Recap of University Senate's Oct. 15 meeting

Purdue’s University Senate voted against a proposal to add a winter session to the University’s academic calendar, citing concerns about overburdening both students and faculty, at the Senate’s meeting on Monday (Oct. 15).

Senator Michael T. Harris presented the Educational Policy Committee proposal, which described an online pilot program that would allow students to complete a maximum of a three-credit hour course over three weeks during winter break. The pilot was proposed to last three years with 10 courses being offered the first year.

Harris, the Robert B. and Virginia V. Covalt Professor of Chemical Engineering, explained the nature of the pilot and addressed both reasons for support and concern. University senators voiced concerns over students being required to fit in a three-credit hour course in a three-week window as well as overworking staff and faculty. The Senate voted 32-26 against the proposal.

Also at the meeting:

* Senators Stephen Beaudoin and Deborah Nichols, co-chairs of the Purdue Global Select Committee, gave a brief update, mentioning that the committee hasn’t met since the Senate's September meeting. The committee will meet on Friday (Oct. 19) and plans to cover the following topics:

-- Nondisclosure agreement update.
-- Purdue Global faculty notification policy regarding media contacts.
-- Comparison of lists of activities across different Purdue campuses that would and would not be considered proprietary.
-- Channel conflicts.
-- Higher Learning Commission.
-- Open records.
-- Brand blurring and marketing.
-- Transfer credit.
-- Arbitration update.

* Nichols presented a Faculty Affairs Committee proposal to change the Senate's bylaws in order to allow for Honors College representation on the Senate. The Honors College representative would serve as a designated advisor to the Senate who would have full speaking privileges and be eligible to serve on standing committees, but would not vote. The Senate will vote on the proposal at its Nov. 19 meeting.

*  Taylor Bailey, president of Purdue Graduate Student Government, presented a resolution from the Senate's Student Affairs Committee in support of a Graduate Student Bill of Rights and Responsibilities. Bailey said the bill of rights would be used as a tool to highlight the importance of not only academic work but overall well-being as part of the graduate experience. PGSG began work on the document more than two years ago in response to the experiences of students from PGSG and outside of the organization. The Senate will vote on the resolution at the Nov. 19 meeting.

Bailey also presented an overall update for Purdue Graduate Student Government and highlighted some of the group's upcoming events.

* Senator David Sanders, associate professor of biological sciences, presented a resolution from the Senate's Student Affairs Committee supporting the addition of a clause in the student absence policy that specifically describes jury duty and witness duty as excused absences. The Senate will vote on the resolution at the Nov. 19 meeting.

* Under new business, Sanders presented a resolution encouraging faculty to delay working with Purdue Global until issues have been resolved regarding student forced arbitration and Purdue Global's notification policy on media contacts. Several members of the Senate said they did not think a separate resolution was needed due to the Purdue Global Select Committee's current work on the topics. The Senate will vote on the resolution at the Nov. 19 meeting.

* Purdue University police chief John Cox gave a brief update about the usage of non-motorized vehicles on campus, such as bikes and scooters, and addressed concerns from the Senate about their usage.

Cox said parking regulations have been updated to require that scooters be treated the same way bicycles are treated on campus, and individuals should ride scooters in bike baths or on multi-use paths. He said the recent introduction of scooters on campus has been a learning process for the campus community, and education and rule enforcement continue to be a priority for everyone involved.

* Manabu Taketani, program administrator of the Asian American and Asian Resource and Cultural Center, gave an update about the center and highlighted some upcoming events for the year. Takentani told the Senate that the center’s mission is to “weave the Asian American and Asian experience into the fabric of Purdue University’s campus life,” and that is achieved through providing campus programming, offering educational resources, and maintaining a “home away from home” for students.

Materials from the Senate's meeting are available online.

Writer: Abbey Nickel, 765-496-1325, nickela@purdue.edu