Purdue University Northwest > Faculty Senate > News > Senate Meeting Minutes > Faculty Senate MInutes, January 17, 2025

Faculty Senate MInutes, January 17, 2025

March 27, 2025

Faculty Senate, January 17, 2025

10:00 AM-12:00 PM: Westville – LSF 002

Minutes

Voting Members Present:
Ali Alavizadeh, Khair Al Shamaileh, Lee Artz, Geoffrey Barrow Shreya Bhandari, José Castro-Urioste, Frank Colucci, Jim Dolen, John Durocher, Masoud Fathizadeh, Rob Hallock, Wei He, Maria Hughes, Shontrai Irving, Jessica Ivy, Patrick Keegan, Hansung Kim, Roger Kraft, Robert Kramer, Amanda Kratovil-Mailhiot, Yun Liu, Patti Ludwig-Beymer, Hassan Naji, Laurie Parpart, Ashok Vardhan Raja, Sheila Rezak, Pam Saylor, Diane Spoljoric, George Stefanik, Pitparnee Stompor, Kathy Tobin, Sarah White, Donna Whitten, Cheng Zhang

 

Voting Members Absent:
Gokarna Aryal, Dave Kozel, Nicolae Tarfulea

Non-Voting Members Present:
Tony Elmendorf, Alan McCafferty

Others Present:
Raida Abuizam, Chloe Belford, Mike Biel, Michael Lynn, David Nalbone, Catharine Olsen, Laura Pardonek, Ashlesha Pawar, Jeff Schieb, Jen Williams

  1. Determination of quorum.
    • Quorum determined at 10:0 AM
  2. Call to order.
    • Meeting called to order at 10:0 AM
  3. Approval of the agenda.
    • Motion for approval by L. Artz
    • Seconded by R. Hallock
    • Approved by voice vote
  4. Approval of the minutes from December 13, 2024
    • Motion for approval by R. Hallock
    • Seconded by S. Rezak
    • Approved by voice vote
  5. Remarks by the Senate Chair
    • The Chair said she has been thinking about the changes happening in the country with new leadership coming in, and she wants to encourage all academic leaders to carry on the tradition and values they have believed in, regardless of changes in language or terminology.
    • She emphasized the importance of standing up for the rights of others regardless of their background, gender, or other characteristics.
    • The Chair said University Police distributed a survey about campus safety. She encouraged Senators to take the survey.
    • She announced the passing of two faculty members, Dr. Catherine Murphy and Professor Dennis Lauer, and led the Senate in moments of silence to honor their contributions.
    • She noted that the Chancellor and Provost could not attend the meeting, but Raida Abuizam was present to provide updates on their behalf.
    • The Parliamentarian shared his memories of Dr. Murphy, stating that she was the one who hired him. He shared a story about that experience and the many merits of Dr. Murphy.
  6. Remarks by the Chancellor
    • Raida Abuizam said the Chancellor is away on university business and has no report for today.
  7. Remarks by the Provost/VCAA
    • Abuizam said the Provost is also out and provided updates on her behalf:
      1. The search for the Dean of the College of Engineering and Sciences has a robust pool of 85 applicants. The search committee has identified three finalists who will be coming to campus for interviews in the next couple of weeks.
      2. The search for the Dean of the College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences has a pool of 71 candidates. The search committee is reviewing the candidates and will select top candidates for on-campus interviews in late February.
  1. SGA Report (Chloe Belford)
    • Belford said SGA is working toward a solution to the campus lighting issue, stating she met with Brian Miller to discuss.
    • Regarding the faculty office hours survey, R. Hallock contacted C. Belford about providing the survey to the student body, and Belford has sent the results back to him.
    • Open positions in SGA will be posted on campus soon.
    • A snack Cart, Charging Stations, and CPR training are still being discussed.
  2. HLC Updates (B. Stankowski)
    • Associate Vice Chancellors of Academic Affairs B. Stankowski introduced herself and provided a brief history of her time at PUC and PNW. She explained how she came into the position in the Provost’s Office. She explained the many hats she wore as a librarian, faculty member, Senate chair, committees chair, and administrator. She also listed the many committees she served on and what inspired her to advance from librarian to her current role.
    • She explained that the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is one of the regional accreditors in the U.S. that ensures universities provide a quality education to students when receiving federal financial aid.
    • HLC Criteria for Accreditation:
      1. Mission – Meet regional and economic needs of NWI.
        1. The state of Indiana partially mandates our mission.
        2. The community college system for Indiana was created in 2001, which designated Ivy Tech and Vincennes as community colleges for the state. Before this, our legacy campuses, Purdue Calumet and Purdue North Central, offered associate degrees and remedial education. So, our mission was to be a teaching institution, engage in local research, and offer master’s degrees that applied to regional local economies.
        3. Revisions again happened in 2010, 2019, and 2024, allowing us to engage in advanced research initiatives.
        4. We are the only regional campus that offers doctorate degrees.
      2. Integrity: Ethical and responsible conduct.
        1. Do we charge a fair rate for tuition? Do we have processes in place when we let contracts?
      3. Teaching and Learning: Quality, Resources and Support
        1. Do we have enough credentialed faculty teaching in their specialties? Do we have a library and technological infrastructure?
      4. Teaching and Learning: Assessment
        1. Are our programs effective? Are the current? Do they prepare students for work and graduate school?
      5. Institutional Effectiveness, Resources, and Planning
        1. Budgeting and planning processes.
        2. Faculty Governance, Student Governance, MAPSAC, CSSAC.
  • HLC conducts an assurance review, which requires an assurance argument to provide evidence that each criterion and 66 sub-criteria are being met. This is a 40,000-word document submitted within an HLC platform.
  • The document then goes to a team of peer reviewers. She said she is also a peer reviewer for other institutions. This experience gives her insight into the HLC’s expectations, which helps ensure a successful accreditation review for PNW.
  • Stankowski explained that PNW had its first unified HLC visit in 2021, conducted virtually due to COVID-19. Only one HLC rep visited campus to verify our physical infrastructure. PNW received accreditation for 10 years.
  • HLC visits every ten years, with updates required every four years. This is how HLC confirms the maintenance of the assurance arguments.
  • The handout provided states that HLC will visit our campuses in April; that is now untrue. B. Stankowski must submit on March 25 another Assurance Argument with updates that took place over the last four years. The 2025-2030 Strategic Plan is the main focus of this document.
  • Our next comprehensive review is in 2031, at which time we must complete an Institutional Quality Assurance Initiative. As a university, we will discuss a university-wide improvement. After, we provide an update. This process is then repeated under the provided timeline.
  • Academic Program Review is not optional.
  • We have to assess student learning, which we are doing via Taskstream.
  • The Chair thanked B. Stankowski and asked how the faculty could help. B. Stankowski said they can respond to any requests she may have. This includes entering data into Taskstream.
  • Artz asked if there is a standard or comparison. Stankowski said no comparison occurs; we are all judged against the provided criteria. Since no two universities are the same, they are judged on their proficiency in meeting their stated mission and goals.
    1. HLC is not concerned with AAUP.
    2. Artz said administrative costs have increased while faculty compensation has not, which is concerning. The Chair said the Senate Budget Sub-Committee is working with the administration to understand these expenditures better. She noted that many of these budgets are already set but shared Lee’s concerns.
  1. Unfinished Business
    • None
  2. New Business:
    • Curriculum Documents Approval
      1. 9 documents for approval
        1. Motioned for approval by L. Artz
        2. Seconded by W. He
        3. Approved by voice vote.
      2. For Action:
        • None
      3. Discussion Items:
        • Convocation
          1. The Chair said the Senate must hold a convocation this spring. It will probably take place in March. Senate Leadership is currently accepting ideas for topics of discussion. She said Exec has considered the main topic to be the Strategic Plan.
        • Space Management Survey
          1. The Chair said the Vice-Chair intended to speak on this but is attending the services of Dr. Murphy.
          2. This is for information. She encouraged Senators to take the survey. The Parliamentarian said he was familiar with this as he was on the committee.
          3. There is a charge for every square foot of space used by departments.
          4. Kramer said we’ve seen several space surveys over the last few years and wondered what this would accomplish. The Chair said she was unsure.
  1. Reports from Senate Standing Committee Chairs
    • Curriculum (Lee Artz)
      1. Reviewing 39 documents today to be brought to the Senate in February.
      2. Individual courses can be revised until March. Program revisions must be approved by the February meeting to polish the documents and post them before the fall semester.
    • Faculty Affairs (Rob Hallock)
      1. SGA has completed the initial survey results on office hours. Thirty students completed the survey.
      2. He and the Chair met with B. Stankowski to discuss the Faculty Handbook. Ideally, they would have a grad student TA complete the remaining work. The Chair confirmed this and said they may contact Aric, who drafted the handbook under B. Stankowski. She also named a few other potential sources of assistance, including the Senate Secretary, A. McCafferty.
        1. Hallock asked if the Senate would need to approve this funding. The Chair requested Senate approval to use Senate funds for compensation on this project. A question was raised about the amount of compensation. The Chair said we currently have $29,000 in our account.
        2. Artz suggested setting aside a predetermined amount.
        3. Stankowski explained how compensation could be provided and what each entail.
        4. FAR is due February 17.
        5. Motion to hire someone between $15-$20/hr. for the work on the Faculty Handbook by R. Hallock.
        6. Seconded by R. Hallock
        7. Approved by voice vote.
      3. P&T document revisions.
    • Gen Ed & Assessment (Amlan Mitra)
      1. The Chair said Dr. Mitra will no longer serve on the Senate, Gen Ed, or budget subcommittee. A replacement from his college is expected.
      2. Tobin said she is taking over as Gen Ed & Assessment Committee Chair. She thanked Amlan for his work on the committee, adding that he worked diligently with B. Stankowski on aligning Gen Ed with HLC requirements.
      3. The committee has been conducting regular business, such as approving new Gen Ed courses and maintaining connections to FYE and EXL.
      4. The FYE Committee is interested in making recommendations. The Gen Ed Committee may invite Cook to speak at a Senate meeting regarding class sizes and criteria.
      5. Significant revisions to Gen Ed. Working with various committees, subcommittees, and leadership. There were some pilot programs, but we may be going in a different direction.
      6. She said she has experience in core curriculum changes.
      7. We have info from other institutions and within the Purdue system.
      8. The committee was impressed with PFW and its process.
      9. This process should be manageable by faculty and students. It is the faculty’s responsibility, and the committee wants input.
      10. Gen Ed and its categories are changing.
      11. The committee wants to be transparent in the process and gather input from faculty passionate about their disciplines and how they fit into the Gen Ed curriculum.
      12. The Gen Ed revisions must also align with PNW’s new strategic plan, which has a strong student focus.
      13. The Chair acknowledged A. Mitra’s hard work on the committee and said she expects the remaining work to take considerable time.
    • Nominations, Elections, & Awards (John Durocher)
      1. Durocher thanked R. Hallock for being on the APR Committee.
      2. He tanked K. Tobin for stepping up to Chair Gen Ed.
      3. Regarding faculty awards, J. Durocher noted they had 8-19 eligible applicants for each category (scholarship, teaching, and engagement).
        1. The packets for the awards are due to the committee chairs by January 24, and the reviews will be due the week of February 3.
      4. The PUWL representative must be a Senator. The committee meets Mondays monthly at 1:30 pm-4 pm central time. This takes place via Zoom, so no commute is necessary.
      5. He mentioned they still seek a representative from the College of Business to serve on the Teaching Award Committee.
      6. Vice-Chair Elect is still needed. Please reach out to J. Durocher if you are interested.
        1. The Chair said the Vice-Chair must be a current Senator. She explained the role and responsibilities of the Vice-Chair. She encouraged Senators to come forward.
      7. Durocher outlined the criteria for the Teaching Award:
        1. Must be tenured, tenure-track, or clinical.
        2. Must have maintained a teaching load of at least 0.5 FTE over the previous six semesters prior to nomination.
        3. The nominee must be willing to have their name placed
  • Ed Policy (Yun (Tom) Liu)
    1. Liu said the committee met in December to discuss the process for changing academic organizational structures. Will be meeting with the Provost today to discuss details, which may be postponed to the next meeting.
    2. Will continue the discussion on this topic. The plan is to work with the Provost on the document to satisfy both faculty and administration with the final draft.
    3. Liu asked about a document from PUWL. The Chair said they could not find a document from PUWL to this effect. The process created by PNW must be approved by the Board of Trustees, but the committee will not be confined to restrictions outlined in the WL document.
    4. Previously, the Senate approved a document stating they did not want any changes to the academic organizational structure without having an advisory role. The committee needs to update this document to align with their new process.
    5. The committee is working to ensure a clear, documented process for making any future changes to the academic organizational structure.
  • Student Affairs (Jessica Ivy)
    1. November Student of the Month is Leo Winders.
      1. Thanks to J. Dolan for their work.
    2. Nominations are going out in February.
    3. Meeting today.
    4. Expect to form a subcommittee on student absences.
    5. Academic Integrity update
      1. The deadline is February 3.
      2. Four grade appeals. One was a mis-entered grade. The remaining three are working their way through the process.
    6. West Lafayette Report (TBA)
      • Currently seeking a replacement for the PUWL Senate representative. No report.
    7. IFC Report (Geoffrey Barrow)
      • Lots of communication in the group, but no report. Their next meeting is a week from today. There will be a report at the next meeting.
    8. Open discussion (as time permits).
      • The Chair said PNW Librarians are now classified as Assistant Professors of Practices. It is a non-tenure position. This allows them to participate on faculty committees.
      • Salary Equity Study.
      • It was agreed that Student Affairs and Faculty Affairs would share LSF 002 for their meetings.
      • He said he could not attend the December meetings and asked for clarification on faculty office hours. The Chair explained the new policy.
      • Barrow asked about the departmental space survey and the criteria being metricked.
      • Liu said an email was received about commencement only happening once a year and asked if there would be any discussion. The Chair said she believes this decision was made without discussion, explaining the new process and its reasons. She added that other ceremonies may occur within departments, similar to the CON pinning ceremony. The Chancellor encourages these ceremonies. Future commencements will be in May.
      • Saylor said the DEIJB has been on hold while the new Strategic Plan is being crafted. She said she met with the Chair and will meet with B. Stankowski to discuss the future charge of the committee.
      • Ludwig-Beymer said the IN Governor signed several executive orders, including replacing DEI initiatives with MEI (Merit, Excellence, Innovation). K. Tobin said this has been a sensitive topic among the Strategic Planning Committee, as DEI language was used in some portions of the plan. P. Saylor said she will continue looking into this and report to the Senate Chair.
      • Tobin said the risk of losing funding from the state despite the importance of DEI to the campus community was a significant focus.
      • Raida Abuizam encouraged all faculty to participate in the CFE workshops on AI. She also encouraged faculty to review the CFE website, which contains updates and documents on what has already been done.
        1. Feb. 4
        2. Feb. 25
        3. Mar. 25
        4. Apr. 9
  1. Adjournment
    • Meeting adjourned at 11:38 AM