A meeting of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees convened at 8:55 a.m. on Friday, February 4, 2022, 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 committee members were present: JoAnn Brouillette, chair; Vanessa Castagna (virtually); Malcolm DeKryger; Mark Gee (virtually); and Professor Steve Beaudoin (ex-officio) (virtually). All other trustees were present: Sonny Beck (virtually); Michael Berghoff; Theresa Carter; Michael Klipsch (virtually); Gary Lehman; 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. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously to approve the minutes of its meetings convened on November 16, 2021, and December 3, 2021.
II. APPROVAL TO AWARD POSTHUMOUS DEGREE
Provost Akridge respectfully requested approval to award a posthumous Doctor of Philosophy degree to William “Will” L. Robinson, who passed away on September 13, 2021. Provost Akridge informed the Committee that Will, who was known for his curious scientific mind and his passion for chemistry, had entered Purdue’s Ph.D. program in organic chemistry in 2018, having earned his undergraduate degree in biochemistry at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. He said Will’s plan of study was focused on synthetic organic chemistry and medicinal chemistry for drug discovery, specifically for HIV, AIDS, and diabetes, and Will planned to work in the pharmaceutical industry and ultimately wanted to become a professor of chemistry. Provost Akridge added that Will had published several excellent research papers, submitted a patent invention disclosure, and, in 2020, was awarded the Charles H. Viol Memorial Chemistry Fellowship from his department. Provost Akridge said Will had satisfied all the requirements for the degree, and the Graduate Council endorsed the unanimous recommendation of Will’s thesis committee to award Will a posthumous degree.
Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously to recommend full Board approval to award a Doctor of Philosophy degree to William L. Robinson. Supporting materials were filed with the minutes. Trustee Brouillette asked Provost Akridge to extend the Board’s sympathies to Will’s family.
III. APPROVAL TO APPOINT THE CANCER CENTER CHAIR IN STEM CELL BIOLOGY
Provost Akridge respectfully requested approval to appoint Dr. Shihuan Kuang, Professor of Animal Sciences, as the Cancer Center Chair in Stem Cell Biology. He informed the Committee that Dr. Kuang was a leading scholar in the area of muscle and adipose tissue development and had made several fundamental discoveries through his research, and Dr. Kuang had done groundbreaking work in stem cell biology. Provost Akridge shared that Dr. Kuang held five U.S. patents and had written over 150 peer-reviewed papers, and he highlighted Dr. Kuang’s involvement with the Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, Purdue Center for Drug Discovery, Purdue Institute for Integrative Neurosciences, and the Purdue Institute of Inflammation Immunology and Infection Diseases. Provost Akridge also cited one of seven letters received in support of Dr. Kuang’s appointment.
Trustee DeKryger expressed his personal excitement for Dr. Kuang’s research and appointment. Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously to recommend full Board approval of Dr. Kuang’s appointment. Supporting materials were filed with the minutes.
Dr. Kuang expressed his gratitude to the Board of Trustees and his family. He said stem cell research had the potential to revolutionize future medicine, improve human health, and benefit agriculture, and he looked forward to enhancing the university’s capacity in stem cell research.
IV. APPROVAL TO APPOINT THE GERMAINE SEELYE OESTERLE PROFESSOR OF HISTORY
Provost Akridge respectfully requested approval to appoint Dr. Melinda S. Zook as the Germaine Seelye Oesterle Professor of History. He informed the Committee that Dr. Zook was a specialist in the history of Tudor and Stuart England, as well as political thought, religion, and women in early modern Europe. Provost Akridge spoke about the classes Dr. Zook taught and her publication record, which included having been recognized by the Society for the Study of Early Modern Women for having written the best book on gender in 2013. Provost Akridge also shared that Dr. Zook was serving as director of Purdue’s highly successful Cornerstone Integrated Liberal Arts program, and he cited one of five letters received in support of Dr. Zook’s appointment, the writer of which stated that Dr. Zook was “a rare example of a professional academic for whom there is really no distinction between teaching and research.”
Trustee Brouillette noted that the donor for this appointment, Mr. Bill Oesterle, was a former Purdue trustee. Trustee Lehman shared that he had received positive, unsolicited feedback from a junior faculty member, who said Dr. Zook’s commitment to bringing liberal arts, social sciences, and humanities to STEM education had inspired him. Chairman Berghoff added that Dr. Zook’s success with the Cornerstone program brought notoriety to the university, and President Daniels added that Dr. Zook helped conceive the Cornerstone program. Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously to recommend full Board approval of the new degree. Supporting documents were filed with the minutes.
Dr. Zook expressed her gratitude and appreciation for Purdue having supported her career. She informed the Committee that Purdue’s Cornerstone program was being replicated by a number of other institutions, and she commended Dr. David Reingold, Justin S. Morrill Dean of Liberal Arts, for supporting Cornerstone and other initiatives which, she observed, had ultimately made the humanities and social sciences relevant on the West Lafayette campus once again.
V. APPROVAL OF M.S. IN APPLIED GEOSPATIAL ANALYTICS
Provost Akridge respectfully requested approval of Master of Science degree in Applied Geospatial Analytics. He informed the Committee that rapid growth of opportunities in digital agriculture and the interdisciplinary nature of geospatial analytics had underscored the need for educational programs that met the demand for emerging and existing professionals in data science and digital agriculture. He said the proposed degree was an interdisciplinary graduate major that would combine certificates in programs already offered by the Brian Lamb School of Communication, Polytechnic Institute, and College of Agriculture, and it would align with the Purdue’s Next Moves Transformative Education 2.0 initiative. Provost Akridge also identified for whom this online degree would be relevant.
Professor Joe Anderson, director of distance education for the College of Agriculture, answered questions from Trustees Brouillette and Gee. Though not a member of the Committee, Trustee Thompson explained why he was in favor of the proposed degree, as did Trustee Brouillette. Provost Akridge reminded the Committee that the degree program would be within the framework which the Board had approved for the Graduate School to build overarching, interdisciplinary master’s degrees using certificates in specific areas, and he expressed anticipation of additional degrees of this type. Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously to recommend full Board approval of the M.S. degree. Supporting documents were filed with the minutes.
VI. APPROVAL OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN COMPUTER AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Provost Akridge respectfully requested approval of a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Computer and Information Technology. He informed the Committee that the proposed degree was designed to address the market need for individuals with advanced degrees in this area and provide expanded opportunities for research both within the academic community and with external research partners. He said the demand for information technology in the fields of health care, business, communications, and others was expected to continue increasing dramatically, and the degree program would also support faculty recruitment and enhance the national and international profile of the department.
Professor Tom Hacker, head of the Department of Computer and Information Technology, and Professor Julia Rayz, assistant department head, addressed a question from Trustee Gee and explained how this degree program would differ from Ph.D. programs offered by the College of Science. Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously to recommend full Board approval of the degree. Supporting materials were filed with the minutes.
VII. UNIVERSITY SENATE REPORT
Professor Steve Beaudoin, chair of the University Senate, reminded the Committee that a working group had been commissioned to consider ways in which faculty and staff engagement in decision-making could be improved. He shared that the working group was critical of the Senate’s efficiency, effectiveness, and professionalism, an assessment with which he said he agreed. He said the Senate had a history of adequate representation of staff and students, but he pointed out that 5% of the faculty served on the Senate. He explained that faculty members did not have much time to devote to Senate activities given their research and teaching loads, and faculty members were often assigned to the Senate rather than actively choosing to serve and take ownership. Professor Beaudoin suggested that consideration should be given to reducing the number of senators, saying it was not a right to serve but rather a privilege, and there should be a limit on how long a senator could serve. He expressed his belief that the faculty could still have excellent representation with fewer senators. He also proposed that the Senate needed to have a robust code of conduct, and he suggested increasing participation of the regional campuses. Professor Beaudoin concluded his report by saying these suggestions would allow the Senate to be more effective and independent, and he expected the working group to bring forth formal recommendations by the end of the spring semester.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
By consent, the meeting adjourned at 9:38 a.m.