PURDUE UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
STATED MEETING
FEBRUARY 3, 2023 | MINUTES  


A stated meeting of the Purdue University Board of Trustees convened on Friday, February 3, 2023, at 10:01 a.m. in Room 326 of Stewart Center on the campus of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Trustees present: Michael Berghoff, chairman; Sonny Beck; JoAnn Brouillette; Theresa Carter; Vanessa Castagna; Malcolm DeKryger; Mark Gee; Michael Klipsch; Gary Lehman, vice chairman; and Shawn Taylor.

Officers and administrators in attendance were: Mung Chiang, president; Patrick Wolfe, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs and diversity; Chris Ruhl, chief financial officer and treasurer; Eva Nodine, senior vice president, assistant treasurer, and assistant secretary; Steve Schultz, general counsel; Cindy Ream, corporate secretary and senior executive assistant to the Board; and Ron Elsenbaumer, chancellor, Purdue Fort Wayne.

I. ROLL CALL

Chairman Berghoff called the meeting to order and noted all trustees were in attendance. He welcomed President Chiang to his first meeting as President.

II. APPROVAL OF UNANIMOUS CONSENT AGENDA

The Academic and Student Affairs Committee, Compensation Committee, and Finance 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 includes the unanimous consent agenda, along with other routine items, as follows:

  • (WL) Ratification; James G. Dwyer Professor of Mechanical Engineering
  • (WL) Ratification; Contract Terms for new Football Coach
  • (WL) Ratification; The Indiana Soybean Alliance Chair in Soybean Improvement
    • Chairman Berghoff noted that this action was not addressed in committee as it is only a technical change in the name of this chairship, with the Board having already honored Agronomy Professor Jianxin Ma in this chair last October. He explained that, thanks to the generosity of the Indiana Soybean Alliance, the Board now has the opportunity to rename the chair for this donor.
  • (WL) Approval to Rename Duke Realty Chair in Finance to The Tom and Patty Hefner Chair in Finance
    • Chairman Berghoff explained that this action, too, is merely a technical change in the name of the chairship, which results from a generous gift from Tom and Patty Hefner and follows Duke Realty’s acquisition by another company. He noted this chair is currently held by Mara Faccio, a world-renowned scholar in academic finance.
  • (WL) Approval of Equipment Purchase, Mackey Control Room Upgrade
  • (SW) Approval of Conflict-of-Interest Disclosures
  • (SW) 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. Supporting materials were filed with the minutes.

III. RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION FOR FRIENDS OF PURDUE UNIVERSITY

President Chiang profiled the gifts of $1,000,000 or more which the university had received since the Board’s Stated Meeting on December 2, 2022. 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: David Julian Haase (posthumously), to support Purdue Polytechnic Institute; Gerald and Nanette Lyles, to support the School of Business; New Eagle Foundation, to support Intercollegiate Athletics; Marcel Sassola III, to support the College of Pharmacy; Jean Louise Taaffe, to support the College of Health and Human Sciences; James Tarpo Jr., to support the College of Science; Shorty and Ro Whittington, to support the College of Agriculture; Anonymous, to support the College of Engineering; Anonymous, to support the College of Health and Human Sciences; Division of Financial Aid; and Purdue Polytechnic High School; Anonymous, to support the School of Business; Anonymous, to support the School of Business; Anonymous, to support the School of Business; and Anonymous, to support the School of Business and the College of Engineering.

President Chiang requested approval of the Resolution of Appreciation. 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. GOVERNANCE UPDATE: STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

President Chiang began by stating that, consistent with President Emeritus Daniels’ practice of having a rotating schedule of reports on key areas, February will be the month for strategic initiatives. He proceeded to report two sets of strategic initiatives. First, he provided updates and milestones for the five Purdue’s Next Moves pillars, which include Purdue Equity Task Force, Transformative Education 2.0, Plant Science, Purdue Applied Research Institute and National Security and Technology.

President Chiang next presented the second initiative, which he described as a reimagined and relaunched school of business at Purdue. He noted that a Resolution had been shared with the Board and would be considered for adoption later in the meeting. He shared that, as reflected in the Resolution, there are two goals behind this key initiative: that Purdue will have a top-10 business school with distinct scholarly strengths across undergraduate, graduate, and executive education programs, as well as top-caliber research, and that Purdue will produce business leaders prepared to found and lead businesses in technology-driven free market economy.

Chairman Berghoff acknowledged Dr. David Hummels, Samuel R. Allen Dean of Krannert School of Management, who was in attendance. Mr. Berghoff noted that Dean Hummels’ leadership at the helm of Krannert over the past 10 years had been essential to creating the opportunity for this historic reimagining and transformation of the school.

As he proceeded with his report, President Chiang proposed two items for consideration by the Board. The first was for an endorsement for approval of Winter Recess December 2023, consistent with past practice. After a brief discussion, the Board endorsed the Winter Recess schedule by acclamation.

President Chiang’s second item was that the Board consider a FY25 Tuition Freeze for the West Lafayette campus as further work proceeds in the coming months on the budget. Trustee Klipsch commented, on behalf of the Finance Committee, that he has spent a lot of time looking at this issue in discussions with Treasurer Ruhl and his team, and based on the high level of confidence in the budget, there is a sense by the Committee that this would be a practical and reasonable thing to do. After further discussion, Chairman Berghoff noted the Board’s consensus and authorized President Chiang to move forward with planning for a year 12 tuition freeze as part of the biennial budget, to be considered formally after the General Assembly’s session ends in April.

A copy of President Chiang’s report was filed with the minutes.

V. APPROVAL OF ACTIONS RELATED TO BUSINESS SCHOOL

President Chiang proposed approval of Actions Related to Business School and adoption of the Resolution. He recommended that the Board approve The Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business. Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve the Resolution and the naming of The Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business. A formal copy of the Resolution and supporting materials were filed with the minutes.

VI. RATIFICATION DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR OF FORESTRY AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Provost Wolfe respectfully requested approval to ratify Dr. Jessica Gurevitch as Distinguished Professor of Forestry and Natural Resources in the College of Agriculture. He shared that Dr. Gurevitch is a leading plant ecologist with broad interest spanning the environment and ecology in natural resources and forests and the impact of human intervention. Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to ratify Dr. Jessica Gurevitch’s appointment as the Distinguished Professor of Forestry and Natural Resources. Supporting materials were filed with the minutes.

Dr. Gurevitch expressed appreciation for the kind words and for the honor. She noted that she will do her best to live up to it and stated that she is excited to be part of Purdue University and become a Boilermaker.

VII. RATIFICATION OF PROVOST AND EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS AND DIVERSITY

Chairman Berghoff noted the need to ratify the appointment of Patrick Wolfe as Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Diversity. Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to ratify Patrick Wolfe as Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Diversity.

VIII. RATIFICATION OF EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH

Chairman Berghoff presented the next ratification for approval which was Karen Plaut as the Executive Vice President for Research. Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to ratify Karen Plaut as Executive Vice President for Research.

IX. RATIFICATION OF SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR PARTNERSHIPS

Chairman Berghoff shared the final ratification for approval at this meeting was for Alyssa Wilcox as Senior Vice President for Partnerships. Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to ratify Alyssa Wilcox as Senior Vice President for Partnerships.

X. FACILITY NAMINGS

Chairman Berghoff shared a proposal from Purdue University Fort Wayne to rename Purdue University Fort Wayne’s Music Center to Purdue Fort Wayne Music Center. At the request of Chairman Berghoff, Purdue University Fort Wayne Chancellor, Ron Elsenbaumer, provided some additional background on the rationale for this proposal. Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve the renaming of the music center on the campus of Purdue University Fort Wayne to the Purdue Fort Wayne Music Center. Supporting materials were filed with the minutes.

XI. REPORT OF THE COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES

Dr. Marion Underwood, Dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences began by thanking the Board for the opportunity. She stated that the College may be young, large, and growing but they are excellent and aspire to be just as exceptional as the rest of Purdue University. She shared that the College of Health and Human Sciences is the third largest College and shared the challenges, opportunities and rewards related to enrollment growth of the College. She was proud to share the 4-year graduation rate of 76% which exceeds the University rate by 10%. She provided updates on research and shared the need for both research and learning spaces. A copy of Dean Underwood’s presentation was filed with the minutes.

XII. DESIGNATION OF DIRECTORS FOR ROSS-ADE FOUNDATION

Chairman Berghoff shared that the terms for Malcolm DeKryger and Mike Klipsch as Directors for Ross-Ade Foundation have expired and he recommended for approval that Malcolm and Mike serve another one-year term. At the request of Chairman Berghoff, Steve Schultz, General Counsel provided a reminder of the history and purpose of the Ross-Ade Foundation, noting that its primary current mission is to own, develop, and finance Purdue’s athletic facilities. Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Purdue University Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve Malcolm DeKryger and Mike Klipsch serve another year term as Directors for Ross-Ade Foundation.

XIII. ADJOURNMENT

By consent, the meeting adjourned at 11:45 a.m.

  • 02-03-23 | Stated Meeting