Purdue University Northwest > Faculty Senate > News > Senate Meeting Minutes > Faculty Senate Minutes, November 9, 2018

Faculty Senate Minutes, November 9, 2018

November 9, 2018

Location & Time

10:00 A.M., Portage Meeting Facility Room 113

Voting members present:

Detmer, T. Elmendorf, J. Davis, J. Tazbir, J. Dorman, J. Polman, M. Mascha, R. Cherry, K. Scipes, G. Stefanek. R. Ocon, A. Sindone, L. Pelter, R. Calix, C. Gillotti, Y. Zhang, S. Smith, F. Colucci, D. Gray, W. He, X. Wang, D. Kozel, CC Chen, R. Brusca-Vega, J. Pula, A. Mitra, R. Kramer, M. Connolly, C. Morrow, C. Fewer, L. Taylor, S. Rezak, H. Zhao, M. Zimmer, G. Schultz, P. Stompor, G. Domke

 Senators absent:

S. Trekles, V. Quinn, C. DeLeon

Non-Voting members present:

Mueller, A. Bright (SGA), J. Colwell

Others in attendance:

Nemeth, C. Arroyo, D. Clark, L. Feldman, J. Swarts

  1. Determination of Quorum
    1. Quorum declared at 10:02
  2. Call to Order
    1. Cherry moved for approval, and Schultz seconded. The motion carried.
  3. Approval of the Agenda
    1. Schultz moved for approval, and Cherry seconded.
  4. Approval of Minutes of the October 12, 2018 meeting 
    1. Minutes approved. Marianne Curia was added as attending last meeting.
  5. Remarks by the Senate Chair (D. Detmer)
    1. Agenda will now include questions about, and discussion of, the SRA initiative. Decision made by Executive Committee after reconsideration of creating a senate ad hoc committee made up of SRA members.
    2. Chair Detmer announced a convocation will be held for April 19, which will be devoted to SRA reports.This special meeting of the Senate on April 19, 2019, will address the outcome of the SRA report scheduled for distribution on April 12, which is the day of the April Senate meeting. This convocation will occur a week later.
    3. Summer meetings will occur with key senior leadership (Chancellor and Provost) starting in 2019. Chair reiterated the Executive Committee functions as ad hoc senate in summer. If needed the committee will meet as important issues arise.
    4. Election of chairs for the Senate committees will be coordinated by the Nominations Committee perhaps as early as February. Identifying the chairs will allow for department heads to give class releases when appropriate.
    5. Senators changing committees was discouraged by the chair, but if done need to be “as a trade” of one member for another.
  6. Remarks by the Chancellor (Provost Mueller reported on behalf of the chancellor)
    1. Indiana Commission of Higher Education (ICHE) needs to approve PNW’s stand-alone Doctor of Nursing Practice program. Recent conversations with ICHE indicate that formal approval will occur in the near future. Currently, regional institutions are allowed to offer applied doctoral degrees only in cooperation with research intensive universities (in our case, Purdue WL).
    2. The “metropolitan” designation for PNW is also under consideration by ICHE with a decision anticipated in early 2019. Discussion ensued with questions raised about metropolitan campus designation – especially with cost and resources being needed. Provost Mueller explained costs would be minimal.
  7. Special Business: Strategic Resource Allocation Initiative: Questions and Discussion
    1. Service courses meeting general education requirements were discussed in terms of their internal vs. external service status. Issues were raised as to how service courses function in the overall assessment of program viability, particularly when the department majors otherwise have low enrollment.
    2. Twenty percent of programs will be identified as “divest” (“bucket #5), and will be recommended for potentially less funding or possible closure.
    3. Provost reiterated the SRA process is not a budget cutting exercise but a reallocation of current resources to maintain or expand viable programs and to fund priorities to be identified in the new strategic plan.
  8. New Business
    1. Senate Documents for Action
      1. FSD 18-03 Revision of the Constitution, Faculty Definition: Passed unanimously.  
      2. FSD 18-04 Revision of Bylaws, Vacancy of Officers : Passed unanimously
    2. Senate Documents for Discussion
      1. Resolution to Join AAUP in Opposing Purdue Global Practices
        1. Concerns were raised about restrictions on the legal recourse available to students (Purdue Global) as well as limitation on contacts (within 60 minutes) to media outlets when a grievance arises. An in-house arbitration must be followed by the student for resolution of grievances.
        2. Concerns were raised that faculty are not allowed to exchange information specific to course or program content.
        3. Student Government Representative Bright viewed the Global business model as “predatory.”
    3. Remarks by Student Government Representative (Autumn Bright, SGA Vice-President)
      1. Questions were raised about the recent departure of the Dean of Students, considered by SGA to be competent in her work with students. Students were not satisfied with explanation given that the removal was due to “budgetary concerns.”
      2. The departure of the Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Services was discussed. How the announcement of her leaving was handled was also criticized.
      3. Students expressed dissatisfaction with a campus culture seemingly not supportive or respectful of student opinions.
    4. Remarks by the University Senate/Intercampus Faculty Council Representatives(J. Pula/V. Quinn)
      1. J. Pula stated 24% of Purdue University enrollment is in graduate programming. The impact of Purdue Global on graduate enrollment is a serious concern. Indiana students are also increasingly enrolling in Purdue Global, a concern for campus enrollment in the future.
      2. A Winter Session, offering three-week courses, is under discussion, which would be offered during the Winter Break. All courses would be 3 credit-hours.
    5. Open Discussion (started at 11:35 am)
      1. Concerns were raised about the announced PNW webpage upgrade and the cost of it. The use of an outside consulting group was challenged. Provost Mueller stated the level and amount of work needed to upgrade the web is beyond the resources currently available at PNW.
      2. The reasons for personnel changes in senior leadership and other position were stated to be confidential, and not something that can openly be discussed in a senate meeting. Caution in discussions of this type was reiterated.
      3. How searches conducted for senior leadership positions (and others) was discussed. The appointment of interims into senior leadership positions without a national search was questioned. It was pointed out that past interim appointments, including a provost, were done without searches. These hiring practices were opinioned as “unhealthy” for the university.
      4. Students need to be more part of the “shared governance” of the university. A feeling of being excluded from decisions impacting the student experience was expressed.
    6. Adjournment (at 12:06 pm)