Recap of University Senate’s Feb. 15 meeting

Here is a recap of the University Senate’s meeting on Feb. 15. Minutes from the meeting will be posted on the Senate website closer to the next Senate meeting on March 22.

Chair remarks. In her remarks, Deborah Nichols, chair of the University Senate, spoke of differences between women and men in academia in wages, research funding, research citations and other matters of compensation and recognition. She noted research-confirmed differences in perceptions of the ability and productivity of women with or without children. Also, she pointed to findings about how the pandemic has affected both men’s and women’s home duties, time for research and general well-being.

President's remarks. In the absence of President Mitch Daniels, Provost Jay Akridge responded to senators’ presubmitted questions on several subjects. On child care centers, Akridge noted the decision to keep open indefinitely the Patty Jischke Early Care and Education Center and the University’s commitment to increase child care capacity over time, adding that this will require a chance to assess circumstances and need after the pandemic. On anti-racism efforts beyond the current Purdue Equity Task Force, Akridge spoke of expansion of both the Emerging Leader Scholars program and the Purdue Polytechnic High School, as well as of a faculty advisory committee focusing on faculty issues of recognition and recruiting. On COVID-19, he answered a question about why the Protect Purdue COVID Dashboard uses a seven-day positivity rate as opposed to other possible metrics.

Memorial resolutions. Memorial resolutions for Robert E. Montgomery (School of Engineering Education) and Robert E. Zink (Department of Mathematics) were presented. Moments of silence were observed.

University Senate vice chairperson nominations. For the position of vice chairperson for the 2021-22 academic year, the Nominating Committee proposed the following nominees: Colleen Brady, Department of Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication; Erik Otárola-Castillo, Department of Anthropology; David A. Sanders, Department of Biological Sciences. Nominee profiles are available in Senate Document 20-33. Nominee presentations and a vote are to be at the March meeting. Self-nominations are permitted up until the election.

Revisions and updates to the University Senate bylaws. Alexander Francis, chair of the Faculty Affairs Committee, proposed for adoption a revised version of the Senate bylaws. The proposed revisions address a variety of obsolete, redundant and confusing inconsistencies noted in a review initiated by the 2018-19 Senate. Details of the revision process as well as a full list of proposed changes are available in Senate Document 20-35. Discussion was considerable. Francis said he would like to complete this process with a vote in the March or April meeting. If not possible, he would likely withdraw the resolution pending the fall.

Expanding advisor representation on the Educational Policy Committee. Erik Otárola-Castillo, chair of the Educational Policy Committee, presented for discussion a change to Senate Bylaw 5.60 defining the composition of the Educational Policy Committee. The change would increase the number of advisors on the Educational Policy Committee from three to four, appointing the executive director of undergraduate academic advising to the committee with full voting rights. Rationale for the proposed change is available in Senate Document 20-34. A number of factors about how this fits with the approach of the bylaws to advisors were discussed.

Purdue-affiliated and on-campus child care principles. Alexander Francis, chair of the Faculty Affairs Committee, and Audrey Ruple, chair of the Equity and Diversity Committee co-presented for discussion a list of principles for guiding decisions regarding on-campus and Purdue-affiliated child care services. Including issues of cost, quality and availability, the principles ask that adequate child care be made accessible to the full range of positions and salaries held by Purdue employees. The full rationale and proposal are available in Senate Document 20-37. Numerous speakers affirmed the importance of affordable child care for well-being and recruitment of faculty, staff and graduate students.

Campus mental health resources. Beth McCuskey, vice provost for student life, and Katie Sermersheim, dean of students, presented an overview of mental health resources available on campus. Slides from the presentation are available for view.