Recap of April 15 Senate meeting

Despite support from more than 60 percent of its members, the University Senate voted down on Monday (April 15) a proposal that would have assigned a special committee to explore creating a civics-based graduation requirement for undergraduate students.

At the Senate’s meeting, Senate vice chair Cheryl Cooky presented the proposal for a discussion. Cooky said the purpose of a special committee was to find and assign faculty and administrators with relevant expertise to consider what a civics-based graduation requirement would look like. The proposal would have required the committee to identify what that requirement might be and to provide a proposal to the University Senate no later than the end of the 2019-2020 academic year.

During the discussion, some senators voiced concerns about establishing the committee, questioning a need for a special committee when the Senate’s Educational Policy Committee and Student Affairs Committee are both currently looking at how to address civics literacy at Purdue. Other senators countered those opinions, suggesting that individuals outside of the Senate would also be beneficial on a committee like the one proposed.

The Senate voted to suspend the rules so that it could vote on the document after the discussion. A little more than 60 percent of the Senate voted in favor, but the proposal needed a two-thirds majority to pass. Senate chair Natalie Carroll said she hopes senators will continue to work finding a solution – and anticipates that it will be revisited at the beginning of the fall semester.

Also at the meeting:

* Professor salaries. President Mitch Daniels, along with Provost Jay Akridge, presented data from a new report by the American Association of University Professors that compared salaries of assistant, associate and full professors at universities nationwide.  Based on the data presented, Purdue salaries have increased 13 percent since 2015, about 6 percent more than both the Big Ten averages and the rate of inflation. Akridge also showed average Purdue salaries now exceed Big Ten averages for all ranks when adjusted for cost of living and for the associate and assistant professor ranks when left unadjusted. Purdue salaries exceeded those of Indiana University full professors and associate professors under both methodologies.  

* Questions about Purdue Global. Bill Sullivan, Purdue’s treasurer, answered questions about Purdue Global’s finances, and a recent report that some Purdue employees would pay additional taxes after enrolling at Purdue Global for free.

Sullivan clarified that about 30 of the 430 employees enrolled in Global programs were affected. Because the taxes were unexpected, the university will compensate employees for related increases on their 2018 taxes. Going forward, enrollment processes will be updated to communicate the scenarios in which participants may be taxed. 

Sullivan said the funding for the free tuition comes from a central account that is used for non-health benefits every year.

Another question related to a senator’s interpretation of a deficit on Purdue Global’s balance sheets. Sullivan said the number referenced did not capture the overall financial picture because it excluded non-operating revenues such as investment income and Pell Grants received.

* Committees merging. Senate members approved the merging of the University Visual Arts Committee and the Architectural and Landscape Design Planning Committee.

* Updated bylaws. Senators discussed updated language for two of the Senate’s bylaws, including a bylaw that allows the Nominating Committee to assign senators to fill Senate committee seats when the number of senators volunteering is insufficient. These changes will be voted on at the September meeting.

* Alternative transportation. Jonathan Neal, chair of the University Resources Policy Committee, updated the Senate after a recent meeting with the Alternative Transportation Advisory Committee about the ongoing discussions on campus regarding alternative transportation. Neal said scooters are back on campus and are regulated by the city of West Lafayette and must be parked in bike racks. He also said there is discussion about how to add more parking for bicycles.

*  Purdue Global. Stephen Beaudoin, co-chair of the Purdue Global Select Committee, told the Senate that channel conflicts continue to be resolved but advised the group that they will continue to arise as new programs get added. Beaudoin also posed the idea of moving the Purdue Global Select Committee to ad hoc status now that the major issues and concerns have been addressed over the last year. Beaudoin plans on bringing the idea back to the Senate in the fall.

* Benefits update. Peter Goldsbrough, professor of botany and plant pathology and chair of the Faculty Compensation and Benefits Committee, gave an update about how the committee, working with APSAC and CSSAC, provides feedback to the benefits department on changes that are being considered and suggests changes to the benefits that are offered to employees. The benefits department focuses on controlling medical expenses for employees and improving the health of employees through a variety of incentive programs. Changes to the medical coverage for spouses who work elsewhere and have access to medical insurance through their employer are still being evaluated. One option being considered is a surcharge for spousal coverage, but those conversations are still in preliminary stages, he said. Final decisions about the 2020 benefits package will be made over the summer.

* New learning management system. Alan Friedman, associate professor of biological sciences, gave an update on the learning management system and Blackboard Learn review project that started in the fall semester. He said several different systems are being considered to replace Blackboard Learn. Friedman said faculty want the new system to be mobile-friendly and be an easy transition for faculty and students. He said the University expects to have the current Blackboard Learnreplaced by 2020.

* Remarks from the chair. Carroll gave her last remarks as the Senate chair for the 2018-19 academic year and thanked the Senate for the opportunity to serve. She said the year has allowed her to learn more about administrators, faculty member and programs – including Purdue Global. Carroll participated in the pilot class “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” a course created in collaboration with Purdue Global. Carroll urged Senate members to take advantage of similar opportunities in the future.

Writer: Abbey Nickel, 765-496-1325, nickela@purdue.edu