University Park, Pa. — Penn State’s University Faculty Senate held its final meeting of 2010-11 Thursday (April 28), passing a new Senate policy on articulation agreements, approving three advisory and consultative reports and receiving several informational reports.
It also marked the final meeting as chair for Jean Landa Pytel, assistant dean of student services in the College of Engineering. Daniel Hagen, professor of dairy and animal sciences in the College of Agricultural Sciences, succeeds her as chair, while Larry Backer, professor of law, was named chair-elect. Maria Truglio, associate professor of Italian and women’s studies, was elected Senate Secretary.
In her final remarks to the Senate, Pytel said her position as chair has imbued her with optimism that Penn State can successfully overcome the current challenges with which it is faced, particularly uncertainty regarding the University budget and appropriations.
“I am confident that working together we will emerge from these trying times as a better and stronger institution,” she said.
Senators approved a formal policy to govern the establishment of new articulation agreements and the review and renewal of existing agreements. Articulation agreements define conditions under which degree-seeking students at one institution would be admitted to degree status at another.
The policy stipulates that all articulation agreements must include an explicit review and renewal process, as well as a process allowing either party to terminate the agreement. The Office of Global Programs and Senate Committee on Global Programs will review proposed agreements with institutions outside the United State. It also incorporates guidelines established in 1998 Senate legislation that did not result in a formal policy, but rather a set of recommendations and suggested procedures. The new policy includes a series of nine provisions by which all articulation agreements must adhere. For more details, view the report at http://www.senate.psu.edu/agenda/2010-2011/apr2011/appb.pdf.
The Senate voted to revise Policy HR 76 – Faculty Rights and Responsibilities to reflect current practices in dealing with grievances by the Senate Committee on Faculty Rights and Responsibilities and the Office of Affirmative Action, which did not exist when the policy was adopted in 1973. The revisions acknowledge the role of the Office of Affirmative Action in adjudicating faculty rights in cases of sexual harassment or discrimination. The Committee on Faculty Rights and Responsibilities continues to be responsible for claims involving academic freedom, ethical violations and procedural fairness.
Language also was inserted to cover cases where both the committee and the office have jurisdiction, specifying that each body will investigate the part of the claim in its area of competence, consult and share evidence with each other and arrive at independent conclusions. Read the revised policy at http://www.senate.psu.edu/agenda/2010-2011/apr2011/appc.pdf.
Senators also voted to adopt seven core principles to be used by appropriate Senate and University committees to guide the process of developing new policies and reviewing and revising existing policies that address issues of instructional intellectual property at Penn State. To view the principles adopted by the Senate, see http://www.senate.psu.edu/agenda/2010-2011/apr2011/appd.pdf.
The Senate approved revisions to Policy HR 29 – Voluntary Phased Retirement. The changes modernize the policy to allow participants in the Penn State defined contribution retirement plan administered by TIAA-CREF to begin accessing retirement funds prior to full retirements, allowing those who would like to participate in phased retirement an opportunity to supplement their reduced salary with retirement plan income. The policy revisions also define a minimum phased retirement period of 12 months and a maximum period of three years; emphasize participation in voluntary phased retirement cannot be rescinded and full retirement must commence on the agreed upon date; and streamline procedure to place more emphasis on the department head and dean or administrative office approvals.
Committees also delivered multiple informational reports:
• The Committees on Faculty Benefits and University Planning submitted a report on the expansion of the Penn State Hershey Medical Center primary care health care services through the creation of a “medical home,” in the University Park community. Primary care physicians and other health care providers will work in collaboration with specialists already in the community to improve access to care for Penn State faculty, retirees and dependents. Over time, clinical training for medical students from the College of Medicine, residency programs in primary care and dual degree programs in collaboration with other colleges at University Park will be made available.
The initiative will allow Penn State to better accomplish a goal of transforming the culture of health and wellness for the University’s population while also containing the tremendous cost of health care. Bringing Penn State Hershey physicians to University Park will help provide lower cost, higher quality patient-centered health care.
The Penn State Hershey Medical Group in State College includes extensive primary care, expansion of specialty services, accessibility through walk-in hours and convenient locations, case management, comprehensive electronic capabilities and collaboration with Mount Nittany Medical Center.
For more details on the Penn State Hershey initiative in Centre County, view the report at http://www.senate.psu.edu/agenda/2010-2011/apr2011/appf.pdf.
• The Senate Committee on Outreach provided a report summarizing online course development models currently in use at Penn State. At the University level, World Campus includes a learning design unit that assists many academic units in developing online courses, and Educational Technology Services and ITS Training Services provide resources to support faculty in developing online course materials.
A growing number of academic units have established internal learning design groups as well to meet unique needs of each unit’s academic disciplines. The long-term goal of the University is to provide centrally a set of common authoring tools and models to assist in selecting from a diversity of toolsets. For more details, see the report at http://www.senate.psu.edu/agenda/2010-2011/apr2011/appg.pdf.
• A report on the progress of implementing recommendations for enhancing the educational experiences of adult learners was issued by the Committees on Outreach and Student Life. The report provides an update on progress of eight recommendations offered in a March 2010 Faculty Senate report. For details on progress, see http://www.senate.psu.edu/agenda/2010-2011/apr2011/apph.pdf.
• The annual report on grade distribution for baccalaureate students, focusing on spring semesters 2000 to 2010 with detailed data for spring 2010, was presented by the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Education. Read the full distribution report at http://www.senate.psu.edu/agenda/2010-2011/apr2011/appi.pdf.
• Results of 2011-12 Senate Elections also were reported., including elections to Senate Council and four committees. See http://www.senate.psu.edu/agenda/2010-2011/apr2011/appj.pdf for details.
The first Faculty Senate meeting of 2011-12 will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 30 in 112 Kern Graduate Building.