A meeting of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees convened at 8:43 a.m. on Friday, August 5, 2022, at Purdue University Fort Wayne. The meeting was held in the International Ballroom within the Walb Student Union.

All committee members were present: JoAnn Brouillette, chair; Vanessa Castagna; Mark Gee; Shawn Taylor and Professor Colleen Brady (ex-officio). Other trustees were present: Sonny Beck; Michael Berghoff; Theresa Carter; Malcolm DeKryger; Michael Klipsch; and Gary Lehman.

Officers and administrators in attendance were: Mitch Daniels, president; Jay Akridge, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs and diversity; Chris Ruhl, chief financial officer and treasurer; Eva Nodine, vice president and assistant treasurer; Steve Schultz, general counsel; Cindy Ream, corporate secretary and senior executive assistant to the Board; Ron Elsenbaumer, chancellor of Purdue University Fort Wayne; and Tom Keon, chancellor, Purdue University Northwest.

I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: JUNE 10, 2022

Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously to approve the minutes of its last meeting convened on June 10, 2022.

II. APPROVAL TO AWARD POSTHUMOUS DEGREE TO TIMOTHY W. ST. JOHN

Provost Akridge respectfully requested approval to award a posthumous Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University to Timothy W. St. John who was a student in the College of Engineering, West Lafayette. He informed the committee that Tim was a resident of Northbrook, Illinois. He was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity and a passionate triathlete competing for the Purdue Triathlon Club. Tim was working in an Engineering Co-Op position with Collins Aerospace in Jamestown, North Dakota, when he was tragically killed while cycling.

Provost Akridge shared what Alpha Tau Omega members wrote about their fraternity brother: “Tim embodied not only what it meant to be a member of our brotherhood, but a faithful, passionate and charismatic man. His uncanny ability to care for others made him a light to those around him, and he never failed to make the days of others better.”

He reminded the committee that the awarding of a posthumous degree by Purdue University requires that the deceased student has completed:

• At least 85% of the credit hours requirements.
• Most of the requirements for the major.

Provost Akridge confirmed that Tim was at 88% completion of his Bachelor of Science Mechanical Engineering degree, with the majority of his core program completed. He would have been a candidate on the roster to graduate in May 2023.

Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously to recommend full Board approval to award a posthumous degree in Mechanical Engineering to Timothy W. St. John. Trustee Brouillette commented that she hoped it provided some small degree of comfort to the family during this difficult time.

III. APPROVAL OF NAMED PROFESSOR, HARRIS CHAIR OF WIRELESS COMMUNICATION AND
           

APPLIED RESEARCH

Trustee Brouillette welcomed Dr. Zhuming Bi and his wife RongRong Wu. She commented on his varied accomplishments and expressed the honor to consider the appointment today.

On behalf of Purdue Fort Wayne Chancellor Ron Elsenbaumer, Provost Akridge respectfully requested approval to appoint Dr. Zhuming Bi as the Harris Chair of Wireless Communication and Applied Research. He informed the Committee that Dr. Bi has made significant contributions to the theories, enabling technologies, and applications of digital manufacturing systems – and has established himself as a world-class researcher in digital manufacturing, with an emphasis in the fields of mechatronics, robotics, and manufacturing automation. Provost Akridge cited one of the letters received in support of his appointment. He noted that Dr. Bi has made a unique contribution to Purdue Fort Wayne and the manufacturing sector through more than a dozen state-funded collaborative research projects with companies in northern Indiana. Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously to recommend full Board approval of Dr. Zhuming Bi’s appointment as Harris Chair of Wireless Communication and Applied Research. Supporting materials were filed with the minutes.

Dr. Bi expressed his gratitude for the available opportunity and stated that he was honored to accept.

IV. APPROVAL TO APPOINT THE JAMES J. SOLBERG HEAD OF INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING

Trustee Brouillette greeted Dr. Son noting he recently joined Purdue University coming from the University of Arizona.

Provost Akridge respectfully requested approval to appoint Dr. Young-Jun Son as the James J. Solberg Head of Industrial Engineering. He informed the Committee that Dr. Son is internationally known as a leading scholar in the industrial engineering research community and has made fundamental research and practice contributions in the areas of simulation, shop floor control, supply chain analysis and planning, and human-decision modeling. Provost Akridge shared Dr. Son’s success in securing funding from a wide variety of notable governmental and industrial funding sources and quoted an excerpt from one of the support letters submitted. Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously to recommend full Board approval of Dr. Son’s appointment as the James J. Solberg Head of Industrial Engineering. Supporting materials were filed with the minutes.

Dr. Son thanked the board for approving the appointment. He shared that he is truly honored and thanked the Industrial Engineering faculty, students and staff members at Purdue University, West Lafayette.

V. APPROVAL TO NAME THE HELEN BASS WILLIAMS ACADEMIC SUCCESS CENTER

Trustee Brouillette stated that the Committee had received a recommendation to name the Academic Success Center for Helen Bass Williams. She noted that Helen Bass Williams helped to start the Center but also helped create what is now known as the African American Studies Program and The Black Cultural Center.

Provost Akridge shared that Professor Williams was Purdue’s first African American faculty member, joining Purdue in 1968 as an assistant professor in French. He highlighted the extraordinary efforts of Professor Williams. These included personally recruiting Black students to Purdue, writing programs and grant proposals and encouraging the hiring of Black faculty. He noted that Purdue’s Academic Success Center is approaching it’s 50th anniversary and shared that the time is fitting and proper to acknowledge Professor Williams’ life and work. Provost Akridge respectfully requested that the Board approve the naming of the Helen Bass Williams Academic Success Center. Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously to recommend full Board approval to name the Helen Bass Williams Academic Success Center. Supporting materials were filed with the minutes.

VI. APPROVAL OF NAMING SCHWEIKLE AERO/ASTRO RESEARCH LAB AT THE HYPERSONICS AND
      APPLIED RESEARCH FACILITY

Trustee Brouillette noted that the opportunity for this next naming is due to the generosity of Dave Schweikle. Provost Akridge respectfully requested that the Board approve the naming of the Schweikle Aero/Astro Research Labs at the Hypersonics and Applied Research Facility. He shared details about the space and that the research would be led by Professor Michael Sangid. He remarked that Purdue has one of the most comprehensive hypersonics research capabilities in the country and that Purdue was awarded an Air Force contract in 2020 to develop the first Mach 8 quiet wind tunnel in the world. He noted that Purdue is establishing itself as a nationally-recognized hypersonics hub benefiting Indiana and the country in research and development. Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously to recommend full Board approval to name the Schweikle Aero/Astro Research Lab at the Hypersonics and Applied Research Facility. Supporting materials were filed with the minutes.

VII. CLARIFICATION OF PROVOST’S DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY

Trustee Brouillette drew attention to the memo provided to the Committee by Steve Schultz, general counsel, which described the need to clarify the role of the Undergraduate Educational Affairs Council (UEAC) as an advisory body for academic procedures and practices related to undergraduate education at Purdue-West Lafayette, as well as the Provost’s authority to organize and adopt protocols for UEAC operations and activities. Trustee Brouillette noted that these matters were captured in a Resolution accompanying the memo, which also served to address the Provost’s authority for designating academic sub-units. At Trustee Brouillette’s request, Mr. Schultz further explained the background and purpose of the Resolution, and Provost Akridge provided more details on the composition and functions of the UEAC. Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Committee voted unanimously to adopt the Resolution. A copy of the memo and the Resolution was filed with the minutes.

VIII. UNIVERSITY SENATE REPORT

Professor Colleen Brady, chair of the University Senate, shared that the University Senate does not meet in the Summer. She noted that she will be meeting with Committee chairs on August 18th to coordinate goals and priorities for the year. The Senate’s first meeting of the Fall will be September 12th. A copy of Professor Brady’s slides were filed with the minutes.

IX. ADJOURNMENT

By consent, the meeting adjourned at 9:00 a.m.