A meeting of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees convened at 8:37 a.m. on Friday, October 2, 2020, at the Purdue Polytechnic High School Englewood, located at 3029 E. Washington Street in Indianapolis. In adherence to the Protect Purdue policies amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, everyone in the room was wearing a mask and restrictions were placed on the number of visitors in the room. Members of the media and the public who wished to observe the meeting virtually were provided such instructions.
All committee members were present in person or, where specifically noted, by means of electronic communication pursuant to the Electronic Meeting Policy: JoAnn Brouillette, chair (virtually); Vanessa Castagna; Malcolm DeKryger; Noah Scott; and Professor Deborah Nichols (ex-officio). All other trustees were present: Sonny Beck; Michael Berghoff; Theresa Carter; Michael Klipsch; Gary Lehman; and Don Thompson.
Officers and administrators in attendance were: Mitch Daniels, president; Jay Akridge, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs and diversity; Chris Ruhl, chief financial officer and treasurer; Jim Almond, senior vice president, assistant treasurer, and assistant secretary; Steve Schultz, general counsel; Janice Indrutz, corporate secretary and senior executive assistant to the Board; Ron Elsenbaumer, chancellor, Purdue University Fort Wayne (virtually); Gary Bertoline, dean, Purdue Polytechnic Institute; and Karen Plaut, dean, College of Agriculture.
I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously to approve the minutes of its August 7, 2020, meeting.
II. APPROVAL TO APPOINT THE JIM AND LOIS ACKERMAN PROFESSOR IN AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS
Provost Akridge respectfully requested approval to appoint Dr. Maria I. Marshall as the Jim and Lois Ackerman Professor in Agricultural Economics in the College of Agriculture. He informed the Committee that Dr. Marshall was a leading scholar in the areas of family business and rural economic development whose scholarly discovery and technical assistance helped remove barriers to profitability for farmers, family businesses, and entrepreneurs. Provost Akridge also shared that Dr. Marshall’s expertise had been sought by policy centers and organizations nationwide, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Science Foundation, and he cited one of five letters received in support of Dr. Marshall’s appointment. Provost Akridge noted that he had personally held this chair while serving in the College of Agriculture and had the privilege of knowing Mr. Ackerman and working with Dr. Marshall, and he expressed his belief that Dr. Marshall was the kind of scholar Mr. Ackerman envisioned for the appointment.
Chairman Berghoff remarked that Mr. Ackerman would be very pleased with Dr. Marshall’s appointment. As an alumnus of the College of Agriculture, Trustee DeKryger expressed his excitement and pride for Dr. Marshall. Trustee Brouillette remarked that Dr. Marshall truly embraced the land-grant mission and provided a tremendous service to agriculture. Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously to recommend full Board approval of Dr. Marshall’s appointment. Supporting materials were filed with the minutes.
III. APPROVAL TO APPOINT THE MAHA FLUID POWER FACULTY CHAIR
Provost Akridge respectfully requested approval to appoint Dr. Andrea Vacca as the MAHA Fluid Power Faculty Chair in the College of Agriculture. He informed the Committee that Dr. Vacca had an accomplished record of scholarship and leadership in the areas of hydraulics, fluid power, and industry engagement, and he was recognized as one of the top gear pump experts in the world. Provost Akridge also shared that Dr. Vacca had established the Global Fluid Power Society, considered the most important academic community related to fluid power, and his research had been consistently funded by the National Science Foundation, U.S, Departments of Agriculture and Energy, Rolls-Royce, and others. Provost Akridge cited one of five letters in support of Dr. Vacca’s appointment.
Trustee Brouillette remarked that Dr. Vacca’s work was critically important, particularly to the energy needs of the state and nation. Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously to recommend full Board approval of Dr. Vacca’s appointment. Supporting materials were filed with the minutes.
Dr. Vacca was present in person and said this honor would motivate him to do even more impactful work in the future.
IV. APPROVAL OF NEW DEGREE PROGRAMS FOR THE PURDUE SCHOOLS AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY PURDUE UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS (IUPUI)
B.S. IN CYBERSECURITY
Trustee Brouillette introduced approval of a Bachelor of Science degree in Cybersecurity to be awarded by the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology at IUPUI. She recognized that cybersecurity was a fast-growing field across Indiana’s industries and expressed her understanding that existing undergraduate courses offered by the Computer Information Technology program would be combined with courses from four other departments to compose the degree program. Provost Akridge added that experiential learning would be a unique feature of the program, allowing students to gain practical, real-world experience with local non-profits and businesses. Trustee Brouillette indicated that Dr. Feng Li, chair of the Department of Computer Information and Graphics Technology in the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology, was available virtually to answer questions.
Trustee DeKryger observed a critical need for the degree program. In response to questions from Chairman Berghoff and Trustee Klipsch, Dr. Li discussed the estimated cost to deliver the program and how it would differ from that of the West Lafayette campus. Trustee Brouillette asked Dean Bertoline to also share his thoughts on how the IUPUI program would differ from the West Lafayette program. Dr. Bertoline said that, because of the huge demand for cybersecurity, he was not concerned about similarities in the programs and expressed his hope that the two campuses would continue to work together to make the programs better for the greater good. Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously to recommend full Board approval to offer a B.S. in Cybersecurity at IUPUI. Supporting materials were filed with the minutes.
B.S. IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Trustee Brouillette introduced approval of a Bachelor of Science degree in Artificial Intelligence (AI) to be awarded jointly by the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology and Purdue School of Science at IUPUI. She recognized that artificial intelligence was yet another growing area of research and lauded IUPUI’s establishment of the Institute for Integrated Artificial Intelligence, saying it demonstrated IUPUI’s commitment and strategic direction. Provost Akridge explained that the degree would target students interested in AI theory, methodologies, and applications, as well as student interested in applications reliant on AI technologies, and he discussed the concentrations to be offered by each of the Schools.
Dr. Brian King, chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology at IUPUI, and Dr. Shiaofen Fang, chair of the Department of Computer and Information Science in the Purdue School of Science at IUPUI, were in attendance virtually in support of the recommendation. Dr. Fang expressed his belief that this would be the first degree offered jointly by the two schools, and Dr. King also spoke about the Schools’ collaboration to serve students in this way.
Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously to recommend full Board approval to offer a B.S. in Artificial Intelligence at IUPUI. Supporting materials were filed with the minutes.
V. APPROVAL OF REVISED CRITERIA AND NOMINATION PROCESS FOR AWARDING OF HONORARY DOCTORATE DEGREES
Trustee Brouillette shared that, at Chairman Berghoff’s request, the Committee had reviewed the criteria for awarding an Honorary Doctorate degree to ensure the criteria were true to awarding the highest honor the university could bestow. She expressed her confidence in the Committee’s recommended revisions, which would require an Honorary Doctorate candidate to meet three criteria: professional accomplishment, commitment to serve, and commitment to Purdue University and the State of Indiana. Trustee Brouillette expressed her belief that the revised criteria represented the university’s values, and she said a candidate should be “who we want our students to aspire to be, a person who leads by example, and someone who has achieved extraordinary giant leaps.”
The recommended revised criteria included the example of serving as an Old Master. Trustee Carter questioned the need for such an example. After full and frank discussion, and upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously to recommend full Board approval of the revised criteria, with the condition that the example be removed. A supporting document was filed with the minutes.
VI. APPROVAL TO AWARD HONORARY DOCTORATE DEGREES IN SPRING 2021
Trustee Brouillette stated that the Office of the Provost had nominated three candidates to be awarded Honorary Doctorate degrees in Spring 2021. She said the candidates would remain confidential but all members of the Board had reviewed their credentials, and she expressed her confidence that each candidate met the revised criteria to be awarded an Honorary Doctorate degree. Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic Affairs Committee voted unanimously to recommend full Board approval of the three candidates. Supporting materials were filed with the minutes.
VII. REPORT OF THE UNIVERSITY SENATE
Professor Deborah Nichols, chair of the University Senate, was pleased to report that that University Senate passed a resolution in support of the Equity Task Force, which was commissioned by the Board on August 7, 2020. She discussed results of the most recent in a series of surveys administered to all faculty, staff, and students employed by the university to garner feedback relative to working during the pandemic. She said their responses indicated the need to address their well-being and financial concerns. Professor Nichols said suggestions made by the survey respondents were forwarded to Mr. Bill Bell, vice president for human resources, and Provost Akridge for their consideration.
Trustee Scott expressed his appreciation for the surveys, saying they were incredibly beneficial for the Board’s awareness. Trustee Thompson agreed that the surveys helped the Board gain perspective, and he acknowledged the concerns of the faculty, staff, and graduate students in what, he said, was a changing world. Provost Akridge confirmed that Human Resources was actively pursuing the respondents’ suggestions.
A copy of Professor Nichols’ report presentation was filed with the minutes.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
By consent, the meeting adjourned at 9:22 a.m.