Behrend Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes

November 13, 2024, 8:00 a.m., 114 Reed

  1. Call to order
    1. Motion: Jason Bennett
  2. Approval of Minutes
    1. Amendment Request: Luciana Aronne requested an amendment to the previous meeting minutes to include discussions about increasing salaries and perks for part-timers.
    2. Approval Process:
      1. The amended minutes were approved with a motion by Luciana Aronne and a second by Jay Amicangelo.
      2. Clarification was made that the amended version can be approved before distribution.
  3. Leadership Updates (Ralph)
    1. Nominations and Elections
      1. Nominating Committee: The faculty senate's nominating committee is seeking nominations for several positions, including vice chair, secretary, part-time representative, and two university senators.
      2. Process: Open call for nominations will be sent via email to the entire faculty. Self-nominations and nominations of others are encouraged.
      3. Election Process: After college elections, a similar process will be followed for committee members, adhering to the current constitution.
    2. Grant and Funding Updates
      1. Significant Grant Received: A $6.5 million grant from the state was received through the redevelopment capital assistance program, totaling $8 million for the Center for Manufacturing.
      2. Funding Sources: Additional funds were raised from county and federal appropriations, including support from Senator Fetterman, totaling $19.5 million. The university will match with $3 million.
      3. Purpose: The funds will support research spaces for sustainable plastics, battery testing, metal casting, and virtual reality.
      4. Sustainability Focus: Encouragement for faculty to engage in discussions about design and involvement in sustainability initiatives.
    3. Budget and Fiscal Year 26
      1. Budget Delays: The budget for fiscal year 26 is pending, causing delays in decision-making.
        1. Concerns: The delay is affecting faculty positions, particularly in the School of Science.
        2. Subvention Allocation: Commonwealth campuses are awaiting subvention allocations, which are holding up budget finalizations.
        3. Impact on Contract Renewals: Concerns were raised about the impact on contract renewals for NTLs, with a deadline of December 15th for decisions.
    4. Enrollment and Fundraising
      1. Enrollment Growth: The College has experienced two years of growth in first-year and transfer classes since 2020.
        1. Current Status: Early indicators show positive trends for the next year's first-year class.
      2. Fundraising Success: The College's annual fundraising report placed them fourth in the university, indicating strong fundraising efforts.
    5. Questions and Concerns
      1. Contract Renewal Concerns: Questions were raised about the potential impact of budget delays on contract renewals, with assurances that efforts are being made to address these concerns. Luciana Aronne
      2. Budget Process Clarification: Discussion on the complexities of the budget process, including the impact of central service allocations and the need for rerunning budget numbers. Jason Bennett
      3. Faculty Contract Renewals and Communication
        1. Budget and Enrollment Projections: Concerns were raised about the ability to communicate intent to faculty up for contract renewals, especially if the budget is uncertain. It was agreed that while definitive promises cannot be made, communication based on enrollment projections can be provided to help faculty plan.
          1. Template Letters: There are different template letters available for communicating intent, with a preference for using more definitive ones when possible.
          2. Decision-Making Challenges: The difficulty in making decisions due to budget uncertainties was acknowledged, but there is a commitment to communicate effectively with faculty.
  4. Behrend AI Initiatives Task Force (Greg)
    1. Task Force Launch: The Behrend AI Initiatives Task Force has been launched, chaired by Tiffany Petricini.
      1. Goals and Objectives: Focus areas include faculty, student, and staff AI literacy, continuing education, workforce development, and creating an AI resource area.
      2. Feedback and Updates: Tiffany will provide periodic updates and is open to feedback and comments.
    2. Concurrent Majors and Interdisciplinary Programs
      1. SGA Interest: The SGA president is interested in understanding concurrent majors on campus.
        1. Report on Majors: A report covering the last five years of majors is being prepared to identify existing academic plans for double majors.
        2. Interdisciplinary Success: Successful examples include marketing and psychology, and political science and economics.
    3. International and Community College Efforts
      1. Indian Universities: Progress is being made with marketing of programs expected to start in January.
      2. Community Colleges: Efforts are ongoing to establish articulation agreements with various universities and community colleges.
    4. Opportunity Grant Application Task Force
      1. Grant Applications: The task force is reviewing applications from NTL faculty, with awards ranging from $300 to $10,000 this year, and a pool of $250,000.
        1. Feedback and Examples: There is a push for releasing successful application examples to guide future applicants.
        2. Review Process: Applications are reviewed based on eight criteria, with feedback provided.
  5. University Senate Updates
    1. Senate Meeting Agenda: Efforts are being made to align faculty meetings with Senate Council meetings for better agenda review.
      1. Senate Representation: Discussions on changing the number of Senators to a representative model, which could benefit Behrend with more representation.
      2. Policy Revisions: Updates include making admissions testing optional and aligning five-year reviews for efficiency.
  6. Committee Chair Reports
    1. Academic Computing
      1. Survey Follow-Up: The committee is implementing action items from last year's survey and addressing IT staffing challenges.
        1. Resource Access: Ensuring faculty have access to necessary computing resources amid staffing shortages.
        2. Student Device Usage: Concerns about students using mobile devices instead of computer labs, especially in the context of AI literacy.
    2. Athletics
      1. Faculty Athletic Mentor Program: Efforts are underway to formalize and standardize the program to better support faculty, coaches, and student-athletes.
        1. Progress Reports: A new form from Penn State Harrisburg is being considered to streamline academic progress reporting for student-athletes.
      2. Student-Athlete Advising and Information Sharing
        1. Current Challenges:
          1. Faculty members advising student-athletes often do not know which teams the students are on unless the students inform them directly.
          2. Information about student teams is available in LionPATH, but not easily accessible.
        2. Potential Solutions:
          1. Exploring the use of Starfish to streamline communication between faculty and coaches.
            1. Terri (Mando) is working to increase Starfish usage among faculty, and UP is analyzing its analytics.
            2. Concerns about FERPA compliance and whether coaches can access student records in Starfish.
            3. Discussion on designating coaches as advisers in Starfish to allow them access to relevant student information.
        3. Alternative Suggestions:
          1. Online forms could replace paper forms for tracking student progress, reducing administrative burden on faculty.
    3. Undergraduate Curricular Affairs
      1. Upcoming Meeting:
        1. A meeting is being scheduled before Thanksgiving to discuss identifying degree paths and creating SAPs (Satisfactory Academic Progress) for students.
        2. Involvement of Michelle Hartman and Robb Frederick from career services and marketing to ensure comprehensive planning and dissemination.
    4. Faculty Affairs
      1. Progress Updates:
        1. Working on standing charges and collaborating with leadership to update and create policies.
        2. Focus on formalizing mentoring processes within schools.
        3. Collection of school promotion policies is underway, with three out of four schools' policies gathered.
    5. Research
      1. Current Initiatives:
        1. Investigating the need for college-wide grant writers and surveying faculty on research barriers.
        2. Previous surveys on research barriers were conducted, and results are being reviewed.
      2. Discussion Points:
        1. Challenges of having a single grant writer for all schools and disciplines.
        2. Existing support from the grants and contracts office and potential use of Hanover Research for feedback on grant applications.
        3. Importance of coaching and mentoring in grant writing.
    6. Scholarship and Awards
      1. Current Status:
        1. Awaiting submissions for student achievement awards.
        2. Clarification that student achievement awards are sent out before college-wide awards in January.
        3. Ongoing work on refining interview questions for student evaluations.
    7. Student Life
      1. Parking and Transportation
        1. Intersection at Campus Entrance
          1. Follow-up Actions: Kelly Shrout coordinated with Harbor Creek and PennDOT.
        2. Identified Issues:
          1. Missing speed signage in front of U-gates.
          2. Need to repaint worn-out lines for better visibility.
          3. Concerns about the yield sign and pedestrian safety.
        3. Safety Concerns:
          1. Stopping distance deemed too short for a stop sign.
          2. Exploring alternative safety measures with PennDOT.
      2. Joint Meeting with SGA
        1. Scheduled Date: January 23rd.
        2. Participants: Student Life Committee and SGA.
        3. Agenda:
          1. Presentation of survey results.
          2. Collect questions from students in advance for discussion.
    8. Undergraduate Studies
      1. Survey Analysis and Reporting
        1. Ongoing Work: Analyzing past survey results.
          1. Focus Areas:
            1. Use of Canvas and Starfish platforms.
            2. Student misconduct issues.
          2. Report Status: Near completion.
        2. Identifying High-Risk Students
          1. Data Source: Survey of incoming freshmen and first-year students.
            1. Objective: Identify high-risk students for non-retention.
              1. Strategy Development:
              2. Target students who self-identify as needing assistance.
              3. Pilot program to support students earlier in the semester.
        3. Summer Online Courses
          1. Discussion Participants: Sarah Whitney, Jon Gunnell.
          2. Exploration Topics:
            1. Suitable courses for online format.
            2. Development process for online courses.
            3. Aim to increase enrollment through online offerings.
        4. Upcoming Meetings
          1. Meeting with Qi Dunsworth: Focus on student retention issues.
    9. IED
      1. International Faculty and Staff Association Revival: The association previously existed but had disappeared. Efforts are underway to revive it.
        1. A meeting was held on October 24th with 10 attendees.
        2. Plans are in place for an end-of-year party to increase participation.
  7. Office of Educational Equity: Changes in the office due to Andy Herrera's departure.
    1. Upcoming Meeting: Scheduled for November 14th to discuss support for ongoing programs.
      1. Focus Areas:
        1. Assistance with programs that are currently understaffed.
        2. Special attention to the upcoming Martin Luther King celebration.
  8. Collaboration: Plans to engage with the Office of Student Affairs to assess and report on their needs.
    1. Constitutional Reform
      1. Progress Update
        1. Current Status: A clean draft of the constitutional reforms has been developed.
        2. Committee Meetings: Two additional meetings are planned before the semester ends to finalize the draft.
          1. Objective:
            1. To enhance faculty involvement in collegial governance.
            2. Structural changes aim to make faculty participation more active and meaningful.
    2. Task Force for Accelerated Programs
      1. Overview: Matt was asked to discuss the formation of a task force dedicated to accelerated programs.
        1. The task force aims to streamline and enhance the efficiency of accelerated programs.
        2. General concepts and details are available in the slides.
      2. Slides and Resources:
        1. The slides will be made available online for those who need to leave early or wish to review the content in more detail.
        2. These resources will be uploaded to Canvas for easy access.
      3. Accelerated Program Concept
        1. Overview
          1. The accelerated program aims to shorten the duration of existing programs, similar to the transition of the MBA program from two years to one year.
          2. The goal is to reduce some undergraduate programs from four years to three years.
        2. Implementation Strategy
          1. Typical undergraduate programs require around 120 credits. By taking 19 credits per semester and utilizing AP credits, students can potentially complete their degree in three years.
          2. The committee is piloting a few programs to test this concept.
        3. Challenges and Considerations
          1. Logistical issues arise when many students attempt accelerated paths, similar to traffic congestion on a highway.
          2. Core and general education courses may face scheduling conflicts due to increased demand.
          3. The committee is working on establishing criteria to identify students capable of handling accelerated courses.
        4. Target Audience
          1. The program aims to attract a bright student population who might otherwise choose other institutions for a full college experience.
          2. The accelerated program offers a cost-effective alternative, allowing students to graduate sooner.
        5. Student Experience
          1. Ensuring students receive mentorship and a quality college experience is crucial.
          2. The task group is addressing concerns about summer charges and student engagement.
        6. Budget Implications
          1. The budget model supports increased student enrollment and credit load, potentially increasing university revenue despite higher costs.
        7. GSI Raised Compliance Training
          1. A letter was sent to the University Faculty Senate regarding compliance training issues, now on the agenda for November meetings.
          2. Faculty are advised to consult the Ombuds, for individual cases.
        8. IRC Agenda
          1. Discussion on policy outliers and recommendations for action.
          2. Examination of reasonable and equitable policies.
        9. New Funding Opportunities
          1. Announcement of state funding facilitated by Amanda Wintersteen for large projects.
          2. A virtual fireside chat is scheduled for next Wednesday to discuss funding processes.
        10. Shared Governance Discussion
          1. Committee chairs are encouraged to gather feedback on shared governance.
          2. Faculty are invited to share examples of effective or ineffective governance for upcoming discussions.
  9. Adjournment
    1. Motion to adjourn was made Michael Naber and seconded by Adam Simpson.

Meeting adjourned