Faculty Senate Minutes, August 22, 2025

September 15, 2025

10:00 AM-12:00 PM: Hammond – SULB 321

Voting Members Present:
Ali Alavizadeh, Khair Al Shamaileh, Lee Artz, Gokarna Aryal, Geoffrey Barrow, Shreya Bhandari, José Castro-Urioste, Frank Colucci, Jim Dolen, John Durocher, Masoud Fathizadeh, Rob Hallock, Wei He, Maria Hughes, Shontrai Irving, Jessica Ivy, Patrick Keegan, Hansung Kim, Tae-Hoon Kim, Kenny Kincaid, Dave Kozel, Roger Kraft, Robert Kramer, Yun Liu, Patti Ludwig-Beymer, Claudia Mich, Hassan Naji, Laurie Parpart, Sheila Rezak, Pam Saylor, Diane Spoljoric, George Stefanik, Pitparnee Stompor, Nicolae Tarfulea, Kathy Tobin, Melanie Walski, Sarah White, Donna Whitten, Cheng Zhang, Hairong Zhao

Voting Members Absent:
None

Non-Voting Members Present:
Tony Elmendorf, Alan McCafferty

Others Present:
Chris Holford, Marie Mora, Mike Biel, Heather Bowers, Molly Bowler, Joy Colwell, Colin Fewer, Britt Hudson, Shelby Hunter, Mike Johnson, Lily Morgan, Robin Miller, David Nalbone, Catharine Olsen, Laura Pardonek, Michael Roller, Sara Sharp, Deanne Shimala, Becky Stankowski, Feng-Song Wang, Jen Williams, Debra Wysong

Determination of quorum.
- Quorum determined at 9:57 AM
Call to order.
- Meeting called to order at 10:00 AM
Approval of the agenda.
- Motion for approval by L. Artz
- Seconded by R. Hallock
- Approved by voice vote
Approval of the minutes from May 9, 2025
- Motion for approval by R. Hallock
- Seconded by J. Castro-Urioste
- Approved by voice vote
Remarks by the Senate Chair
- Attachment:
  1. Presentation slides
- Senate Chair Dave Kozel welcomed everyone, introducing himself, Senate Vice-Chair Jessica Ivy, Senate Secretary Alan McCafferty, and Parliamentarian Tony Elmendorf. The Chair emphasized the Senate’s role as the governing body of the faculty, responsible for exercising the legislative and policy-making powers assigned to it and subject to the authority of the Board of Trustees. He encouraged Senators to review the bylaws and constitution to understand the Senate’s authority and responsibilities, highlighting the importance of shared governance with the administration. Kozel outlined the structure and purpose of the Senate’s standing and Executive committees, urging members to understand their committee charges.
- He stressed the importance of listening to faculty needs and encouraged input to be sent to Senate leadership outside of meetings when possible.
- Kozel discussed ongoing and upcoming issues, including state mandates, changes in general education, implementation of the strategic plan, and the replacement of the Interfolio system for annual reviews. He called for a review of Senate subcommittees and ad hoc committees to ensure they remain relevant and effective.
- Kozel also highlighted the Senate’s responsibility to maintain and improve the welfare of the campus community and the need to follow proper procedures for bringing and voting on issues. He concluded by encouraging thoughtful and deliberate action, as well as collaboration, to address challenges and improve the university.
Remarks by the Chancellor
- Chancellor Holford began by thanking the Senate and welcoming everyone back to campus. He expressed sincere appreciation for the faculty’s efforts in navigating legislative changes beyond the university’s control, and encouraged the community to reflect on the institution’s core mission during these dynamic times.
- Holford highlighted several faculty achievements, including the continued recognition of Fulbright scholars, a campus record in external awards with a 10.2% increase, and the issuance of multiple patents to faculty members. He emphasized that these accomplishments are advancing the university’s mission.
- On enrollment, Holford reported that despite the anticipated demographic decline, first-time-in-college (FTIC) enrollment reached 1,281, and total new admits (including FTIC and transfers) rose to 1,822—a 6.5% increase. He reiterated that retention remains the top institutional goal, with the current rate at 71.6%, a 5.6% increase from the previous year and the highest in campus history. However, he noted a significant decline in graduate student enrollment, now at 595 (a 17% decrease), primarily due to the departure of international students. Total enrollment stands at 6,136, which is well ahead of forecasts.
- Holford described significant campus investments, including new dormitories ahead of schedule, the ribbon cutting for the Abshire Microbiology Lab (one of the finest labs on the Westville campus), and the opening of the Sori Computer Lab in the Powers Building, which is now one of the most heavily scheduled labs on campus. He also previewed the upcoming renovation and opening of the Roberts Impact Lab, which will focus on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and quantum technologies.
- Addressing the recent Westville campus closure, Holford explained that storms had caused a tree to fall on the main power line, but repairs were underway and power was expected to be restored soon.
- The Chancellor outlined key institutional initiatives: maintaining campus-wide student success as the top priority, focusing on retention and graduation rates, adapting to changes in Pell eligibility, and expanding workforce certification programs to meet student demand. He noted that philanthropic funding has supported several College of Technology programs leading to certifications or licensure. Holford also emphasized the importance of increasing corporate partnerships, given that 90% of sponsored research is applied in nature, and highlighted the upcoming grand opening and programming of the Roberts Impact Lab.
- Finally, Holford mentioned ongoing discussions with Senate leadership about the organization and alignment of academic units, considering recent legislative changes and the need for meaningful conversations about the campus structure.
- In response to a question from L. Artz regarding door postings, Chancellor Holford explained that while there is a longstanding policy against adhesives on wooden doors, he was not aware of the recent enforcement and would work to find appropriate alternatives for faculty to post materials outside their offices.
Remarks by the Provost/VCAA
- Provost Mora began by thanking the Senate for their commitment to shared governance and emphasized that faculty efforts are essential to keeping the institution moving forward, with students at the center of its mission. She expressed gratitude to D. Spoljoric for her service as Chair last year, to D. Kozel for his leadership this year, and to J. Ivy for her ongoing contributions. She encouraged Senators to attend the Year Ahead presentation this afternoon in Alumni Hall.
- Mora highlighted the institution’s focus on student success, announcing the upcoming launch of a new Student Success Hub and network designed to provide comprehensive, student-centered support across academic and campus services. The hub, housed in Academic Affairs and advising, will be led by newly promoted Assistant Director of Student Coaching and Mentoring, Catrina Terrell, and supported by Associate Vice Chancellor Raida Abuizam, two new graduate assistants, and a team of peer mentors.
- She discussed the transition from strategic planning to implementation, noting the addition of new members to the Strategic Implementation Action Committee, including Senate representatives J. Durocher and P. Ludwig-Beymer. Mora encouraged Senate involvement in several initiatives, such as the 10th Anniversary Committee, the College of Business dean search, and the mediation committee. She also introduced new deans: José Sanchez (College of Engineering Sciences), Richard Sévère (College of Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences), and noted Kwangsoo Park as interim dean for the College of Business. She again encouraged Senators to speak with her or D. Kozel about serving on the search committee for Dean of the College of Business, emphasizing that the Senate representative does not need to be from COB. Additionally, she and Kozel are seeking volunteers to serve on a mediation committee for faculty grievances.
- Addressing legislative changes, Mora discussed HEA 1001-2025, including new requirements for post-tenure review. She explained that a draft document has been created to clarify expectations and criteria, embedding the process into the Faculty Activity Report and keeping it straightforward. She also addressed the new mandate for public posting of syllabi, noting that the Purdue system is seeking a unified vendor, but a temporary process has been adopted for the current semester. A graduate student is available to assist faculty with preparing condensed syllabi for posting.
- Mora outlined ongoing budgetary challenges due to state funding uncertainties, including the potential for additional withholdings. She described efforts to minimize budget impacts by defining essential travel, particularly for untenured assistant professors and research-related activities, with a target of saving $350K-400K.
- She recognized several faculty achievements: M. Chandramouli was named a Fulbright specialist, J. Rogers was named an American Academy of Nursing Fellow, external research funding reached nearly $17 million, and there were 10 patent applications this year. Mora also celebrated a vibrant new faculty orientation, with 26 new full-time faculty (13 tenure-track, 13 non-tenure-track) joining in 2025. She announced an upcoming contest to design a logo for the institutional values acronym RISE (Respect, Innovation, Student-centric, Excellence), and noted recent recognition in Chicago with the 2025 Higher Ed Impact Award from MLS investors.
- During the Q&A, L. Artz raised concerns about prohibited language in syllabi. T. Elmendorf offered assistance, clarifying that he received his redacted syllabus from the graduate assistant approximately ten minutes after submitting, which he considered a quick turnaround. He also noted that the Qualtrics link in the original email was the method for uploading syllabi. Some Senators noted concerns about course titles containing potentially restricted terms, such as “social justice.” Provost Mora stated that language describing course types cannot be changed and should not be subject to scrutiny. She used as an example a biodiversity course that was erroneously flagged during the previous academic year.
SGA Report (Molly Bowler)
- Bowler thanked the Senate. She said SGA is currently holding its retreat, and so she must reluctantly excuse herself.
- She said she is excited to bring feedback to the next meeting.
Unfinished Business
- PNW Accessibility Center (PAC) presentation
  1. Attachment:
    1. Presentation slides
  2. Debra Wysong presented an overview of the PNW Accessibility Center (PAC), emphasizing its mission to create a welcoming environment and ensure access for students with documented disabilities. She noted that, according to national statistics, up to a quarter of college students have a disability, and PAC’s services have grown significantly—serving 9.15% of students, up from 1.5% in 2016. Importantly, PAC students at PNW are retained at rates equal to or better than their peers, without any lowering of academic standards. She added that concerns about accommodations lowering academic standards should be brought to the attention of the PAC. Meetings can be arranged with PAC access coordinators, and they will modify the accommodation if it does, in fact, meet the legal standards for lowering an academic standard.
  3. She discussed students who may benefit from accommodations but are reticent to discuss their needs or otherwise reluctant to seek assistance.
  4. Wysong stressed the importance of confidentiality: diagnoses are never shared with faculty, and medical documentation is handled solely by the PAC. She explained the legal process for accommodations, which requires students to submit documentation and participate in an interactive process to determine appropriate supports. Each student receives an individualized access plan, which faculty are legally responsible for implementing from the moment it is sent.
  5. Medical documentation for non-PAC students should be delivered by the student to the Dean of Students’ Office.
  6. Faculty were reminded to open all access plans in the AIM system, which can be accessed through the PAC webpage or through the AIM widget on the MyPNW app, as the current read rate is below the goal of 100%. Wysong encouraged faculty to normalize help-seeking behavior and to avoid making assumptions about students’ disabilities, as most are invisible. She also discussed the importance of universal design in reducing barriers for all students. She explained that accommodations are based on the impact of a disability on functioning, not just the diagnosis.
  7. Wysong addressed practical matters such as uploading exams for students with testing accommodations, filling out the required testing instruction form, and collaborating with PAC staff to ensure test integrity. She encouraged faculty to contact the PAC with any concerns about accommodations, rather than negotiating directly with students.
  8. She illustrated the process for receiving PAC services.
    1. Wysong explained that the PAC process for student accommodations begins when a student uploads medical documentation from a qualified provider to the PAC. The PAC does not diagnose but reviews the documentation and engages the student in an interactive process to discuss how their disability impacts their functioning. This conversation helps determine which accommodations are appropriate, as the impact can vary even among students with the same diagnosis.
    2. Once eligibility is established, the PAC creates an individualized access plan for the student, listing all approved accommodations. Students are not required to use all accommodations and can choose which to apply in each class. The access plan is sent to faculty through the AIM system, and from the moment it is sent, faculty are legally responsible for implementing the listed accommodations. The plan is not retroactive; it applies only from the date of notification forward.
    3. Faculty are expected to open and review all access plans, as they are responsible for compliance under federal law. If faculty have concerns about an accommodation, they should contact the PAC rather than negotiate directly with the student. The PAC also provides guidance on setting up accommodations in learning management systems and offers support for any questions or issues that arise. Accommodations can be set in Brightspace once for the entire semester for those respective students. For assistance, please contact PAC Technology Specialist Anthony Marszalek.
  9. Finally, Wysong highlighted the need for ongoing faculty engagement, the importance of timely communication, and the legal and ethical responsibilities involved in supporting students with disabilities. She invited questions and offered continued support from the PAC team.
  10. Kramer inquired about assignment extensions when students are given all homework assignments before the start of the semester, allowing them to work on homework at any time and from any location they prefer. Wysong said if they have an accommodation for extended time on assignments, the accommodation must be honored in this scenario. If the extension provided indicates a percentage, such as 150% or 200%, that extension applies only to tests or timed assignments.
  11. She said PAC is working on a new module that will allow faculty to communicate with them on matters such as this.
  12. Naji raised a concern about practical exams that require students to move between stations, such as in a lab setting. He noted that some students, after speaking with the PAC, believed they should take these practical exams at the Accessibility Center rather than in the lab, which is not always feasible due to the nature of the exam.
    1. Wysong responded by acknowledging the issue and clarifying that practical exams involving physical movement and specific equipment should be taken in the lab, not at the PAC. She explained that the PAC will work with faculty to ensure students understand this requirement and will include clear instructions in communications to students. Wysong also offered to collaborate with faculty on providing necessary accommodations, such as extended time, within the lab environment, and mentioned that a comprehensive email would be sent to students to address such scenarios.
  13. Hallock, on behalf of FAC, asked about read rates by college. It was confirmed that these numbers exist and could be shared with him as FAC Chair.
  14. Spoljoric commended the PAC for its work in making the process more efficient and for its ongoing commitment to students and faculty.
- Becky Stankowski updates on HEA 1001-2025
  1. Attachments:
    1. Presentation slides
    2. PNW Response to HB 1001 — information and context for advisors
    3. Becky Stankowski presented an overview of Indiana’s HEA 1001 legislation and its impact on Purdue Northwest. She explained that HEA 1001, passed in April and effective July 1, includes two major provisions affecting higher education: requirements for low-completion academic programs and a mandate for public posting of course syllabi.
    4. For low-completion programs, Stankowski outlined that bachelor’s programs must average at least 15 graduates over three years, master’s programs 7, and doctoral programs 3. Programs falling below these thresholds must be eliminated, suspended for teach-out, or merged with other programs. Stankowski detailed how Purdue Northwest reviewed its programs over the summer, resulting in the elimination of three inactive programs, the suspension and teach-out of several others, and the merger of some programs to meet the required thresholds. For certain programs that remain below the bar but are considered mission-critical, the university will petition the state to continue them, providing both quantitative and qualitative justifications. She noted that this review will be an annual process and that new programs have a ramp-up period before being evaluated.
    5. Regarding the syllabus posting mandate, Stankowski explained that all faculty are now required by law to post a syllabus for each course on the institution’s website. While the Purdue system is working toward a unified vendor solution for future semesters, a temporary process has been implemented for the current term. Faculty are instructed to use a condensed syllabus template and upload it via a provided Qualtrics link, with the information then made publicly accessible through a spreadsheet. She clarified that this public syllabus is separate from the detailed syllabus used with students and that the process is designed to meet legal requirements with minimal extra work. Stankowski addressed questions about compliance, lab sections, and accessibility, and encouraged faculty to reach out for support if needed.
  2. New Business:
    - Curriculum Documents Approval (Curriculog login)
      1. None for approval
    - INSPIRE Changes
      1. The Senate discussed recent changes to the INSPIRE database, which provides access to research databases across Indiana. Kozel explained that, due to federal and state funding cuts, the Indiana State Library was forced to renegotiate its contract with EBSCO, resulting in the loss of access to several databases for citizens, schools, and university libraries statewide as of July 1. Faculty were advised to review the list of affected resources, distributed via a spreadsheet, and to inform their departments so that colleagues are aware of which materials are no longer available.
      2. McCafferty noted that the library can assist with access issues.
      3. Artz praised the library staff for their responsiveness in obtaining articles and resources. Faculty were encouraged to reach out to the library for support if they encounter difficulties accessing materials previously available through INSPIRE.

For Action:
- FSD 25-01 Standing Committee Voting Members AY2025
  1. Motioned for approval by R. Hallock
  2. Seconded by R. Kramer
  3. Approved by voice vote
- 2025-2026 Faculty Senate meeting dates and locations
  1. Motioned for approval by R. Hallock
  2. Seconded by J. Durocher
  3. Approved by voice vote
- FSD 24-09 Honor Code and Honor Pledge
  1. Artz asked why critical inquiry was not included. It was clarified that the honor code is about cheating.
  2. Kramer said clarity is paramount, and this document does well in providing said clarity.
  3. Motioned for approval by R. Hallock
  4. Seconded by R. Kramer
  5. Approved by voice vote

Discussion Items:
- None
Reports from Senate Standing Committee Chairs
- Curriculum (Lee Artz)
  1. Three proposals to be reviewed today.
- Faculty Affairs (Rob Hallock)
  1. Continue discussion of P&T guidelines.
  2. Post-tenure review process
  3. Ad hoc Interfolio committee
  4. CLEAR committee on less exhausting annual reviews
- Gen Ed & Assessment (Kathy Tobin)
  1. Tobin stated that following the last Senate meeting in May, the committee voted on a proposal for revisions to the general education assessment. Over the summer, Tobin reached out to department chairs and institutional research to gather input and clarify the current list of Gen Ed courses.
  2. The committee’s goal is to present a proposal at the September meeting, including supplementary documents such as learning objectives, updated course categories, and a list of courses to be removed. Tobin emphasized the importance of addressing questions and gathering feedback, with the aim of finalizing the revisions by October.
- Nominations, Elections, & Awards (John Durocher)
  1. The committee has a new member
  2. 10^th Anniversary/Founder’s Day Committee representative needed.
    1. Spoljoric volunteered to fill this seat.
  3. COB Dean search representative needed. Durocher clarified that the Senate representative for the Dean search does not need to be from the College of Business, though it would be beneficial.
  4. He also mentioned ongoing work to update the awards process, specifically the addition of a new teaching award for non-tenure-track faculty, as requested by the Chancellor. Durocher plans to finalize the criteria and discuss the changes with the committee before submitting the proposal.
  5. Hallock will email J. Durocher on additional tasks
- Ed Policy (Pam Saylor)
  1. Will revisit FSD 24-08, revised process for changing academic organizational structures, and review the policy regarding artificial intelligence
  2. Spoljoric provided a reminder that finals are due on Monday this semester.
- Student Affairs (Jim Dolen)
  1. 13 academic integrity allegations and cases were handled. Three appeals left.
  2. Three screenings over the summer. Two did not show merit, while one did. 5-person hearing underway.
  3. Will reestablish the student of the month, awarded four times.
  4. Will focus on reviewing subcommittees.

West Lafayette Report (Joe Coates)
- Not in attendance, no report.
IFC Report (Geoffrey Barrow)
- No report, meeting in September
Open discussion (as time permits)
- none
Adjournment
- Meeting adjourned at 12:11 PM