Recap of University Senate’s Sept. 13 meeting

Here is a recap of the University Senate’s meeting on Sept.13. Minutes from the meeting will be posted on the Senate website closer to the next Senate meeting on Oct. 18.

Chair remarks. In his introductory remarks, Stephen Beaudoin, chair of the University Senate, outlined some of his goals for the 2021-22 academic year during his role as chair. Those goals included providing more support for mental health services on campus, sexual assault prevention and support for survivors, broadening and supporting diversity and equity and working closely with University administration and the Board of Trustees on some of their initiatives, including recognizing and supporting teaching excellence, J-term, grade inflation, critical thinking skills, and health care and health insurance . Beaudoin’s full remarks have been posted..

President’s remarks. President Mitch Daniels announced that Purdue’s incoming freshman class is a record 10,191. Purdue had targeted a class of 8,450 students, which would have been a smaller class than the previous year by more than 400. The higher actual enrollment was the result of an unprecedented and unanticipated jump in the number of out-of-state U.S. applicants who accepted admissions offers. The full presentation is available as a PDF file.

ITEMS FOR ACTION  

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee nomination. The Senate Nominating Committee approved the following nominees for the committee. The nominees and the proposed terms of service: Megha Anwer, Honors College, one year; Yuan H. (Brad) Kim, Animal Sciences; one year; Rose Mason, Educational Studies, three years.

University Resources Policy Committee nomination. The Senate Nominating Committee approved the following nominees for the committee. The nominees and their proposed terms of service: Scott Lawrence, Health and Kinesiology, Fall 2021; Daniel J. Olson, Languages and Cultures, Fall 2021; Yuan Yao, Food Science, three years.

Faculty Affairs Committee nomination. The Senate Nominating Committee approved the following nominees for the committee. The nominees and their proposed term of service: Lata Krishnan, Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, two years; Angeline Lyon, Chemistry, three years; Eric Waltenburg, Political Science, three years.

Student Affairs Committee nomination. The Senate Nominating Committee approved the following nominees for the committee. The nominees and their proposed terms of service: Alan Friedman, Biological Sciences, three years; Melanie Morgan, Graduate School administration, one year; Mark Rochat, Veterinary Clinical Sciences, one year.

Steering Committee nominations. The Senate Nominating Committee approved the following nominees for the committee. The nominees and their proposed terms of service: Matt Conaway, Bands & Orchestras, three years; Dabao Zang, Statistics, Fall 2021.

Nominations for student members of standing committees. The Senate Nominating Committee approved 15 nominees to fill openings as student members of committees. A list of these nominees, proposed committees and proposed terms of service is posted.

Nomination for advisor of the Educational Policy Committee. The Senate Nominating Committee approved the following nominee as advisor for the Educational Policy Committee: Jeff Elliott, executive director of University Undergraduate Academic Advising, one year.

Election Day as Civic Day of Service. Shannon Kang, president of Purdue Student Government, presented a resolution proposing that general election days be designated as non-instructional Days of Civic Service on future academic calendars. Senators voted on the proposal and it was defeated.  

Academic regulation updates. Kang presented a proposal asking for language to be replaced within Purdue’s Academic Regulations to allow for up-to-date grade statuses. Kang and Thomas Siegmund, chair of the Educational Policy Committee, agreed to refer the document to the Educational Policy Committee for further study. The  academic regulations proposal has been posted.

Reading Week policies. Senators voted to postpone this proposal, presented by Kang, to the Senate’s next meeting on Oct. 18.

On the need to demonstrate civics literacy through shared governance. Professor Alice Pawley presented a revised proposal regarding the Board of Trustees and the civics literacy graduation requirement. At the meeting, senators voted to make additional amendments to the document. The revised and amended document was approved.

Athletic Affairs Committee report. Professor Kathleen Abrahamson of the Athletic Affairs Committee presented a report on Intercollegiate Athletics and student-athlete affairs during the 2020-21 academic year.