University Park, Pa. -- In its first meeting of the 2005-06 academic year, the University Faculty Senate discussed preliminary committee reports on curricular integrity and promotion and tenure transition -- both of which aim to streamline processes throughout Penn State campuses.
The forensic report from the Joint Committee on Curricular Integrity looked at concerns noted by faculty and students regarding loss of connection between faculty members of the same discipline, drift in content and rigor of some courses taught at different locations and in different colleges and the proliferation of majors and courses resembling already existing ones.
While considering the importance of collaboration and oversight by academic units in curricular integration, the committee seeks to assess ways existing curriculum affects student major or location changes. It offered 10 recommendations for improved program planning and continuity, course consistency to optimize student progress and consultation within disciplines for effective curricular coordination and academic advising.
Among the recommendations presented by committee co-chairs John S. Nichols and Robert N. Pangborn is a standing joint administrative/Faculty Senate committee charged with academic strategy and review. The new committee would serve to examine University curricula and identifying new opportunities. Additionally, it would provide for early strategic review and feedback on new programs and serve to reduce the number of similar programs with different titles across the University. Serving a facilitative role, the committee would work to better align these programs and bring together relevant units to explore shared sponsorship of programs.
The Promotion and Tenure Transition Committee, meanwhile, seeks to develop proposals for promotion and tenure review procedures for faculty in the University College -- established in Penn State's recent reorganization -- and consider any necessary modifications for stand-alone colleges.
Committee chair George W. Franz said the committee has tentatively concluded that three levels of review (campus, college and University) would be the most desirable and fair in the University College, as opposed to the current four-level system. The committee also agreed the local campus review should remain at the initial level of review in the University College. The committee is still considering a number of questions, including whether discipline review at the initial level is appropriate, as well as the appropriate number of colleagues for disciplinary review. It is also considering whether stand-alone colleges and University Park departments should be required to include colleagues from other locations on promotion and tenure committees.
The Senate also heard an informational report from Darrell G. Kirch, senior vice president for health affairs, dean of Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Hershey Medical Center chief executive officer, on Penn State's strategic response to the challenge of health in the 20th century. Kirch said that in the coming years health-care costs will soar and that Penn State will need to adjust accordingly.
"As a university, I feel we have an obligation to lead in a time of crisis, not follow," Kirch said.
Kirch explained that the medical center is focused on developing a long-term solution, one that will invest in wellness and prevention, reward healthy choices by employees and allow them to build some long-term financial security against rising costs.
In 2006 the medical center plans to implement a new health-care plan for its employees that will include Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA) with deposits made by the medical center into employees HRA accounts for employees to receive money for out-of-pocket expenses based on salary and choice of coverage. If HRA dollars go unused they will rollover to the following year. Over time employees could accumulate up to $25,000 in their HRA accounts. Employees could earn additional HRA contributions by participating in health and wellness programs.
The plan seeks to curb rising premiums, especially for those employees earning less than $75,000 per year, who pay a larger percentage of their earnings to premiums in the current flat-rate structure. The plan also would fully cover recommended preventive services such as mammograms, childhood immunizations, colonoscopies and flu vaccinations.
While the University's path has yet to be determined, Kirch noted that because of various factors affecting health-care costs nationwide, the University, which is self-insured, has had to pay more to cover health-care costs than salary raises. But he said Penn State's geography, market position and organizational culture position it uniquely to explore new ways of dealing with health-care costs, including development of partnerships within the health-care industry.