A stated meeting of the Purdue University Board of Trustees convened on Friday, April 5, 2024, at 9:34 a.m. in the Student Union and Library, Alumni Hall, Purdue University Northwest, Hammond, Indiana.
Trustees present: Michael Berghoff, chairman; Sonny Beck; Kevin Boes; JoAnn Brouillette; Theresa Carter; Vanessa Castagna; Malcolm DeKryger; Michael Klipsch; Gary Lehman, vice chairman; and Shawn Taylor.
Officers and administrators in attendance were: Mung Chiang, president; Patrick Wolfe, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs and diversity; Chris Ruhl, chief financial officer and treasurer; Eva Nodine, senior vice president, assistant treasurer, and assistant secretary; Steve Schultz, senior vice president and general counsel; Cindy Ream, corporate secretary and senior executive assistant to the Board; and Chris Holford, chancellor, Purdue University Northwest.
I. ROLL CALL
Chairman Berghoff called the meeting to order and noted all trustees were in attendance.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve the minutes for Executive Session convened on February 1, 2024; Stated Meeting December 8, 2023 and February 2, 2024; and Executive Committee January 19, 2024.
III. UNANIMOUS CONSENT AGENDA
The Academic and Student Affairs Committee and the Audit and Enterprise Risk Committee both convened a public meeting immediately prior to this Stated Meeting. Chairman Berghoff read the list of items on which the Committee voted to recommend full Board approval, which includes the unanimous consent agenda along with other routine items, as follows:
- (WL) Approval to Award Posthumous Degree to Ha Kyun (Jason) Ju
- (WL) Ratification of the Michael and Katherine Birck Head of Electrical and Computer Engineering
- (WL) Approval to Rename and Redesignate the Graduate School to the Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars
- (WL/Online) Approval of New Degree, MS in Data Science
- (WL) Approval of Merger of the Division of Construction Engineering and Management and the Lyles School of Civil Engineering to the Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering
- (SW) Approval of Resolution Delegating Certain Authority and Responsibilities
- (SW) Approval of Faculty Promotions
- (WL)Tenure and Promotion Recognition for Purdue in Indianapolis Faculty
- (SW) Approval of Internal Audit 2023 Annual Report (including the Audit Charter Approval)
- (SW) Approval of Conflict-of-Interest Disclosures
- (SW) Approval of Exceptions to Nepotism Policy
Chairman Berghoff asked if any of the Board members wished to have an item removed from the consent agenda for further discussion. Hearing no such request, and upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve the unanimous consent agenda. Supporting materials were filed with the minutes.
IV. FACULTY AWARDS RECOGNITION
President Chiang recognized individually those who received major national and international awards of $1M and above from January 2024 to April 2024. Supporting materials were filed with the minutes.
V. FACULTY AWARDEE PRESENTATION
Dr. Chenn Zhou, NIPSCO Distinguished Professor of Engineering Simulation; Founding Director, Center for Innovation through Visualization and Simulation (CIVS); Founding Director, Steel Manufacturing Simulation and Visualization Consortium (SMSVC), shared a presentation on Smart & Green Steel Manufacturing. Dr. Zhou shared about exciting research and highlighted new technologies. She noted that steel is Indiana’s backbone and Indiana is #1 in steel production which is 25% of the nation’s production. She shared that the steel industry contributes $12B to Indiana’s economy and there are 28,000 steel workers in Indiana. A copy of Dr. Zhou’s presentation was filed with the minutes.
VI. PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Approval of Resolution of Appreciation for Friends of Purdue University
President Chiang profiled the gifts of $1,000,000.00 or more which the university had received since the Board’s stated Meeting on February 2, 2024. The donors of these gifts were recognized in the following Resolution of Appreciation:
WHEREAS, the following friends of Purdue University have generously contributed $1,000,000 or more to move Purdue to greater excellence and preeminence; and
WHEREAS, the University wishes to acknowledge the significance of these gifts to new directions, advancements, and momentum in Purdue’s history, progress, and future;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED BY THE TRUSTEES OF PURDUE UNIVERSITY:
1. That the University and the Trustees are grateful to these individuals for their leadership and support of Purdue University; and
2. That this resolution be spread upon the minutes of the Board of Trustees as part of the permanent record of the University.
FRIENDS: Theresa and George Adams, to support the Lyles School of Civil Engineering; David and Margaret Crow, to support the Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business; Edward Dorsey Jr. (posthumously), to support the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics; Gaylor Electric, to support Intercollegiate Athletics; John and Lisbeth Kling, to support Purdue University; Shaun and Traci O’Conner, to support the Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business; Overbeck Family Foundation, to support the College of Agriculture; and Robert and Karen Thompson, to support the College of Agriculture.
President Chiang submitted the Resolution of Appreciation for the Board’s approval.
Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve the resolution. Supporting materials and a formal copy of the resolution were filed with the minutes.
Purdue Computes Annual Report
President Chiang provided the annual report for Purdue Computes. He shared that Purdue Computes is one of the Strategic Initiatives. President Chiang outlined the four interacting pillars: Computing Departments, Physical Artificial Intelligence, Semiconductors and Quantum. He concluded the report by providing additional detail along with plans and goals for each pillar. A copy of the presentation was filed with the minutes.
Merit Increase 2024-25 (BoT endorsement)
President Chiang concluded his report with the proposal for consideration by the Board for endorsement of the proposed Merit Increase for 2024-25 for the West Lafayette campus. The proposal consists of 3% recurring salary increase and 0.5% special pool, non-recurring, for recognitions and rewards of effort, results, and retention.
Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to endorse the 2024-25 proposed Merit Increase.
VII. FACILITY NAMING
Provost Wolfe requested approval to name the Overbeck Controlled Environment Agriculture Facility at Purdue University. He stated the gift would enable the College of Agriculture to access additional funds for improving the work environment around the two Freight Farms Containers, procuring necessary operational equipment, and significantly expand the overall effectiveness of the facility.
Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve the naming of the Overbeck Controlled Environment Agriculture Facility at Purdue University.
VIII. UNIVERSITY STAFF
Chairman Berghoff noted the final action item for the day was to approve an Exception from Retirement Policy for Stephen Turner, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration at Purdue Northwest. This action would assist in providing new Chancellor Holford with a solid team. Chancellor Holford shared that Vice Chancellor Turner has served Purdue Northwest for about 25 years and noted the value of his service. He requested an extension of two years for Mr. Turner.
Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve the exception from retirement policy for Stephen Turner, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration at Purdue University Northwest.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
Chairman Berghoff concluded the meeting by thanking Chancellor Holford and his team for hosting the meeting and making everyone feel so welcome. By consent, the meeting adjourned at 10:36 a.m.