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Pennsylvania Western University
Council of Trustees, Regular Quarterly Meeting
Thursday, July 13, 2023
2 p.m.
PennWest Edinboro, Frank G. Pogue Student Center
405 Scotland Rd., Edinboro, PA 16444
Meeting Minutes
The Council of Trustees at Pennsylvania Western University met in regular session on Thursday,
July 13, 2023, at the PennWest Edinboro campus at 405 Scotland Rd., Edinboro, Pa., and via Zoom.
The meeting began at 2:02 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
Rachel Kister
Barbara Logue
Commissioner Larry Maggi
Barry Niccolai
Representative Donna Oberlander (virtual)
Kathy Pape
Larry Pickett
Sarah Seader (virtual)
Neil Weaver
Sonia Yost
ABSENT: N/A
Also in attendance: Lorraine Bernotsky, Interim President; James Geiger, Vice President for
Advancement; Susanne Fenske, Vice President for Student Affairs, Institutional Effectiveness, and
University Police; Daniel Engstrom, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs; Scott
Heinerichs, Special Assistant to the President; Fawn Petrosky, Vice President for Finance and
Administration; Sarah Freed, Interim Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management; Kelly
Repinski, Vice President for University Affairs and Advocacy; 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; Sam Claster, 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 that highlighted internal governance structures; establishment of
committees and defining mission, vision, and goals; and 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. Sam Claster, local APSCUF president, provided comments on behalf of PennWest Edinboro.
FACULTY SENATE REMARKS (Full comments in video archive)
Dr. Peter Kuvshinikov provided remarks on behalf of Faculty Senate.
STUDENT TRUSTEE REMARKS (Full report in video archive)
Student Trustees Sarah Seader (California), Sonia Yost (Edinboro), and Rachel Kister (Clarion)
provided reports on the status and activities at PennWest California, PennWest Edinboro, and
PennWest Clarion.
PACT REPORT (Full report in video archive)
Trustees Oberlander, Bellini and Niccolai provided a PACT update.
APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA
• Meeting Minutes, 4-13-2023
Action Item:
Chair Pape requested a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Trustee Dunbar
moved to accept it. Trustee Maggi seconded. Roll call vote was taken.
Yays: All
Nays: None
Motion Carries.
UNIVERSITY REPORTS (Full reports in video archive)
1. ACADEMIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Dr. Daniel Engstrom presented an action item and provided an update on the division activity of
Academic Affairs.
Action Item: Faculty Senate Constitution and Bylaws
Motion that the Council of Trustees approve the Faculty Senate Constitution and Bylaws.
Trustee Jones moved to approve. Trustee Weaver seconded. Roll call vote was taken.
Yays: All
Nays: None
Motion Carries.
Dr. Sarah Freed presented on the division activities of Strategic Enrollment Management.
2. STUDENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Dr. Susanne Fenske provided an update on the work of the Student Affairs Committee, and
divisional updates regarding the Middle States Self-Study Design, 2023-2026 Strategic Plan, and
police department reorganization.
3. FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
VP Petrosky reported on quarterly contracts and purchases for the period of February 21, 2023,
through May 20, 2023. Further division activity reported on year-end activities and department
budgets.
4. UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT’S REPORT (Full report in video archive)
President Bernotsky gave the President’s Report highlighting the upcoming Fall semester. The
remainder of her report focused on the Order of Succession, as detailed in Board of Governors’
Policy 1983-14-A: Appointing Interim and Acting Chief Executive Officers.
Action Item: Order of Succession
Motion that the Council of Trustees approve the Pennsylvania Western University Order of
Succession, as presented, as required by Board of Governors’ Policy 1983-14-A: Appointing
Interim and Acting Chief Executive Officers. Trustee Niccolai moved to approve. Trustee Dunbar
seconded. Roll call vote was taken.
Yays: All
Nays: None
Motion Carries.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Pape called for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Trustee Bellini moved to do so. Trustee
Maggi seconded. Roll call vote was taken.
Yays: All
Nays: None
Motion Carries.
The meeting adjourned at 3:06 p.m.
Meeting webcast is available here.
Council of Trustees, Regular Quarterly Meeting
Thursday, July 13, 2023
2 p.m.
PennWest Edinboro, Frank G. Pogue Student Center
405 Scotland Rd., Edinboro, PA 16444
Meeting Minutes
The Council of Trustees at Pennsylvania Western University met in regular session on Thursday,
July 13, 2023, at the PennWest Edinboro campus at 405 Scotland Rd., Edinboro, Pa., and via Zoom.
The meeting began at 2:02 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
Rachel Kister
Barbara Logue
Commissioner Larry Maggi
Barry Niccolai
Representative Donna Oberlander (virtual)
Kathy Pape
Larry Pickett
Sarah Seader (virtual)
Neil Weaver
Sonia Yost
ABSENT: N/A
Also in attendance: Lorraine Bernotsky, Interim President; James Geiger, Vice President for
Advancement; Susanne Fenske, Vice President for Student Affairs, Institutional Effectiveness, and
University Police; Daniel Engstrom, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs; Scott
Heinerichs, Special Assistant to the President; Fawn Petrosky, Vice President for Finance and
Administration; Sarah Freed, Interim Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management; Kelly
Repinski, Vice President for University Affairs and Advocacy; 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; Sam Claster, 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 that highlighted internal governance structures; establishment of
committees and defining mission, vision, and goals; and 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. Sam Claster, local APSCUF president, provided comments on behalf of PennWest Edinboro.
FACULTY SENATE REMARKS (Full comments in video archive)
Dr. Peter Kuvshinikov provided remarks on behalf of Faculty Senate.
STUDENT TRUSTEE REMARKS (Full report in video archive)
Student Trustees Sarah Seader (California), Sonia Yost (Edinboro), and Rachel Kister (Clarion)
provided reports on the status and activities at PennWest California, PennWest Edinboro, and
PennWest Clarion.
PACT REPORT (Full report in video archive)
Trustees Oberlander, Bellini and Niccolai provided a PACT update.
APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA
• Meeting Minutes, 4-13-2023
Action Item:
Chair Pape requested a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Trustee Dunbar
moved to accept it. Trustee Maggi seconded. Roll call vote was taken.
Yays: All
Nays: None
Motion Carries.
UNIVERSITY REPORTS (Full reports in video archive)
1. ACADEMIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Dr. Daniel Engstrom presented an action item and provided an update on the division activity of
Academic Affairs.
Action Item: Faculty Senate Constitution and Bylaws
Motion that the Council of Trustees approve the Faculty Senate Constitution and Bylaws.
Trustee Jones moved to approve. Trustee Weaver seconded. Roll call vote was taken.
Yays: All
Nays: None
Motion Carries.
Dr. Sarah Freed presented on the division activities of Strategic Enrollment Management.
2. STUDENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Dr. Susanne Fenske provided an update on the work of the Student Affairs Committee, and
divisional updates regarding the Middle States Self-Study Design, 2023-2026 Strategic Plan, and
police department reorganization.
3. FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
VP Petrosky reported on quarterly contracts and purchases for the period of February 21, 2023,
through May 20, 2023. Further division activity reported on year-end activities and department
budgets.
4. UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT’S REPORT (Full report in video archive)
President Bernotsky gave the President’s Report highlighting the upcoming Fall semester. The
remainder of her report focused on the Order of Succession, as detailed in Board of Governors’
Policy 1983-14-A: Appointing Interim and Acting Chief Executive Officers.
Action Item: Order of Succession
Motion that the Council of Trustees approve the Pennsylvania Western University Order of
Succession, as presented, as required by Board of Governors’ Policy 1983-14-A: Appointing
Interim and Acting Chief Executive Officers. Trustee Niccolai moved to approve. Trustee Dunbar
seconded. Roll call vote was taken.
Yays: All
Nays: None
Motion Carries.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Pape called for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Trustee Bellini moved to do so. Trustee
Maggi seconded. Roll call vote was taken.
Yays: All
Nays: None
Motion Carries.
The meeting adjourned at 3:06 p.m.
Meeting webcast is available here.