Purdue University Northwest > Faculty Senate > News > Senate Meeting Minutes > Faculty Senate Minutes, January 16, 2026

Faculty Senate Minutes, January 16, 2026

March 6, 2026

Faculty Senate, January 16, 2026

10:00 AM-12:00 PM: Westville – LSF 002

Minutes

Voting Members Present:
Khair Al Shamaileh, Ali Alavizadeh, Lee Artz, Gokarna Aryal, Geoffrey Barrow, Matthew Bauman, Shreya Bhandari, Mita Choudhury, Frank Colucci, Jim Dolen, John Durocher, Masoud Fathizadeh, Rob Hallock, Maria Hughes, Shontrai Irving, Jessica Ivy, Patrick Keegan, Hansung Kim, Tae-Hoon Kim, Kenny Kincaid, Dave Kozel, Robert Kramer, Yun Liu, Patti Ludwig-Beymer, Claudia Mich, Hassan Naji, Laurie Parpart, Sheila Rezak, Pam Saylor, Diane Spoljoric, George Stefanek, Nicolae Tarfulea, Melanie Walski, Sarah White, Donna Whitten, Hairong Zhao

Voting Members Absent:
Cheng Zhang

Non-Voting Members Present:
Tony Elmendorf, Alan McCafferty, Joe Coates

Others Present:
Chris Holford, Marie Mora, Raida Abuizam, Mike Biel, Molly Bowler, Joy Colwell, Liz Depew, Britt Hudson, Quamar Niyaz, Catharine Olsen, Jennie Pruitt, José Sánchez, Rebecca Stankowski, Lizhe Tan, Jen Williams,

  1. Determination of quorum.
    • Quorum determined at 10:00 AM
  2. Call to order.
    • Meeting called to order at 10:03 AM
  3. Approval of the agenda.
    • The Chair motioned for an amendment to the agenda regarding a document from FW about admissions. The Chair said the document would be discussed today.
    • Saylor requested a friendly amendment to correct the document number FSD 23-11 REV to FSD 25-15.
    • Motion for approval by A. Alavizadeh
    • Seconded by R. Hallock
    • Approved with the friendly amendments by a show of hands
  4. Approval of the minutes from December 12, 2025
    • Motion to add the vote count to the minutes.
    • Motion for approval by P. Ludwig-Beymer.
    • Seconded by R. Hallock
    • Approved with the friendly amendment by a show of hands
  5. Remarks by the Senate Chair
    • New AI Working Competency Requirement
      1. The Chair reported that the Purdue Board of Trustees approved an AI working competency graduation requirement for all incoming undergraduate students starting in 2026 at the main campus (West Lafayette) and Indianapolis, with discipline‑specific criteria developed and continuously updated by the Provost and deans, guided by industry advisory boards.
      2. He suggested that, although PNW recently approved new General Education requirements, the Senate should revisit Gen Ed to:
        1. Consider incorporating an AI competency element (possibly by modifying the “Understanding Technology” outcome toward AI).
        2. Re‑examine Information Literacy, expressing concern that its strong initial focus on source evaluation and misinformation may have been “watered down” by allowing too many alternative options.
      3. Kozel noted that if PNW does not act proactively on AI competencies, a requirement may later be imposed system‑wide, as occurred with the civics requirement, whereas acting now allows PNW to design an approach that fits local programs and contexts.
    • Fort Wayne Unified Admissions Resolution (Preview)
      1. The Chair briefly introduced the Purdue Fort Wayne unified admissions resolution, explaining that:
        1. He and Jessica met with Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, Liz Depew, to review it.
        2. WL admissions already shares lists of WL‑denied but PNW‑admissible students with PNW for early outreach.
        3. Preliminary review suggests more disadvantages than advantages to a fully unified undergraduate admissions process for PNW.
      2. The item was added for discussion only in this meeting, with the option to continue the discussion in a later meeting if needed.
  1. Remarks by the Chancellor
    • Chancellor Holford began his remarks by explaining recent weather and campus closure decisions:
      1. Significant lake effect snow impacted the eastern part of the service area (Valpo, Porter County, Hobart, Merrillville) more than Hammond.
      2. The Hammond campus was closed for two days and reopened after catching up on clearing.
      3. Appealed to faculty for understanding and flexibility with students who faced genuine travel difficulties, noting many now commute from La Porte and Porter counties.
    • Report on budget and state appropriation:
      1. PNW faced a 10% decrease in state appropriation after submitting the annual budget, risking a deficit.
      2. Through travel restrictions (primarily on non-academic/administrative travel), opportunistic savings (not backfilling some retirements/resignations), and other measures, PNW expects to balance the budget for the year, absent major unforeseen expenses.
      3. Emphasized the importance of avoiding structural deficits, referencing other institutions’ struggles.
      4. Noted that academic travel for pre-tenure faculty and essential accreditation-related hiring remain priorities and were protected where necessary (e.g., psychology, engineering/technology, accredited programs).
    • Enrollment highlights and retention outcomes (pre-census, as of the start of the spring semester):
      1. Total headcount (UG + grad): 5,499, up from 5,299 last spring (about +200 students headcount; +93 combined UG/grad continuing).
      2. New admits: 311; continuing undergraduates: +251.
      3. Graduate enrollment declined overall, but this was anticipated and built into projections.
      4. Fall to spring undergraduate retention:
        1. Overall retention up 1.2% over the prior year.
        2. FTIC undergraduate retention over 90%.
        3. College of Business had the largest gain: +8.6% retention (+31 students).
        4. First-generation student retention improved by 2.7% (+69 first-gen students retained), helping close the gap with non-first-gen students.
        5. Academic Achievement Scholarship recipients retained at 93.87%.
      5. He credited these gains to faculty and advisors, including the use of progress reports, mid-semester warnings, and early alert systems.
    • Announced new graduate recruitment initiatives:
      1. In response to SGA input (Molly Bowler) and declining graduate numbers, PNW is hiring a graduate recruiter:
        1. Will recruit current PNW undergraduates and other domestic students.
        2. Represent PNW at external events/college fairs.
        3. Assist students with the graduate application process (including GRE awareness/timing).
        4. Collaborate with graduate program chairs to better understand and promote programs.
      2. Chancellor Holford announced a Graduate Program Showcase on February 11, 3–5 pm in Alumni Hall, targeted mainly at current PNW students but also open to the community.
    • Recognized sponsored research success:
      1. As of December 2025, PNW had secured $8.48 million in new external awards.
      2. Praised faculty for continuing to win federal and other external grants at strong levels despite funding challenges.
    • Provided updates on capital projects and facilities:
      1. New residence hall/dorm on the Hammond campus is progressing quickly; expected completion by the end of July, with students scheduled to move in about two weeks later. Recruitment for residents is already underway.
      2. The Board of Trustees approved moving ahead with the final modifications for the Roberts Impact Lab (second half of the building):
        1. Will house high-performance computing, including AI and quantum-ready infrastructure (quantum fiber expected this summer).
        2. Will serve as a hub for cybersecurity programs and workforce development.
  • Community and events:
    1. The Chancellor noted the MLK Jr. celebration on campus, thanked organizers, and highlighted Dr. Shontrai Irving’s presentation.
    2. Announced an upcoming large MLK community event on campus (especially drawing attendees from La Porte and Michigan City) with a different keynote speaker.
  • During Q&A:
    1. Clarified that budget reductions affected both academic and non-academic units, with non-academic units taking larger travel cuts. In contrast, academic travel, essential to faculty roles (especially for pre-tenure faculty), was preserved.
    2. Explained that vacancy management (not replacing some positions) was used where feasible, but accredited programs and critical areas (e.g., psychology after two resignations) must still hire to maintain accreditation and program quality.
    3. Acknowledged concerns about cuts in specific colleges (e.g., CHESS) and reiterated the need for a more strategic multi-year approach to budgeting going forward, beyond the “opportunistic” approach taken this year.
  1. Remarks by the Provost/VCAA
    • The Provost began by announcing that a new dean of the College of Business, Dr. David Taylor (currently dean of the Jack Welch College of Business and Technology at Sacred Heart University), has been hired and will start July 1. She noted that Kwang Soo Park will continue to serve as interim dean until then, and that the temporary vacancy in the dean position has helped deliver budget savings for the current year.
    • She reported on the state‑mandated syllabus posting requirement, explaining that PNW will follow a similar process in the fall and that the campus achieved 100% compliance last semester. She said three vendors for a long‑term syllabus solution are being evaluated jointly with West Lafayette and Fort Wayne. Still, any new system will not be in place until Fall 2026, so the current process continues in the meantime.
    • The Provost highlighted the academic success of student‑athletes, noting that this is the 20th consecutive semester in which they have collectively achieved at least a 3.0 GPA, representing a full decade of sustained academic excellence.
    • She provided updates on strategic planning implementation, announcing open forums on both campuses (Hammond and Westville) to share progress and invite further input on action items. She reminded faculty of PNW’s institutional values, summarized by the acronym RISE (Respect, Innovation, Student‑centric, Excellence). She reported that a logo contest was held to represent these values, with Nerissa Fezler (College of Business social media/events coordinator) selected as the winner after 17 submissions and a two‑stage review process.
    • She described new efforts to support Limited Term Lecturers (LTLs), noting that—based on the strategic plan’s “Foster Academic Excellence” initiatives—the Center for Faculty Excellence (CFE) organized orientation and information sessions for LTLs for the first time. Two sessions were held (January 7 and January 10) with a total of 41 participants, and campus units, including campus safety, the tutoring center, and advising, presented information. She emphasized that LTLs play a crucial role in instruction and that PNW intends to continue enhancing their support.
    • The Provost also reviewed CFE programming, including ongoing workshops on integrating AI in teaching led by faculty fellow Mark Mabrito, available Auburn University online slots on teaching with AI, and an ACUE micro‑credential course on “Inspiring Inquiry and Preparing Lifelong Learners” (with registration closing January 23). She encouraged faculty to take advantage of these development opportunities.
    • She highlighted the “Thank an Educator” program run through the CFE, reporting that students in the fall semester recognized 134 faculty and staff, and that a cumulative total of 239 individuals have been recognized since 2005. She framed this as evidence of the positive impact faculty and staff are having on student success.
    • The Provost connected these recognitions to broader student success and retention efforts, noting that faculty submission of progress reports and early alerts is being followed by more coordinated outreach to students. Preliminary analysis indicates that students flagged and receiving intervention have higher GPAs and complete more credits than similar students in prior years, which in turn contributes to improved fall‑to‑spring retention.
    • In response to questions, she clarified that:
      1. Some lab sections no longer require separate syllabus postings when the lecture syllabus covers the relevant information, but she will confirm details and follow up (especially regarding practicum courses).
      2. A confirmation of syllabus posting is generally indicated by the system’s “submitted” status, and further reminders will go only to those who have not posted.
      3. For faculty annual reviews and post‑tenure review, faculty may continue to upload a single PDF to the system (as in previous years), instead of entering every item manually into the e‑folio structure.
      4. The status of the TIP teaching award program is under review with the deans, and an announcement about how teaching excellence will be recognized this year will be made once decisions are finalized.
      5. She acknowledged concerns about post‑tenure review and assured faculty that the administration understands the need to maintain travel and research support for tenured faculty who must now meet ongoing performance expectations, and that this will be part of more intentional budget planning for FY27 and beyond.
  1. SGA Report (Molly Bowler)
    • Bowler reported that SGA is working to increase awareness of and participation in graduate programs. In coordination with the administration and the Career Center, they plan to hold additional events to inform students about available graduate options, noting that many seniors (including herself) only recently discovered programs they would have liked to pursue.
    • She also updated the Senate on the planned “Ask the Dean” event series, where students can meet and talk directly with their college deans. SGA is now moving into the scheduling phase and hopes to hold these events in the first half of the semester.
    • Finally, she provided a sustainability update: SGA is finalizing a location in the cafeteria where an existing trash can will be replaced with a recycling bin. Cafeteria staff have agreed to help monitor it to ensure materials remain uncontaminated and can be recycled.
  2. Unfinished Business
    • None
  3. New Business:
    • Curriculum Documents Approval (Curriculog login)
      1. Motion to approve by L. Artz
      2. Seconded by N. Tarfulea
      3. Approved by a show of hands
  1. For Action:
    • FSD 25-15 Guidance on the use of AI in teaching and learning
      1. Saylor said the document has some changes, including CFE AI Guidance
        1. Pam Saylor explained that the previous Faculty Senate document FSD 23-11 was being revised and renumbered as FSD 25- The purpose of the revision was to ensure the Senate’s AI guidance aligns with the Center for Faculty Excellence (CFE) guidance on AI use in courses.
        2. Substantive changes:
          1. Dean of Students / Code of Conduct language:
          2. The section on plagiarism and academic integrity was updated so that the wording now matches the current Purdue Northwest Dean of Students Code of Conduct.
          3. CFE AI guidance link:
          4. A new link was added on page 4 to the CFE resource:
          5. “PNW Guidance for Addressing Artificial Intelligence Use in Your Syllabus”, so faculty can easily access detailed, practical advice on how to handle AI use in their course policies.
        3. Motion for approval by P. Saylor
        4. Seconded by D. Kozel
        5. Approved by voice vote
      2. Discussion Items:
        • Fort Wayne Unified Admissions Policy Document
          1. The Chair explained that Fort Wayne’s Faculty Senate had passed a resolution calling for a single undergraduate application for the Purdue system, where applicants would select campuses (WL, PNW, PFW) within one process.
          2. He and Vice-Chair Jessica Ivy met with Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, Liz Depew, Provost, Marie Mora, and Chancellor Chris Holford to review the idea.
          3. Depew described PNW’s current arrangement with West Lafayette:
            1. West Lafayette uses Common App only; PNW uses both Common App and an institutional application.
            2. When WL denies admission, PNW receives a list of those students (about 37,000 this year) with GPA information.
            3. PNW emails students who meet PNW standards with a “you’re in”–style message and a link that lets them authorize PNW to use their existing application—no new application is required.
            4. Students not admissible to PNW are referred to dual‑admission pathways (e.g., with Ivy Tech).
            5. This redirect process has been refined over several years and is producing increasing numbers of enrollments, with 156 new students in the latest cycle coming to PNW as “first‑source” leads via this WL redirect.
          4. Concerns about a unified application
            1. Depew emphasized that implementing a single, system‑wide application would be technologically complex and a “heavy lift” for IT, with uncertain added value compared to the current redirect process.
            2. She noted that many PNW applicants prefer the simpler PNW application:
              1. About 1,714 applied via Common App vs. 4,262 via the institutional app.
              2. For instant decision days in some high schools with limited internet access, PNW can use paper applications—something that may be difficult or impossible under a fully unified, Common‑App‑style system.
            3. Senators and Liz raised access concerns, especially for first‑generation and local students:
              1. A more complex, centralized application might discourage or confuse students who would otherwise apply directly to PNW.
            4. The Chair pointed out language in the Fort Wayne resolution suggesting that applicants admissible to any campus would be placed at the campus that can “accommodate” them. He and others worried that:
              1. Strong students listing multiple campuses (including PNW) might be diverted to West Lafayette or another campus, resulting in the loss of good students for PNW.
            5. Overall sentiment and next steps
              1. Both D. Kozel and L. Depew indicated that, from PNW’s perspective, the current redirect and application system is working well and improving each year, and already meets Fort Wayne’s stated goal of earlier access to WL‑denied applicants.
              2. Several comments framed this as a case of “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it,” suggesting that the proposal presents more risk and workload than clear benefit for PNW.
              3. The Chair did not seek a formal vote at this meeting; he introduced the document for discussion only, so that PNW’s position could be communicated back to the Intercampus Faculty Council and further consideration could occur later if needed.
            6. Reports from Senate Standing Committee Chairs
              • Curriculum (Lee Artz)
                1. Meeting in LSF 18. Zoom link available.
                2. The committee will consider 16 curriculum proposals plus the ECE concentration in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.
                3. He noted that proposals approved in the December Curriculum Committee meeting (as reflected in Curriculog) were brought to the Senate at this meeting and have now been approved, and that any new proposals approved in today’s committee meeting will be forwarded to the Senate for action at the February meeting.
              • Faculty Affairs (Rob Hallock)
                1. The Faculty Affairs Committee is working on one more revision to the University Promotion & Tenure (P&T) guidelines, specifically to allow non‑administrative faculty who are teaching less than 50% (due to course releases) to serve on the P&T committee; he expects to bring the revised guidelines to the Senate for approval next month.
                2. Hallock also noted that many faculty have asked about receiving 12‑month pay instead of 9‑month pay; after checking, he confirmed that this is no longer possible at Purdue (including West Lafayette), so pay cannot be spread over 12 months.
              • Gen Ed & Assessment (TBA)
                1. No Chair elected. A. Alavizadeh said the committee will meet today to discuss their replacement and the rep needed.
                2. Saylor said EXL is a subcommittee of Gen Ed, and will be working on documents which will be provided to the FAC.
              • Nominations, Elections, & Awards (John Durocher
                1. Durocher reported that the Nominations, Elections, & Awards Committee received strong participation in the recent teaching and scholarship award nominations: 18 nominees for non‑tenure‑track teaching, 13 for tenure‑track teaching, 21 for scholarship, and 24 for engagement.
                2. He also noted that the committee still needs a Faculty Senate representative for the Digital Accessibility Task Force and asked interested faculty to contact him as soon as possible so that work on that task force can begin.
              • Ed Policy (Pam Saylor)
                1. Pam reported that the Educational Policy Committee has been asked to help staff the new Academic Restructure Task Force. She explained that the task force will have 11 members, including one faculty member from each college (at any rank, but with good knowledge of their college’s needs), co‑chairs Pam Saylor (as Ed Policy chair) and Becky Stankowski, plus one staff member, one representative from Steve Turner’s office, and one from Institutional Research. The task force will assess the feasibility and transparency of potential academic restructuring options and present two to three models to the Faculty Senate by the end of the spring semester. Pam invited volunteers from each college and said she would also email the deans to help identify interested faculty.
              • Student Affairs (James Dolen)
                1. Dolen reported that the Academic Integrity Subcommittee currently has five active cases and two ongoing grade-related appeals. The Grade Appeals Subcommittee is handling four grade appeals from the fall semester.
                2. The Student of the Month Committee is not meeting in January, but a call for February Student of the Month nominations will go out at the end of the month. He added that the full Student Affairs Committee will meet to address a forthcoming Senate resolution on grade appeals.
  1. West Lafayette Report (Joe Coates)
    • No report. Will meet on January 26
  2. IFC Report (Geoffrey Barrow)
    • Barrow received note from IFC, the meeting will be next Tuesday.
  3. Open discussion (as time permits)
    • The Chair said we have students commuting from different locations and urged Senators to consider this during the months of hazardous weather.
    • He said a student emailed him about attending class in Hammond. He offered to make the course available on Zoom in this case.
    • He said if faculty decide to approach it this way, they should provide a timely notification to students.
  4. Adjournment
    • Meeting adjourned at 11:49 A/m