A meeting of the Academic Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees convened at 8:40 a.m. on Friday, February 9, 2018, in Room 326 of Stewart Center on the campus of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.

All committee members were present: JoAnn Brouillette, chair; Vanessa Castagna; Malcolm DeKryger; Daniel Romary; and Professor Alberto Rodriguez (ex-officio). All other trustees were present: Sonny Beck; Michael Berghoff; Michael Klipsch; Gary Lehman; Thomas Spurgeon; and Don Thompson.

Officers and administrators in attendance were: Mitch Daniels, president; Jay Akridge, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs and diversity; Bill Sullivan, treasurer and chief financial officer; Jim Almond, senior vice president and assistant treasurer; Steve Schultz, legal counsel; Trent Klingerman, assistant legal counsel and chief privacy officer; Janice Indrutz, corporate secretary and executive assistant to the Board; Ronald Elsenbaumer, chancellor of Purdue University Fort Wayne (PFW); and Tom Keon, chancellor of Purdue University Northwest (PNW).

I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic Affairs Committee voted unanimously to approve minutes of its last meeting on December 8, 2017.  

II. APPROVAL TO AWARD POSTHUMOUS DEGREE

Provost Akridge respectfully requested the Committee’s approval to award a posthumous Associate of Science degree to Ethan P. Brown, who had been a student in the Polytechnic Institute’s School of Engineering Technology.  Provost Akridge informed the Committee that Ethan had completed 100% of the degree requirements; he had also completed 76% of his Bachelor of Science degree requirements. Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic Affairs Committee voted unanimously to recommend full Board approval to award the posthumous degree.  Supporting documents were filed with the minutes.  

III. APPROVAL TO APPOINT THE STEPHEN AND KAREN BRAND CHAIR

Provost Akridge respectfully requested approval to appoint Dr. Douglas R. Schmitt as the first Stephen and Karen Brand Chair. He informed the Committee that the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences in the College of Science had recruited Dr. Schmitt from the University of Alberta (Canada). He said Dr. Schmitt was an internationally known scientist and educator whose research focused on understanding the physical properties of earth materials and who was recognized globally as an expert in seismic monitoring, geophysical logging, rock physics, and stress measurements in major drilling projects; furthermore, Dr. Schmitt was known for his excellent teaching and mentoring of both graduate and undergraduate students. Provost Akridge cited one of seven letters in support of Dr. Schmitt’s appointment.  Trustee Brouillette noted that a common thread in the letters of support was Dr. Schmitt’s outstanding scientific accomplishments. Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic Affairs Committee voted unanimously to recommend full Board approval of Dr. Schmitt’s appointment. Supporting documents and a photo were filed with the minutes.

IV. APPROVAL TO NAME THE JAMES G. DWYER PROFESSOR OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Provost Akridge respectfully requested approval to change Dr. Qingyan Chen’s designation as Reilly Professor of Mechanical Engineering to the James G. Dwyer Professor of Mechanical Engineering. He explained that Dr. Chen’s appointment as Reilly Professor of Mechanical Engineering had been initiated in bridge status with funding initially provided by the College of Engineering and with the agreement that the School of Mechanical Engineering would identify funding sources to support the position. Provost Akridge said that the endowment for the James G. Dwyer Professorship had recently become available, Dean Mung Chiang approved using this endowment to support Dr. Chen’s named professorship, and Dr. Chen had agreed to the change. Provost Akridge informed the Committee that Dr. Chen had been with the School of Mechanical Engineering since 2002, and he noted Dr. Chen’s research accomplishments. Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic Affairs Committee voted unanimously to recommend full Board approval to appoint Dr. Chen as the James G. Dwyer Professor of Mechanical Engineering. Dr. Chen was not in attendance because he had traveled to Australia to deliver a keynote speech. Supporting documents were filed with the minutes.

V. APPROVAL TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THE DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION

Provost Akridge respectfully requested approval to change the name of the Department of Youth Development and Agricultural Education in the College of Agriculture to the Department of Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication.  He explained that the department had undergone a research and vetting process to arrive at a name which more accurately reflected and described its programs and vision, especially after the 4-H youth development program had been moved from the department, where it had been since the department was created in 2003, and placed under the direct administrative control of Purdue Extension. Provost Akridge informed the Committee that the proposed name had been approved by the University Senate’s Academic Organization Committee, the Colleges of Education and Liberal Arts, the College of Agriculture, and the department itself.  

At Trustee Castagna’s request, Dr. Mark Russell, head of the Department of Youth Development and Agricultural Education, provided more information about the department, including that it was the home of the accredited preparation program for high school agriculture teachers in Indiana. Trustee Romary expressed his belief that the proposed name was much more reflective of what was happening in the department, and Trustee DeKryger remarked that he was very in favor of the name change and shared his positive observations about the department’s programs and how they prepared teachers to help young people get involved in a changing agriculture.  

Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic Affairs Committee voted unanimously to recommend full Board approval to change the name of the Department of Youth Development and Agricultural Education the Department of Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication.  Supporting documents were filed with the minutes. 

VI. ADJOURNMENT

By consent, the meeting adjourned at 8:52 a.m.