A stated meeting of the Purdue University Board of Trustees convened on Friday, February 4, 2022, at 9:51 a.m. in Room 326 of Stewart Center on the campus of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. Everyone in the room was wearing a mask amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

All trustees were present, but due to a winter snowstorm, many participated virtually as noted: Michael Berghoff, chairman; Sonny Beck (virtually); JoAnn Brouillette; Theresa Carter; Vanessa Castagna (virtually); Malcolm DeKryger; Mark Gee (virtually); Michael Klipsch (virtually); Gary Lehman, vice chairman; and Don Thompson (virtually).  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 Fort Wayne (virtually); and Tom Keon, chancellor, Purdue Northwest (virtually).

I. ROLL CALL

Chairman Berghoff called the meeting to order and noted all trustees were in attendance in person or virtually.

II. APPROVAL OF UNANIMOUS CONSENT AGENDA

The Academic and Student Affairs Committee, Physical Facilities Committee, and Compensation Committee all convened public meetings immediately prior to this stated meeting. Chairman Berghoff read the list of items on which the Committees voted to recommend full Board approval, which composed the unanimous consent agenda along with other routine items, as follows:

• Minutes: Executive Session – December 2, 2021; Stated Meeting – December 3, 2021;
• Approval to award a posthumous Doctor of Philosophy degree to William L. Robinson;
• Ratification of Dr. Shihuan Kuang as the Cancer Center Chair in Stem Cell Biology;
• Ratification of Dr. Melinda S. Zook as the Germaine Seelye Oesterle Professor of History;
• Approval of M.S. in Applied Geospatial Analytics;
• Approval of Doctor of Philosophy in Computer and Information Technology;
• Approval to plan, finance, construct and award construction contracts for Life Science Ranges Phenotyping Greenhouse Building;
• Adoption of presidential performance metrics for 2021-2022;
• Approval of 2022 official degree dates;
• Approval of Conflict of Interest disclosures, system-wide; and
• Approval of exceptions to Nepotism Policy.

Chairman Berghoff asked if any of the Board members wished to have an item removed from the consent agenda for further discussion. Hearing no such request, and upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve the unanimous consent agenda. All supporting materials were filed with the minutes.

III. RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION FOR FRIENDS OF PURDUE UNIVERSITY

President Daniels profiled the gifts of $1,000,000 or more which the university had received since the Board’s stated meeting on December 3, 2021. The donors of these gifts were recognized in the following Resolution of Appreciation:

WHEREAS, the following friends of Purdue University have generously contributed $1,000,000 or more to move Purdue to greater excellence and preeminence; and

WHEREAS, the University wishes to acknowledge the significance of these gifts to new directions, advancements, and momentum in Purdue’s history, progress, and future;

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED BY THE TRUSTEES OF PURDUE UNIVERSITY:

1. That the University and the Trustees are grateful to these individuals for their leadership and support of Purdue University; and

2. That this resolution be spread upon the minutes of the Board of Trustees as part of the permanent record of the University.

FRIENDS: Samuel and Marsha Allen, to support Purdue Research Foundation; Michael and Rita Boehlje, to support the College of Agriculture; Ryan and Meredith Cohlepp, to support the College of Pharmacy; Mark and Maureen Miller, to support the College of Health and Human Sciences; Charles Richter and Dion Messer, to support the College of Science; Bob and Sharon Schafer, to support the Krannert School of Management and Krannert Graduate School of Management; Yang Hu Tong (posthumously) and Grace Kwoh Tong (posthumously), to support the School of Mechanical Engineering; Anthony “Tony” Yost, to support the college of Pharmacy and Purdue Athletics; Anonymous, to support the College of Engineering and Purdue Polytechnic Institute.

Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve the resolution. Supporting materials and a formal copy of the resolution were filed with the minutes.

IV. APPROVAL OF WINTER BREAK

President Daniels recommended that the university once again offer faculty and staff a winter recess from December 23, 2022, through January 2, 2022. Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve the winter break.

V. GOVERNANCE UPDATE: STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

President Daniels expressed his opinion that the university’s most strategic initiative was to build an ever more attractive environment around Purdue that would allow the university to recruit faculty of diverse backgrounds and students of the finest caliber, both graduate and undergraduate. He discussed an aerial photo of the Discovery Park District and provided an overview of many efforts to develop the Discovery Park District. He said it all started with the State Street project, which had been completed in cooperation with the City of West Lafayette and successfully triggered new, anticipated investments. President Daniels highlighted the Convergence Center, which, he said, was meant to be the university’s front door for businesses that wished to partner with the university, and he discussed the Lab to Life project, space for which was provided in the Discovery Park District. President Daniels called on Dr. Patrick Wolfe, Frederick L. Hovde Dean of Science, and Dr. Theresa Mayer, executive vice president for research and partnerships, to provide further insight about the Lab to Life project. Dean Wolfe described it as “one more calling card” to demonstrate Purdue’s uniqueness. President Daniels provided an update on the residential housing initiative known as Provenance, which, he said, was meant to create a “live-work-play” environment. Chairman Berghoff recalled that some Board members were initially skeptical about the project but said, “To see it now – POW! It is happening, the demand is there, and it has made an incredible difference.” President Daniels stated that Greater Lafayette had one of the strongest economies in the country, which had attracted new builds like the Hypersonics and Applied Research Facility and Rolls-Royce expansions. He also provided a snapshot of new projects that would be coming to Discovery Park, including apartments for young professionals and alumni condominiums for which he provided artists’ renderings. President Daniels also informed the Board that the university would continue to pursue the idea of a consortium-owned hypersonics research facility, which he described as a very big undertaking that would require much due diligence by its partners. Dr. Mayer provided a further explanation of the idea. President Daniels also informed the Board about potentially building a nearby healthcare facility, which he dubbed a “micro hospital,” expressing his belief that, not only would it be of great value to residents of the District, it was also needed on campus and in the West Lafayette community because the nearest emergency room was currently 20-25 minutes away. President Daniels also highlighted expansion efforts in the Purdue Research Park and expressed his belief that progress was being made toward the goal of once again securing commercial air service at the Purdue University airport. Trustee Beck expressed his belief that a regional airport would be supported. A copy of President Daniels’ report presentation was filed with the minutes.

VI. COLLEGE OF SCIENCE REPORT

Having been in attendance for the meetings of the Board committees convened immediately prior to this meeting, Dr. Patrick Wolfe, Frederick L. Hovde Dean for the College of Science, began his report by saying it was “great to hear in these meetings how all the voices in the chorus come together.” Dean Wolfe informed the Board that, since 2008, the College of Science had seen been juggernaut growth, having nearly doubled the number of undergraduates, and it had experienced skyrocketing student success and record-setting and record-breaking performance. He attributed this success to a sustained focus from the administration and having the right set of inputs to generate the right outputs. He was pleased to note that the College had become much more nationally competitive. Dean Wolfe stated that the College had become extremely selective about how it applied its resources and it had focused largely on refreshing its faculty with vigorous research leaders who would help the College secure better external research opportunities and bring better students. President Daniels interjected and said what Dean Wolfe had accomplished was remarkable.

Dean Wolfe outlined the many ways in which the College had been intentional about its efforts regarding key strategic investments. He said investments in startup infrastructure had been transformative and research thrusts had been realigned with the university’s strengths, and he was pleased to note that the College had enjoyed record numbers of outstanding Emerging Leaders scholars from historically underserved populations. He was also pleased to highlight a number of significant achievements relative to student success over the last decade of frozen tuition.

Dean Wolfe explained that, moving forward, the College would selectively focus on key areas in which to grow national visibility and competitiveness. To conclude his report, Dean Wolfe expressed his desire to see Purdue become a true scientific powerhouse. A copy of Dean Wolfe’s report presentation and supplemental materials were filed with the minutes.

Questions from the Board led to discussion of the College’s top three majors and faculty teaching loads. Trustee Brouillette expressed her appreciation to Dean Wolfe for his efforts and the challenges he had undertaken to put Purdue in a greater position. Chairman Berghoff remarked that he was impressed by the ways in which Dean Wolfe had improved the College in multiple areas at the same time over a five-year period, and he said Dean Wolfe’s leadership had set an example.

VII. PURDUE’S NEXT MOVES UPDATE: PURDUE APPLIED RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Dr. Theresa Mayer, executive vice president for research and partnerships, updated the Board on the progress of the Purdue Applied Research Institute (PARI) initiative as part of Purdue’s Next Moves. She said, after only seven months, objectives and targets had been met or exceeded through a collaborative effort, and she reiterated why the timing was right for the initiative. Dr. Mayer illustrated the federal government’s investments in research and development from 1955-2020, with national security being the largest investment over time, followed by investments in health. She informed the Board there was currently a true bi-partisan understanding that the United States was at risk of losing its position with regard to national security and economic prosperity. Dr. Mayer said she expected the federal government to make significant investments in use-inspired or applied research and development, beginning with the USICA and COMPETES Acts currently in Congress, and she expressed her belief that Purdue was extremely well-positioned to receive funding for the PARI initiative given the foundational work already completed.

Dr. Mayer illustrated a breakdown of federal investments Purdue received in FY20 compared to three of its peers. She said the Purdue Applied Research Institute was one tool in the university’s tool chest to increase revenue from NASA and the United States Departments of Agriculture, Energy, and Defense. President Daniels reminded the Board that, under Dr. Suresh Garimella’s previous leadership of Research and Partnerships, the university made a concentrated effort toward the life sciences, which, he said, led to significantly increased funding from the National Institutes of Health, and now Dr. Mayer would lead the university in concentrating efforts with the Department of Defense. He said the university had many assets to apply to the Department of Defense’s current needs. Dr. Mayer said the biggest obstacle the university faced was the ramp-up period, but PARI was allowing the university to build an infrastructure that could move at the speed of business. She said, “We have the capacity, but we need the platform.”

Dr. Mayer informed the Board that PARI was now considered the new, non-profit applied research arm of the university. She said national security and technology, technology acceleration, and global development and innovation had been identified as three areas for the greatest opportunity to align with the university’s core strengths and in which major investments from the federal government and industry were expected. Dr. Mayer reviewed the progress on construction of the Hypersonics and Applied Research Facility, which, she said, would house two cutting-edge hypersonics wind tunnels and an advanced manufacturing laboratory. She said there would not be another facility like it in the country. She further informed the Board that, later that day, the university would announce its first major investment in PARI – an $18.6 million, 30-month effort funded by the Department of Defense. Chairman Berghoff remarked that it was a great example of what the university was trying to accomplish. Dr. Mayer added that several other major contracts were under active negotiation.

To conclude her update, Dr. Mayer said it was an exciting time, and she expressed her appreciation to the Board and administration. President Daniels expressed his appreciation to Dr. Mayer for educating him about the significance of the opportunity, saying he hoped the Board had gained some sense of how remarkable it was. A copy of Dr. Mayer’s report presentation was filed with the minutes.

VIII. APPROVAL TO NAME THE PETE DYE CLUBHOUSE

President Daniels respectfully requested approval to name the Pete Dye Clubhouse, which would be constructed at the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex. He said the new facility would be a great venue for community events and national golf tournaments and would benefit the university’s golf program overall. He noted that, though Purdue alumnus Sam Allen had provided a cash gift to the university for construction of the clubhouse, he wished for it to be named for the late Pete Dye, legendary golf course designer, who designed Purdue’s Ackerman-Allen and Kampen golf courses. Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to name the Pete Dye Clubhouse. Supporting materials were filed with the minutes.

IX. ADJOURNMENT

By consent, the meeting adjourned at 11:30 a.m.