Pennsylvania Western University
Council of Trustees Regular Quarterly Meeting
Thursday, April 13, 2023
3 p.m.
PennWest Clarion Gemmell Student Center
840 Wood St., Clarion, PA 16214
Meeting Minutes
The Council of Trustees at Pennsylvania Western University met in regular session on Thursday,
April 13, 2023, at the PennWest Clarion campus at 840 Wood St., Clarion, PA, and via Zoom. The
meeting began at 3:00 p.m.
At the direction of Chair Pape, roll call attendance was taken. A quorum of Trustees was present:
ATTENDING
Mark Bellini
JD Dunbar
Danny Jones
Patricia Kennedy
Barbara Logue
Commissioner Larry Maggi
Barry Niccolai

Representative Donna Oberlander
Kathy Pape
Larry Pickett
Kathryn Robinson (late arrival)
Sarah Seader
Neil Weaver
Sonia Yost

ABSENT: N/A
Also in attendance: Lorraine Bernotsky, Acting President; James Geiger, Vice President for
Advancement; Susanne Fenske, Vice President for Student Affairs and Institutional Effectiveness;
Brenda Fredette, Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost; Daniel Engstrom, Deputy
Provost; Fawn Petrosky, Vice President for Finance; Sarah Freed, Interim Vice President for
Enrollment Management; Kelly Moran-Repinski, Chief of Staff; Eric Guiser, Senior Associate Vice
President for Human Resources; Molly Passmore, University Legal Counsel; Robin Weaver,
PennWest Faculty Senate; Jackie Knaust, PennWest Faculty Senate; Peter Kuvshinikov, PennWest
Faculty Senate; Mario Majcen, Local APSCUF President, PennWest California; Barry Sweet,
Designee for Local APSCUF President, PennWest Clarion; Lee Williams, Designee for Local
APSCUF President, PennWest Edinboro.
Upon calling the council to order, Chair Pape announced that the proceedings of the PennWest
University Council of Trustees are recorded, therefore, public disclosure to those in attendance via
verbal announcement and written public notice avoids any violation of the Pennsylvania Wire
Tapping Act. The meeting was also being livestreamed over YouTube for the public.
COUNCIL CHAIR REPORT (Full report in video archive)
Chair Pape provided a report highlighting internal governance structuring; establishment of
committees, and defining mission, vision, and goals; building formal lines of communication and
partnerships with PennWest staff for enrollment-driven outcomes.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.

APSCUF COMMENT (Full comments in video archive)
Dr. Mario Majcen, local APSCUF President, provided comment on behalf of PennWest California.
Dr. Barry Sweet, designee for local APSCUF President Joyce Overly, provided comment on behalf
of PennWest Clarion.
Dr. Lee Williams, designee for local APSCUF President Samuel Claster, provided comment on
behalf of PennWest Edinboro.
FACULTY SENATE REMARKS (Full comments in video archive)
Dr. Jackie Knaust provided remarks on behalf of Faculty Senate.
STUDENT TRUSTEE REPORTS (Full report in video archive)
Student Trustees Sarah Seader (California) and Sonia Yost (Edinboro) provided reports on the
status and activities at PennWest California and PennWest Edinboro.
No report from Trustee Robinson for PennWest Clarion.
PACT/BOG UPDATE (Full report in video archive)
Trustees Bellini, Niccolai, and Oberlander provided a PACT update.
APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA
• Meeting Minutes 1-19-2023
• Capital Spending Plan
Trustee Bellini requested the Capital Spending Plan be considered outside of the Consent Agenda.
MEETING MINUTES
Chair Pape requested a motion to approve meeting minutes as drafted. Trustee Weaver moved to
accept as drafted. Trustee Niccolai seconded. Roll call vote was taken.
Yays: All
Nays: None
Motion Carries.
CAPITAL SPENDING PLAN
Motion to approve the Capital Spending Plan as presented. Trustee Niccolai moved to approve as
presented. Trustee Bellini seconded. Roll call vote was taken.
Yays: Trustees Dunbar, Jones, Kennedy, Logue, Maggi, Niccolai, Oberlander, Pape,
Pickett, Seader, Weaver, Yost
Nays: Trustee Bellini
Motion Carries.
UNIVERSITY REPORTS (Full reports in video archive)
1. ACADEMIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Dr. Brenda Fredette presented action items and provided an update on division activity.
Action Item: New Online Graduate Certificates
Motion that the Council of Trustees approve six new online graduate certificates as presented:
Accounting Essentials, Assurance, Taxation, Post Master’s Counseling, Superintendent Letter of
Eligibility, and Reading Specialist Preparation. Trustee Niccolai moved to approve as presented.
Trustee Pickett seconded. Roll call vote was taken.

Yays: All
Nays: None
Motion Carries.
Note: Trustee Robinson arrived.
Action Item: Academic Colleges Reorganization
Motion that the Council of Trustees approve the reorganization of the existing six academic
colleges into three newly created colleges renamed: the College of Science, Technology, and
Business; the College of Education, Arts, and Humanities; and the College of Health Sciences
and Human Services. Trustee Kennedy moved to approve as presented. Trustee Weaver
seconded. Roll call vote was taken.
Yays: All
Nays: None
Motion Carries.
2. FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
Fawn Petrosky presented action items and provided an update on division activity.
Action Item: External Financial Support and Resolution
Motion that the Council of Trustees approve the resolution certifying compliance with Board of
Governors Policy 1985-04-A: University External Financial Support. Trustee Dunbar moved to
approve as presented. Trustee Jones seconded. Roll call vote was taken.
Yays: All
Nays: None
Motion Carries.
Action Item: Meal Plan Rates
Motion to approve adjustments to the meal plan rates as presented. Trustee Niccolai moved to
approve as presented. Trustee Maggi seconded. Roll call vote was taken.
Yays: All
Nays: None
Motion Carries.
Action Item: Room Rates
Motion to approve increases, as presented, to the single room rate at the California campus, and
Reinhard Villages apartment-style suites at the Clarion campus, to align rates. Trustee Dunbar
moved to approve as presented. Trustee Maggi seconded. Roll call vote was taken.
Yays: Trustees Bellini, Dunbar, Jones, Kennedy, Logue, Maggi, Niccolai, Oberlander,
Pape, Pickett, Seader, Weaver,
Nays: Trustees Robinson and Yost
Motion Carries.
Action Item: Tuition and Fees
Motion to approve tuition and fee adjustments, as presented, effective for the fall 2023 semester.
Trustee Weaver moved to approve as presented. Trustee Kennedy seconded. Roll call vote was
taken.

Yays: All
Nays: None
Motion Carries.
VP Petrosky also reported on the quarterly contracts and purchases for the period of November
21, 2022, through February 20, 2023. Further division activity reported on includes Accounting,
Financial Planning and Analysis, Student Accounts, Information Technology, Human Resources
and Administration. VP Petrosky announced PennWest won the Ellucian Impact Award for
cross-campus technology implementation.
3. UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT
James Geiger presented an action item and provided a division update.
Action Item: Building Name Request
Motion that the Pennsylvania Western University Council of Trustees, in recognition of the
prominent and devoted commitment of John S. Shropshire to Clarion University and his
significant impact on the Clarion community, as well as his immeasurable impact on the
recruitment, retention and graduation students, hereby renames Egbert Hall to John S.
Shropshire Hall, pursuant to the Pennsylvania Western University Policy for Naming Facilities
and Programs. Trustee Pickett moved to approve. Trustee Jones seconded. Roll call vote was
taken.
Yays: All
Nays: None
Motion Carries.
VP Geiger also reported updates on the inaugural PennWest Annual Day of Giving on April 28,
fundraising and giving targets, realignment of Enrollment Marketing, and upcoming important
events.
4. UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT’S REPORT (Full report in video archive)
President Bernotsky gave the President’s Report, expressing the honor and commitment to lead
on an interim basis the community of educators serving students and PennWest.
5. UNIVERSITY AFFAIRS
Kelly Moran-Repinski provided an update on University Affairs to include efforts underway in
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, Multicultural/Student Support access hubs, national
search for a Chief Diversity Equity and Inclusion Officer, and the status of the five Presidential
Commissions launching fall 2023.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Pape called for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Trustee Jones moved to do so. Trustee
Niccolai seconded. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
The meeting adjourned at 4:28 p.m.
Meeting webcast available here.
Respectfully submitted by,
Anna Stewart, Executive Staff Associate and Trustee Liaison
Office of the President