Faculty Senate Minutes - April 2025

Behrend Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes

April 2025

  1. Call to order: Jason Bennett
  2. Approval of minutes
    1. Motion with correction of minutes L. Aronne and seconded L. Beaty
  3. Leadership (R. Ford)
    1. Commencement, May 9, Erie Insurance Arena.
    2. Federal Funding
      1. Not much pullback
      2. NSF bulletin
      3. Stressed any information on issues, pass on to Administration.
    3. EPA grant of $4 million
    4. Austin Davis visit
    5. Student Visas
      1. University not releasing data.
      2. Continue good support (legal, help where can, FAQs posted online)
      3. International student numbers are already where we were at last year.
    6. Enrollment for Fall 2025 up on accepts, residential up, World Campus up 20-30%.
    7. Question
      1. Sara Luttfring – Any reason why UP is not contacting us? I would prefer to be proactive.
      2. R. Ford – I have pressed the issue; we have been sending messages to student groups.
    8. Thank you to J. Bennett and Faculty Council, busy year, difficult semester.
    9. Question
      1. T. Halmi – As campuses close, are we opening doors?
      2. R. Ford – 10-20 students have already said they want to transfer. Are we in a rush? No. But, when closure date comes, we will help them in any way we can.
      3. J. Bennett – Closing of campuses is not immediate, probable numbers increase year after next.
  4. Research (A. Rhoades)
    1. 26 faculty with federal funding, biggest concern being whether the University will be able to continue charging current rate.
    2. Please submit applications if the program is open.
    3. Sigma Xi conference this weekend.
  5. Campus (A. Bridger)
    1. Industry funding is not shutting down.
    2. Planning for Fall Career Fair.
    3. If there are any suggestions on companies please contact Career Services, they will inquire/add them.
  6. Old News (J. Bennett)
    1. Constitution re-ratified, minor fixes, new constitution next year. Final copy should be in soon.
    2. Statement of concern well received with response and requested meeting.
    3. Question E. Bondar – What was response?
    4. J.Bennett – Ralph is who they reached out to, they appreciated the contact. Meeting scheduled with Tracy Langkilde and Sara Thorndike
  7. Updates from University Faculty Senate (M. Swinarski)
    1. Committee reports to be available via Teams. The top three items are posted. Please scan, if concerned, please contact and will ensure it is on the agenda.
    2. Not much currently happening
    3. Point of interest, statement on mission and core values, Big Ten is looking at and PSU will look at on Tuesday
    4. Nancy Adam’s letter to the press, stating we need to be more proactive and resistant to the Federal Government. Not required, not vetted, by one individual, support if you desire.
    5. Big Ten Academic Alliance, no teeth, but will support if other Big 10 schools support.
  8. Other issues/questions
    1. M. Swinarski - Eight people with contracts not renewed, now possibly re-homing of faculty at closed campuses, why nothing done for faculty dedicated to PSU Behrend? Moving and re-homing of TL faculty and not NTL. This opens up the idea of NTLs being replaced.
      1. E. Bondar – This shows attention is only on TL faculty not NTL, are we really going to prioritize one type of faculty over another, this is creating the feeling of a caste system.
      2. K. Bowen - Is there a way to find a place on World Campus for those let go?
      3. Name? Not sustainable budgetwise?
      4. M. Swinarski – I will bring this up at next faculty senate meeting. Multiple ideas but no plans to make decisions? How do we work around this?
  9. Open Floor (10 minutes)
    1. J. Bennett – Any comments? None
    2. J. Bennett – Please fill out reports based on the Faculty Senate template sent to chairs.
    3. J. Bennett passes Chair on to D. Dieteman
  10. Adjournment Motion M. Naber, seconded L. Aronne