A meeting of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees convened at 3:50 p.m. on Thursday, April 2, 2020, on the Purdue University campus in West Lafayette, Indiana, in Hovde Hall, Room 201.
On March 23, 2020, during the unprecedented, worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Eric Holcomb issued Executive Order 20-09 which provided that all members of the Board (or a committee thereof) may meet by means of electronic communication so long as a quorum of members participated and the meeting was made available to members of the public and the media. Therefore, all members of the committee were in attendance via videoconference: JoAnn Brouillette, chair; Vanessa Castagna; Malcolm DeKryger; Noah Scott; and Professor Cheryl Cooky (ex-officio). Chairman Michael Berghoff attended the meeting in person, and all other trustees were in attendance via videoconference: Sonny Beck; Michael Klipsch; Gary Lehman; Thomas Spurgeon; and Don Thompson.
To comply with federal social distancing guidelines established in an effort to prevent the spread of the disease, restrictions were placed on the number of people in the room. Only these officers and administrators were in the room: Mitch Daniels, president; Jay Akridge, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs and diversity; Chris Ruhl, treasurer and chief financial officer; Steve Schultz, general counsel; and Janice Indrutz, corporate secretary and senior executive assistant to the Board. Officers Jim Almond, senior vice president, assistant treasurer, and assistant secretary, and Trent Klingerman, deputy general counsel, attended via videoconference.
Members of the media and the public who wished to observe the meeting were provided video connection instructions.
I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously by roll call to approve the minutes of its meeting held on February 7, 2020.
II. APPROVAL OF POSTHUMOUS DEGREE FOR KYLE H. RUNKLE
Provost Akridge respectfully recommended approval to award a posthumous Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering to Kyle H. Runkle, who passed away on December 14, 2019. Provost Akridge noted that Kyle was from Chesapeake, Virginia, and he briefly discussed the activities in which Kyle participated. Provost Akridge informed the Committee that Kyle had completed 94% of his degree requirements, which met the posthumous degree criteria, and he said Kyle would have been a candidate for graduation on December 15, 2019. Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously by roll call to recommend full Board approval to award the posthumous degree. Supporting materials were filed with the minutes.
III. APPROVAL OF TO APPOINT THE BODNER-HONIG PROFESSOR OF CHEMISTRY
Provost Akridge respectfully requested approval to appoint Dr. Marcy H. Towns as the Bodner-Honig Professor of Chemistry. He informed the Committee that Dr. Towns was recognized as one of the world’s foremost authorities in evidenced-based learning and undergraduate chemistry instruction, and he said she was widely known for her work on students’ mathematical understanding of physical chemistry. Provost Akridge was also pleased to share that Dr. Towns was the first woman to be recognized with three of the most prestigious national awards for chemistry, and he cited one of eleven letters received in support of Dr. Towns’ appointment, the writer of which stated that Dr. Towns represented Purdue University exceptionally well.
Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously by roll call to recommend full Board approval of Dr. Towns’ appointment. Supporting materials were filed with the minutes.
IV. APPROVAL TO NAME THE ALBERT P. STEWART DIRECTOR OF PURDUE MUSICAL ORGANIZATIONS
Provost Akridge respectfully requested approval to name Mr. William E. Griffel as the Albert P. Stewart Director of Purdue Musical Organizations; Mr. Griffel became director of Purdue Musical Organizations in 2008. Provost Akridge informed the Committee about the ways in which Mr. Griffel had carried forward the proud musical traditions established by Albert Stewart in 1933, and he said Mr. Griffel was a nationally sought-after guest conductor and vocal coach. Provost Akridge briefly discussed the endowment for the directorship, to which, he said, a number of generous and loyal donors had contributed over $1,500,000, including Trustee DeKryger and his wife, Donna.
Trustee DeKryger discussed Donna’s and his years-long connection to the Glee Club and expressed his support of the request. Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously by roll call to recommend full Board approval to change Mr. Griffel’s title to Albert P. Stewart Director of Purdue Musical Organizations and Jack Calhoun Director of the Purdue Varsity Glee Club, the latter appointment having been approved by the Board in April 2019. Supporting materials were filed with the minutes.
V. FOR PURDUE NORTHWEST: APPROVAL TO CREATE A COMPUTER SCIENCE DEPARTMENT IN THE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
On behalf of the dean of the College of Engineering and Sciences at Purdue Northwest, Provost Akridge respectfully requested approval to restructure PNW’s computer science programs into a stand-alone department in its School of Engineering. He explained the reasons for creating the new department and said it would align with Purdue Fort Wayne’s structure.
Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously by roll call to recommend full Board approval to create a computer science department in PNW’s School of Engineering within the College of Engineering and Sciences. Supporting materials were filed with the minutes.
VI. APPROVAL OF MS/PhD IN PUBLIC HEALTH
Provost Akridge respectfully requested approval of new Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in public health. He explained that, following the creation of the Department of Public Health in the College of Health and Human Sciences which the Board approved in June 2019, the faculty sought opportunities to offer graduate degrees to further prepare future generations of healthcare leaders, teachers, and researchers.
Upon proper motion duly made seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously by roll call to recommend full Board approval of the new degrees. Supporting materials were filed with the minutes.
VII. FOR PURDUE NORTHWEST: APPROVAL OF BA/BS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Provost Akridge respectfully requested approval of new Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in criminal justice for students on the Purdue Northwest campus. He explained that the new degrees would replace an academic concentration within the sociology degree and allow students to choose either degree within the context of their academic strengths and preferences and with a humanistic, social focus or more quantitative focus. Provost Akridge further explained that the degrees were designed to meet Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences curriculum requirements and would provide students the foundation for success should they choose to pursue advanced degrees.
In response to a question from Trustee Lehman, Provost Akridge shared his understanding that PNW had the instructional capacity to offer both degrees and the degrees would give visibility to concentrations already in place, and Trustee DeKryger expressed his understanding that the degrees would make PNW more competitive in the Northwest Indiana region. Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously by roll call to recommend full Board approval of the new degrees. Supporting materials were filed with the minutes.
VIII. APPROVAL OF FACULTY PROMOTIONS FOR 2020-2021
Provost Akridge respectfully requested approval of faculty promotions for 2020-2021, saying the candidates had been recommended for promotion by the appropriate university promotion and tenure committees after having met the university criteria for promotion. He indicated the number of faculty members as follows: 135 at West Lafayette; 12 at Purdue Fort Wayne; 11 at Purdue Northwest; and 11 in the Purdue Colleges at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. Provost Akridge reminded the Committee that the quality of a Purdue University education was sustained through the excellence of its faculty.
Trustee Brouillette expressed her delight that Professor Cooky was a candidate for promotion to full professor. Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously by roll call to recommend full Board approval of the 169 faculty promotions. Supporting materials were filed with the minutes.
IX. REPORT OF THE UNIVERSITY SENATE
Trustee Brouillette pointed out that this was Professor Cooky’s last meeting as a member of the Committee and chair of the University Senate. Professor Cooky said she was very moved that she had the opportunity to hear the Committee vote on the faculty promotions.
Professor Cooky then provided a status update on the civics literacy initiative. She reported that the Education Policy Committee passed a resolution to establish a civics literacy baccalaureate requirement on which the University Senate would vote at its meeting on April 20, 2020. She was pleased to inform the Committee that Professor Steve Beaudoin had been elected as vice chair of the University Senate for the next academic year and expressed her belief that his election would provide continuity in the approach to leadership of the Senate. Professor Cooky reviewed a few other resolutions passed by the University Senate, and she provided several points of feedback from the faculty with regard to the transition to remote learning necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Professor Cooky also provided updates on other Senate activities which, she said, would continue under the leadership of incoming Senate chair Professor Deborah Nichols. To conclude her report, Professor Cooky expressed her gratitude for the opportunity and honor to serve on the Academic and Student Affairs Committee, and she offered to be of assistance to the Board in the future.
Trustee DeKryger expressed his appreciation for Professor Cooky’s guidance. Trustee Brouillette stated that Professor Cooky had been an incredible partner in advancing the university and asked Professor Cooky to share with the faculty that President Daniels and Provost Akridge had expressed great gratitude for the faculty’s work on transitioning to remote learning. Trustee Brouillette said it was clear that the faculty put students first, and she thanked Professor Cooky for her tireless efforts and her “how do we make our university better?” approach. Trustee Thompson remarked that Professor Cooky’s positive energy “advanced all of us” and said the Board knew the University Senate better because of her efforts. To conclude, Trustee Scott noted that Professor Cooky had balanced her Senate leadership with teaching a full load of classes and achieving her promotion.
X. ADJOURNMENT
By consent, the meeting adjourned at 4:25 p.m.