,
WHEREAS, the University’s Hazard Mitigation Plan
recommends mitigation activities that will reduce losses to life
and property affected by the hazards that face Clarion
University; and,
WHEREAS a series of public meetings were held to
develop and review the plan; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, by the President of Clarion University,
that:
The Hazard Mitigation Plan is hereby adopted as an official plan
of Clarion University.
By September 30 each year, the University hazard mitigation
planning committee shall prepare an annual evaluation report to
the President of Clarion University.
The respective University officials and departments identified in
the strategy of the Plan are hereby directed to implement the
recommended activities assigned to them. They will consult
semi-annually with the University hazard mitigation planning
committee on the progress of their activities.
Information Items
1.

Status of Facilities Report
Mr. Bylaska reviewed elements of the Status of Facilities Report
attached to the trustees’ agenda. He called attention to the
preparation of a feasibility plan for the renovation of Becht Hall
into a one-stop student services center, construction of a new
parking lot on the Clarion campus to be ready in November, and
the installation of new visitor bleachers at Memorial Stadium.

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D.

Student and University Affairs
Information Items
1.

Fall Semester Opening
Mr. Tripp reported a smooth opening of the Fall 2008 semester.
He noted that the new on-campus residence hall suites on the
Clarion campus, due to open in January 2009, were almost at
full occupancy. Mr. Tripp further noted that a dedication
ceremony for the residence hall suites and new dining hall
would be held on April 2, 2009, at which time the concepts for
the renovation of Becht Hall would be unveiled. He added that
Becht Hall is in its 100th year of operation this year.

2.

Fund-raising Report
Mr. Tripp reported that for the first two months of FY08-09 the
Foundation had raised just under $1 million.

VI.

REPORT OF COMMITTEES
A.

Executive Committee
Mr. James reported that the Executive Committee did not meet in
September.

B.

Finance Committee
A motion was made by Mr. Hilinski, seconded by Mrs. Burns,
that the following resolution be approved. The motion carried
unanimously.
RESOLVED, that the Council of Trustees, Clarion University,
approve the Finance Committee Report for July 8 through August 5,
2008.

C.

Honorary Degree Committee
Mr. James reported that the Honorary Degree Committee had
reviewed and endorsed the President’s nomination of Congressman
John E. Peterson for the Doctor of Public Service. Mr. James noted
that nomination material for the Congressman, who plans to retire at

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the end of his current term after 40 years of elected public service,
had been attached to the trustees’ agenda.
A motion was made by Dr. Ali-Zaidi, seconded by Mr. Kifer,
that the following resolution be approved. The motion carried
unanimously.
RESOLVED, that the Council of Trustees, Clarion University,
approve the nomination of John E. Peterson for the honorary Doctor of
Public Service.

VII.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None

VIII.

NEW BUSINESS

Mr. James noted that the Council would be going into Executive Session to discuss
the President’s annual performance evaluation and would return to public session
to adjourn.
______________________________________________________________________
The trustees entered into executive session at 8:02 p.m. to discuss the President’s
evaluation and returned to public session at 8:15 p.m.
______________________________________________________________________
IX.

ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Mr. Hilinski, seconded by Dr. Ali-Zaidi, to
adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted

_________________________
Richard Hilinski, Secretary
Council of Trustees

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