A meeting of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees convened at 8:57 a.m. on Friday, February 7, 2020, 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; Noah Scott; and Professor Cheryl Cooky (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; Chris Ruhl, treasurer and chief financial officer; Jim Almond, senior vice president, assistant treasurer, and assistant secretary; Steve Schultz, general counsel; Trent Klingerman, deputy general counsel; Janice Indrutz, corporate secretary and senior executive assistant to the Board; and Tom Keon, chancellor of Purdue University Northwest.

I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously to approve the minutes of its meeting held on December 6, 2019.

II. APPROVAL OF POSTHUMOUS DEGREE FOR TREVER L. COL

Trustee Brouillette stated that the Purdue family was mourning the loss of Trever Col, a mechanical engineering student in the Honors College, who tragically lost his life in November 2019 while cave rappelling in Alabama, and she acknowledged Trever’s many friends who were in attendance. Provost Akridge then respectfully recommended approval to award Trever a posthumous Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. He informed the Committee that Trever had completed 87% of his degree and would have been a candidate for graduation in May 2020; Dean Mung Chiang indicated in a supporting document that Trever had only three classes left to take to fulfill the degree requirements. Provost Akridge said Trever’s family and friends had related that Trever sought adventure, and he read a statement from Trever’s sister, who said her brother would always take the path less traveled. Trustee Scott then read the following statement:

“Though I did not have the pleasure of meeting Trever myself, a few who did were willing to share their stories with me, and I would like to say a few words on their behalf. Trever had a kind heart, the kind of heart who was always happy to meet others and make new friends, and it is clearly evident today that oh so many friends did he have. He met many of them at what is called “The Wall” in the Co-rec. Through this climbing wall, Trever grew his love for climbing and the outdoors. It did not take long after his first visit to the “The Wall” for Trever to be considered a regular among his friends and others who visited. Never one to shy away from a challenge, Trever constantly pushed himself to new heights. Whether through his academics or adventure with the Purdue Outing Club, he never rested long on his past success. One of his roommates, John Jandacek, said the quote Trever held in his Instagram biography sums up his spirit best. It reads, “Never let complacency catch you.” Though we never met, there is no doubt in my mind that Trever sounds like a Boilermaker to me. And, after this vote today, he will forever be.”

Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously to recommend full Board approval to award the posthumous degree. Supporting materials were filed with the minutes.

Trustee Brouillette tearfully addressed Trever’s friends and said, “Your loss, the family’s loss, is our loss, and he will forever be a member of the Purdue family.”

III. APPROVAL OF APPOINTMENT TO THE INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ANIMAL HEALTH

Provost Akridge respectfully recommended approval to reappoint Dr. Sandra F. San Miguel to the Indiana Board of Animal Health, the state law for which required the Board to include a member from the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine. He informed the Committee that Dr. San Miguel, a professor of veterinary clinical sciences and associate dean for engagement, was well qualified to continue serving on the Board, and he shared that Dr. San Miguel had received the prestigious Jefferson Award for Community Service in recognition of her afterschool program for elementary and middle-school students.

Trustee DeKryger pointed out that Dr. San Miguel’s specialty was swine and, because the Board of Animal Health was important to business owners like himself, he said he fully supported her reappointment. Upon proper motion duly seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously to recommend full Board approval of Dr. San Miguel’s reappointment to the Indiana Board of Animal Health. Supporting materials were filed with the minutes.

IV. APPROVAL TO NAME THE ELMORE ECE EMERGING FRONTIER CENTER(S)

Provost Akridge respectfully requested approval to name two research centers in the College of Engineering for Mr. William B. Elmore, an alumnus of the College whose generous gifts would allow the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) to establish the centers. He informed the Committee that the centers would help encourage, enable, and sustain collaboration among ECE faculty and others across campus in emerging research areas, which would help the School advance the frontiers of knowledge and support ECE’s global reputation. Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously to recommend full Board approval to name the Elmore ECE Emerging Frontier Center(s). Supporting materials were filed with the minutes.

V. REPORT OF THE UNIVERSITY SENATE

Professor Cheryl Cooky, chair of the University Senate, began her report with an update on the Civics Literacy initiative. She informed the Committee that the working group’s final report was under review by the Education Policy Committee, and she discussed the working group’s recommendation to establish a graduation requirement for civics literacy and the opportunities and challenges it would create. Trustee DeKryger asked President Daniels if the working group’s recommendation aligned with his vision for Purdue students’ civics literacy, to which President Daniels responded, “Absolutely.” President Daniels expressed his appreciation for Professor Cooky’s leadership of the initiative and the working group’s efforts. Chairman Berghoff observed that the working group had suggested ways in which to make the requirement meaningful for students, and the Committee discussed potential logistics for implementing the requirement.

Professor Cooky then reviewed the context of remarks she had made at the last meeting of the University Senate, and she expressed her desire for the University Senate to continue building its relationship with the administration. She shared that, because data from the last COACHE survey had given others and her pause, during the spring semester she would focus her leadership on what the University Senate could do better to improve faculty satisfaction and shared governance, to which she asked the Committee and other members of the Board to lend their expertise. Professor Cooky concluded her report by reviewing the University Senate’s areas of focus for the spring semester.

Trustee Brouillette remarked that Professor Cooky had done a fabulous job with regard to communication and shared governance, and she acknowledged Professor Cooky’s solicitation of the Board’s expertise. Trustee Brouillette also echoed President Daniels’ appreciation of Professor Cooky’s leadership of the civics literacy initiative, and Trustee DeKryger commented that the Board understood the challenges of engaging employees.

VI. ADJOURNMENT

By consent, the meeting adjourned at 9:28 a.m.