Faculty Council Minutes - April 2025

Behrend Faculty Council Meeting Minutes

April 2025

  1. Call to order
    1. Motion: Jason Bennett
  2. Approval of minutes
    1. Motion M. Naber, seconded by M. Swinarski.
  3. Purpose and Context of Meeting (Jason Bennett)
  4. Updates from Leadership
    1. Chancellor (R. Ford)
      1. Ralph Ford discussed support for immigration students, with University resources and legal counselors available.
      2. Kim Paris circulated an update several days prior to April 17, 2025.
      3. Campus closure dates were moved to mid-May 2025, with the Board of Trustees deliberating on May 9, 2025.
      4. The campus is offering support to affected Western campuses.
      5. Enrollment outlook is solid, following a successful open house around April 3, 2025.
      6. Commencement speakers include Tim DeCastro and Dr. Ken Louie.
      7. Questions
        1. J. Bennett voiced NTL faculty concerns about potential replacement by tenured faculty from other campuses.
          1. R. Ford mentions this is a possibility but stated this would involve negotiation, as TL faculty would involve PSU budget following TL faculty.
          2. J. Bennett voiced concern that it has been a tough year for NTL and now this possibility.
          3. R. Ford stated that he understands and agrees with J. Bennett.
    2. Vice Chancellor and Dean of Academic Affairs (Greg Filbeck)
      1. Ad hoc task force meeting with ALT, website implementation.
        1. Western Campuses Strategy, DuBois collaboration, looking forward to visit and opportunities.
        2. School of Science Director Search, good efficient committee, kudos to J. Amicangelo and committee.
        3. Open positions: Engineering 5 positions, H&SS 1 position.
        4. Reported 54 of 55 campus policies are updated, moving to a public website by Fall 2025; the final policy on alcohol use is pending. Faculty workload policy BCF 21 is being finalized.
    3. Vice Chancellor and Dean for Research and Graduate Studies, (Alicyn Rhodes)
      1. Noted government funding changes require grant resubmissions.
      2. Some NSF review panels and REU programs face delays or cancellations.
      3. A high tunnel construction project, funded by Erie Insurance and campus funds, begins summer 2025.
      4. Master Gardeners coming for visit, may help with campus gardens.
      5. Summer research for about 40 undergraduates is being organized.
      6. R. Ford-The Center for Manufacturing has $4 million in external funding pending.
      7. A. Rhodes is collecting stories of federally funded projects with clear external impact.
      8. PSU Extension is moving to Knowledge Park.
      9. Reported a productive visit by 13 staff to DuBois campus (400 students) the week of April 14, 2025, for collaboration talks.
      10. Announced a Magee-Womens Research Institute donor event for the week of April 21, 2025, introducing new director Will Walker on April 23, 2025.
      11. Senator McCormick will visit on April 21, 2025, and Austin Davis will also visit.
      12. An upcoming budget meeting with University leadership was noted by R. Ford.
  5. University Faculty Senate Update - Matt Swinarski
    1. The University Senate's April 1 meeting covered enrollment data, ethics training, academic consultation, a new sustainability course attribute, and an ICE interactions statement.
    2. The upcoming May 28 meeting will discuss Commonwealth campus support.
    3. APPR Workstream 1 data from Hanover (not directives), and vote on a Big Ten core values statement.
    4. A new faculty council constitution was approved.
    5. Committee annual reports, using a new template, are due May 15, 2025. M. Swinarski will provide the template J. Bennett.
    6. Concerns were raised about ICE interactions.
      1. The University is working on communicating policies, resources, and proactively monitoring student visas.
        1. There's a need for guidance for faculty supporting students, especially international ones, and specific messaging if ICE incidents involve faculty.
        2. The aim is to be a welcoming campus, balancing support with avoiding undue fear.
    7. A faculty council statement of concern led to a meeting request with University leadership; attendees will include Matt, Dave Dieteman, Joe Beilein, Lena, and Lynn Beaty, as arranged by J. Bennett.
  6. Reports from Committee Chairs:
    1. Academic Computing, Elisa Beshero-Bondar, nothing to share.
    2. Athletics, Adam Simpson, no updates
    3. Undergraduate Curricular Affairs, Ashley Russell, several proposals, 4 more this week, advising students’ paths.
    4. Faculty Affairs, Lynne Beaty, not present.
    5. Graduate Affairs, Ihab Ragai, nothing to share.
    6. Research Committee, Ashley Russell, research and outreach awards recommendations.
    7. Scholarships and Awards, Kristy McCoy, unanimous vote, coming April 26.
    8. Student Life, Michelle Cook, student life surveys, SGA sought results.
    9. Undergraduate Studies, Dean Lewis, not present.
    10. Institutional, Educational, and Diversity, Kyeiwaa Asare-Yeboah, Finished charges, no future recommendations to Ralph.
  7. New Business
    1. The GYC committee's DEI work will transition to the Chancellor's DEI committee, to which the Senate will appoint three members.
      1. The scholarship award ceremony is on April 27, 2025. Reports are due May 15, 2025 to J. Bennett.
      2. Discussions occurred regarding DEI initiatives, with the Chancellor's DEI committee's role evolving.
      3. A potential renaming to "Inclusion and Belonging" was considered by R. Ford. Our purpose is to maintain focus on creating a welcoming, accessible campus for all, while potentially mitigating external scrutiny.
      4. Past civil rights complaints concerning programs like Women in Engineering were resolved by ensuring openness to everybody. Behrend reports no race-based scholarships.
  8. Adjournment,
    1. Motion - E. Beshero-Bondar, Seconded – M. Swinarski