A meeting of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees convened at 8:34 a.m. on Friday, April 8, 2022, in Room 326 of Stewart Center on the campus of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.

All committee members were present: JoAnn Brouillette, chair; Vanessa Castagna; Malcolm DeKryger; Mark Gee; and Professor Steve Beaudoin (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; Janice Indrutz, corporate secretary and senior executive assistant to the Board; Ron Elsenbaumer, chancellor, Purdue Fort Wayne (virtually); and Tom Keon, chancellor, Purdue Northwest.

I. APPROVAL TO APPOINT THE MARY ENDRES CHAIR IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION

Provost Akridge respectfully requested approval to appoint Dr. Signe E. Kastberg as the Mary Endres Chair in Elementary Education. He informed the Committee that Dr. Kastberg’s scholarship was highly regarded and focused on math education in the areas of K-12 teaching practices, K-12 teachers’ knowledge, and mathematics teacher education. Provost Akridge said Dr. Kastberg’s work was published in top mathematics education journals, and her teaching expertise had been recognized with awards from Purdue as well as the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators. He also cited one of seven letters received in support of Dr. Kastberg’s appointment. Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously to recommend full Board approval of Dr. Kastberg’s appointment. Supporting materials were filed with the minutes.

Dr. Kastberg said learning to teach was challenging and she was honored to design simulations, curriculum and experiences that would help learning to teach more attainable.

II. APPROVAL TO APPOINT TWO ELMORE PROFESSORS OF ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING

Provost Akridge respectfully requested approval to appoint Dr. Evgeniy Narimanov as an Elmore Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He informed the Committee that Dr. Narimanov was one of the most influential theorists and celebrated pioneers in the fields of nanophotonics, nanoplasmonics, and metamaterials in the world, and Dr. Narimanov’s research had laid the foundation for innovations in many areas of imaging science and engineering, including optical systems, ultrasound imaging, and sonar devices. Provost Akridge said Dr. Narimanov held six patents, and he discussed Dr. Narimanov’s professional service. He also cited one of seven letters received in support of Dr. Narimanov’s appointment, the writer of which said Dr. Narimanov was the most gifted and creative theoretician of his generation. Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously to recommend full Board approval of Dr. Narimanov’s appointment. Supporting materials were filed with the minutes.

Dr. Narimanov remarked that the named professorship was a great honor and said Purdue was one of very few places where one could do research and receive support for their research.

Provost Akridge also respectfully requested to appoint Dr. Amy R. Reibman as an Elmore Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He informed the Committee that Dr. Reibman was a world leader in the field of image/video processing and transport over wireless communication systems. He discussed Dr. Reibman’s groundbreaking work in digital video compression and streaming, and he said she had made significant contributions to video quality assessment. Provost Akridge pointed out that Dr. Reibman held 62 patents, securing more than half since joining Purdue in 2015, and he discussed Dr. Reibman’s professional service. Provost Akridge also cited one of seven letters received in support of Dr. Reibman’s appointment. Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously to recommend full Board approval of Dr. Reibman’s appointment. Supporting materials were filed with the minutes.

Dr. Reibman thanked the Board for the honor and said she was very grateful for her time at Purdue.

III. APPROVAL OF APPOINTMENT TO THE INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ANIMAL HEALTH

Provost Akridge respectfully requested approval to appoint Dr. Darryl Ragland, associate professor of swine production medicine in the College of Veterinary Medicine, to the Indiana State Board of Animal Health. He expressed his belief that Dr. Ragland was an ideal choice for the role given his expertise in swine medicine, knowledge of Indiana’s livestock and poultry industries, and his personal experience working with the Indiana State Board of Animal Health. Trustee DeKryger remarked that he knew Dr. Ragland and said Dr. Ragland had done an amazing job with bringing underrepresented minorities to Purdue. Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously to recommend full Board approval of Dr. Ragland’s appointment. Supporting documents were filed with the minutes.

IV. MENTORING PRESENTATION

Provost Akridge reminded the Committee that, in October 2015, the Board approved adding the criteria of mentoring to Purdue’s promotion and tenure process. He was pleased to inform the Committee that mentoring had since become fully embedded in the promotion and tenure process. Provost Akridge said three other Big Ten institutions now also required mentoring in some form, and he provided a variety of examples of ways in which faculty engaged students through mentoring. Provost Akridge added that, also in October 2015, the Board provided for intellectual property as a way to express productivity and discovery in research, which, he said, had also been widely embraced by the faculty. A copy of Provost Akridge’s presentation was filed with the minutes.

Trustee Brouillette thanked Provost Akridge for the report and expressed her appreciation to the faculty for their mentoring efforts, which, she said, contributed to student success. Provost Akridge commented that mentoring was particularly valuable during the COVID-19 pandemic.

V. APPROVAL OF FACULTY PROMOTIONS

Provost Akridge respectfully requested approval of the roster of 183 faculty candidates for promotion; 145 faculty from the West Lafayette campus, 14 faculty from Purdue Fort Wayne, 9 faculty from Purdue Northwest, and 15 faculty from the Purdue Schools at IUPUI. He reminded the Committee that each candidate had been through an exhaustive, multi-level evaluation process and was appropriately endorsed at the campus level. He expressed his belief that the quality of Purdue University was sustained through the excellence of the faculty, and he said the promotions were especially noteworthy given the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic over the last two years. As requested by Trustee Brouillette, Provost Akridge briefly reviewed the promotion and tenure process. Professor Beaudoin offered his thoughts on the roster of candidates and elaborated on the promotion and tenure process. Trustee Carter observed that mentoring was a piece of the process itself. Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously to recommend full Board approval of the roster of candidates for promotion. The promotions would be effective at the beginning of each candidate’s regular term of service for 2022-2023. Supporting materials were filed with the minutes. Trustee Brouillette asked Professor Beaudoin to express the Board’s congratulations to the candidates.

VI. APPROVAL OF M.S. IN DIETETICS

Provost Akridge respectfully requested approval of a Master of Science in Dietetics. He informed the Committee that this new graduate program would not only build on the Department of Nutrition Science’s strong leadership in the field of nutrition and dietetics, beginning in 2024 a master’s degree would be required to enter the nutrition and dietetics profession. Dr. Laura Murray-Kolb, head of the Department of Nutrition Science, thanked the Committee for considering the proposal and affirmed that a master’s degree would become a requirement from the accrediting body. She added that Purdue had a longstanding reputation of excellence for training dietetics students. Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously to recommend full Board approval of the M.S. in Dietetics. Supporting documents were filed with the minutes.

VII. FOR PURDUE NORTHWEST: APPROVAL OF B.S. IN CYBERSECURITY

Provost Akridge respectfully requested approval of a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity degree at Purdue Northwest. He informed the Committee that the U.S. Department of Labor predicted that cybersecurity jobs in the U.S. would increase by one-third from 2020 to 2030. He said the degree would provide students the technical competency, knowledge, and skills need to protect networks, systems, programs, and data from criminal or unauthorized use. Chancellor Keon informed the Committee about grants Purdue Northwest had received for cybersecurity research and faculty hires. In response to a question from Chairman Berghoff, Chancellor Keon said students would otherwise have had to pursue cybersecurity through engineering or technology programs. Chancellor Elsenbaumer responded to Chairman Berghoff that, though Purdue Fort Wayne had a concentration in cybersecurity, it did not have a degree program. Trustee Thompson expressed his belief that the degree was “absolutely necessary,” saying there was void in cybersecurity expertise and students would be in high demand. Trustee DeKryger added that the job pool in metropolitan Northwest Indiana and South Chicago would be significant. Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously to recommend full Board approval of the B.S. in Cybersecurity at Purdue Northwest. Supporting documents were filed with the minutes.

VIII. APPROVAL OF CIVICS LITERACY PLANS FOR PFW, PNW, AND PURDUE SCHOOLS AT IUPUI

Provost Akridge respectfully requested approval of the Civics Literacy Proficiency requirements for Purdue Fort Wayne, Purdue Northwest, and the Purdue Schools at IUPUI. He informed the Committee that PFW, PNW, and the Purdue Schools at IUPUI had each submitted plans for implementing the Civics Literacy Proficiency requirement on their respective campuses effective in Fall 2022. This would follow implementation of the requirement on the West Lafayette campus in Fall 2021. He confirmed that each proposal aligned with the Board’s directive for the requirement.

In response to a question from Trustee Gee, Provost Akridge explained that the campuses had been given one year to determine what coursework would be most appropriate for their respective student bodies to ensure all students on all campuses, including West Lafayette, could pass the same exam. Trustee Brouillette asked Chancellors Keon and Elsenbaumer to comment on the plans for their respective campuses. Chancellor Elsenbaumer added that PFW students would be encouraged to successfully complete the exam early in their academic career. Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously to recommend full Board approval of the Civics Literacy Proficiency requirements for PFW, PNW and the Purdue Schools at IUPUI. Supporting documents were filed with the minutes.

IX. APPROVAL TO ESTABLISH AND NAME THE DEAN V. WHITE REAL ESTATE PROGRAM

Provost Akridge respectfully requested approval to establish and name the Dean V. White Real Estate Program within the School of Management. He informed the Committee that the new program would build on the School of Management’s strong and growing reputation for excellence in education and research to become internationally recognized for thought leadership in real estate strategies, partnerships, and financing, and regulation. Provost Akridge said naming the program for Dean White would honor a generous gift from the Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation. Trustee Brouillette recognized that the White family had been impactful to the university in so many ways, and Provost Akridge added that it was indeed a transformative gift. He also acknowledged the recent White family gift in support of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management in the College of Health and Human Sciences. In response to a question from Trustee Thompson, Chairman Berghoff noted that the university did not currently offer any programs relative to real estate and there were few other such programs at other universities, and he expressed his belief that that there would be much demand for the program. Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously to recommend full Board approval to establish and name the Dean V. White Real Estate Program. Supporting documents were filed with the minutes.

X. APPROVAL TO NAME THE HONORS COLLEGE

Provost Akridge respectfully requested approval to name the Honors College for Purdue alumnus John Martinson. He shared that Mr. Martinson had earned both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science at Purdue, and he discussed Mr. Martinson’s service in the U.S. Air Force and Mr. Martinson’s other professional achievements. Provost Akridge told the Committee that Mr. Martinson’s generous gift would enable innovative new programming in the Honors College, with the goal of elevating it to one of the top five honors colleges nationally, and he said naming the Honors College for Mr. Martinson would honor his gift, for which the university was deeply grateful.

President Daniels said Mr. Martinson was very thorough and careful while considering his gift, having visited and given consideration to other honors colleges, and President Daniels hoped Dr. Rhonda Phillips, dean of the Honors College, would take special satisfaction in Mr. Martinson’s gift as affirmation of her good work. Dean Phillips remarked that Mr. Martinson’s gift would enable her dream to make Purdue’s Honors College one of the top honors colleges in the country and bring even more recognition to Purdue for its innovative and transformative undergraduate education. In response to a question from Trustee Brouillette, Dean Phillips said Purdue’s Honors College was differentiated from other honors colleges because of its four pillars to develop the whole person – interdisciplinary academics, leadership development, community and global engagement, and undergraduate research. Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously to recommend full Board approval to name the John Martinson Honors College. Supporting documents were filed with the minutes.

XI. UNIVERSITY SENATE REPORT

Professor Steve Beaudoin, chair of the University Senate, summarized the progress made with reducing sexual violence on campus. He discussed five recommendations to be implemented, including education modules, elevating visibility of CARE center, and improving the reporting website, and he highlighted additional recommendations under consideration. Trustee Thompson remarked that these steps would move the university forward “in a phenomenal way.” Professor Beaudoin informed the Committee about the last meeting of the University Senate, during which Professor Brian Leung was elected chair for 2023-2024. He said the faculty endorsed the new Winter Session, and there was strong support for creating a Faculty Club. Professor Beaudoin also reviewed the first year Civics Literacy Proficiency outcomes and shared his personal thoughts on how the Senate could be more effective and useful to the Board. Chairman Berghoff said the Board agreed that including a voice from the faculty leads to better decisions, and he expressed his hope to see progress made with regard to restructuring the Senate. Trustee Thompson expressed his appreciation for how Professor Beaudoin presented his thoughts on the University Senate as well as Professor Beaudoin’s leadership, which was met with applause. A copy of Professor Beaudoin’s report presentation was filed with the minutes.

XII. ADJOURNMENT

By consent, the meeting adjourned at 9:46 a.m.