Administration

Board of Trustees actions: May 13, 2005

Penn State's Board of Trustees met on Friday, May 13, 2005, on Penn State's University Park campus. The following items were presented to the board for action or informational purposes:

Academic integrity remains a primary focus at Penn State
In the wake of recent unethical and criminal activities by business and government leaders, Penn State has enhanced its efforts to educate its students on the value of honesty and personal integrity. "As a University, we have a further obligation to create an atmosphere of scholarly inquiry that fosters honest achievement and original work," Vicky Triponey, vice president for Student Affairs, told the Board of Trustees. Triponey was part of a panel of experts updating the board on recent initiatives to enhance academic integrity at the University.
Read the full story at http://live.psu.edu/story/12056

Engineering dean shares college's recent developments
With a focus on producing "world-class engineers," developing interdisciplinary research programs, and serving the commonwealth and the nation through outreach services, Penn State's College of Engineering ranks among the largest and highest quality colleges in the nation, Dean David Wormley told the Board of Trustees on the University Park campus. Granting the second-largest number of bachelor's degrees and the ninth-largest number of doctoral degrees in engineering in the country, the college's undergraduate program ranks 16th in the nation, according to recent U.S. News and World Report rankings. The engineering graduate program, in the same report, ranks 19th in the nation. Among the college's recent initiatives has been a major effort to reform its curriculum based on the theme of developing world-class engineers using an active and problem-based approach to learning.
Read the full story at http://live.psu.edu/story/12054

Board learns of Faculty Senate's 2004-05 service to Penn State
The University Faculty Senate serves Penn State as a conscientious, focused force for excellence in governance and collaborative relationship-building across the University, according to Kim Steiner, outgoing chair of the Faculty Senate, in a presentation to the Board of Trustees. Steiner, a professor of forest biology who has just completed his tenure as chair of the Faculty Senate, provided board members with an overview of the Senate's activities and accomplishments over the past year. The University Faculty Senate is the representative body of Penn State's faculty with legislative authority on all matters pertaining to the educational interests of the University and all educational matters that concern the faculties of more than one college. During his presentation to the board, Steiner highlighted a number of initiatives the Senate addressed throughout the 2004-05 academic year.
Read the full story at http://live.psu.edu/story/12062

Penn State to offer new major in musical theatre
The Penn State Board of Trustees approved the creation of a new major in musical theatre after a major curriculum review within the School of Theatre. The school, for 10 years, offered an emphasis in musical theatre, with students receiving a bachelor of fine arts (BFA) degree in theatre. With its continued growth and development, the program has blossomed to the point where quality faculty are in place to create the new major. Graduates of the new program will receive a BFA in musical theatre. The new major reflects greater specificity within the musical theatre program. Students will enjoy an increased focus on musical theatre components, such as singing, dancing, acting and musical theatre literature and history.
Read the full story at http://live.psu.edu/story/12061

Board adopts law school resolution
The Penn State Board of Trustees has approved an agreement between the University and Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell on terms for commonwealth-provided matching funds for capital improvements and enhancements to the Penn State Dickinson School of Law's campus in Carlisle. The approval comes on the heels of Rendell's announced release of up to $25 million to the Cumberland County Redevelopment Authority to be used for the expansion and renovation of Penn State's Dickinson School of Law campus there. "We are extremely pleased that Gov. Rendell has committed commonwealth resources to support Penn State's plan to advance legal education at the University," said Penn State President Graham B. Spanier in response to Rendell's announcement. "We believe the dual-campus proposal will establish our law school as among the very best in the nation and create extraordinary opportunities for our students, while also bringing tremendous value to the state. This agreement demonstrates our collective long-term commitment to legal education in Carlisle," Spanier said.
Read the full story at http://live.psu.edu/story/12060

Board approves final plans, naming of new ballpark
The Penn State Board of Trustees approved final plans for a new baseball park at University Park to be shared by the Penn State baseball team and a minor league team. The new ballpark will be named Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. A gift by Anthony Lubrano in honor of Charles Medlar, a long-time Penn State head baseball coach, comprises a portion of the funds provided by Intercollegiate Athletics in the construction of the new facility. The board also gave authorization to obtain bids and award contracts to construct the ballpark, with a total budget not to exceed 10 percent above $23.9 million. Funds provided by Intercollegiate Athletics, along with $12 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program funds, which were pursued through the Centre County Industrial Development Authority and authorized by Gov. Ed Rendell, will be used to construct the project. The ownership group of the Altoona Curve, which will own the minor league team to play at the ballpark, will lease use of the stadium. he stadium ground breaking will take place Wednesday, May 18, with completion expected in June 2006.
Read the full story at http://live.psu.edu/story/12080

Trustees approve interim budget for 2005-06; Penn State awaits approval of state appropriation
Penn State adopts an interim budget each year so that it has an approved fiscal operating plan from the beginning of the fiscal year, July 1, until the next year's actual budget is approved by the University's Board of Trustees. The board approved the interim maintenance and operating budget at the level of the current 2004-05 total operating budget of $2,812,640,000. This budget supports all Penn State operations and enterprises throughout the commonwealth. Details on the current 2004-05 budget, which serves as a basis for this interim budget, can be found at http://budget.psu.edu/ online.
Read the full story at http://live.psu.edu/story/12068

Final plans for oncology treatment building approved
Final plans for the new Oncology Treatment Building, a facility that will provide necessary treatment capacity for a collaborative approach between radiation oncology and neurosurgery in the care of cancer patients at the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, received approval from Penn State's Board of Trustees. The board also approved preliminary plans for the renovation and expansion of Dobbins Hall, the main food service venue at Penn State Erie. Included in the new building at Hershey Medical Center will be a new, state-of-the-art Gamma Knife and a new Linear Accelerator in an 8,100-square-foot facility located between the hospital's south addition and parking garages. The renovation and expansion of Penn State Erie's Dobbins Hall will increase serving capacity and improve dining services to keep pace with new academic and housing facilities on campus. For photos visit http://live.psu.edu/still_life/2005_05_13_bot/index.html online.
Read the full story at http://live.psu.edu/story/12070

Trustees agree to land sale, lease
Following approval by the Penn State Board of Trustees, the University will sell 7.3 acres of land at Stone Valley to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and lease an additional 6.36 acres at University Park Airport to the U.S. Government for its existing Pennsylvania Air National Guard Training Facility. The land requested at Stone Valley, part of a former 154-acre tract acquired by the University in 1977, will be used by PennDOT to relocate its Engineering District 9-0 maintenance operations from current facilities on Pine Grove Mountain, notably improving PennDOT's Huntingdon County safety and maintenance operations. At University Park Airport, the U.S. Government has leased 22.62 acres of land since 1992 for the Pennsylvania Air National Guard Training Facility. After the mission of the Air National Guard was revised last year, additional facilities are required. The government will lease an additional 6.36 acres adjoining and west of the existing training site.
Read the full story at http://live.psu.edu/story/12069

Plan for administrative reorganization approved
Penn State's Board of Trustees approved a comprehensive plan to reorganize the structure and administrative responsibilities of the University. The plan, announced by Penn State President Graham B. Spanier in March, is designed to streamline administrative functions and improve efficiencies across Penn State's network of campuses. "This restructuring will allow Penn State to adjust better to changing demographics and the competitive realities in the coming years, and it will position the University to take maximum advantage of the strength of its administrative resources," said Spanier. Highlights of the plan include the consolidation of what currently are three senior administrative positions into two new areas of responsibility; a new alignment of Penn State's campuses; title changes for the senior campus executives; and policy and structural changes to eliminate administrative overlaps.
Read the full story at http://live.psu.edu/story/12063

Trustees appoint three to Hershey Medical Center board
The Penn State Board of Trustees approved the re-appointments of Donald M. Cook Jr. and Marian U. Coppersmith Fredman and the appointment of Rodney A. Erickson to the Board of Directors of The Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Each appointment is for a three-year term ending June 30, 2008. Erickson, the University's executive vice president and provost, will be filling the seat vacated by Penn State President Graham B. Spanier, whose term expires this year. Cook is retired president of SEMCOR Inc. Fredman is chair of the board of The Barash Group. Both currently hold emeritus status with the Penn State Board of Trustees. The Board of Directors of The Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center consists of 15 members serving staggered, three-year terms.
Read the full story at http://live.psu.edu/story/12072

Penn State announces results of trustee elections
Penn State alumni, delegates of agricultural societies and trustees -- in considering representatives of business and industry endeavors -- recently elected five incumbents and two new members to serve on the University's Board of Trustees. University alumni re-elected incumbents H. Jesse Arnelle of counsel to the law firm of Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge and Rice; and Joel N. Myers, founder and president of AccuWeather Inc.; and elected Marianne Ellis Alexander, president emerita of the Public Leadership Education Network. Delegates of agricultural societies re-elected incumbent Walter N. Peechatka, executive vice president of PennAg Industries Association; and elected Betsy E. Huber, master of the Pennsylvania Grange. Delegates of industrial societies re-elected incumbents James S. Broadhurst, chairman and chief executive officer of Eat'n Park Hospitality Group Inc.; and Linda B. Strumpf, vice president and chief investment officer of The Ford Foundation. In addition to these elected members, Gov. Edward G. Rendell has appointed Eugene B. Chaiken to a voting seat on the Board of Trustees. The appointment was confirmed by the state Senate and made effective on May 10. Chaiken, chairman and CEO of the Almo Corp., had served as the governor's non-voting liaison to the board since March 2003. The term of each trustee elected is three years, beginning July 1, 2005, and expiring on June 30, 2008.
Read the full story at http://live.psu.edu/story/12073

Last Updated March 19, 2009

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