Purdue University Northwest > Faculty Senate > News > Senate Meeting Minutes > Faculty Senate Minutes, March 13, 2026

Faculty Senate Minutes, March 13, 2026

August 19, 2026

Faculty Senate, March 13, 2026

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

Minutes

  1. Determination of quorum.
    • Quorum determined at 9:58 AM
  2. Call to order.
    • Meeting called to order at 10:03 AM
  3. Approval of the agenda.
    • Amendment to the agenda:
      1. For discussion: Senate Meeting Location Survey
    • Motion for approval with friendly amendments by D. Kozel
    • Seconded by P. Ludwig-Beymer
    • Approved by voice vote
  4. Approval of the minutes from February 16, 2026
    • Amendment to the minutes:
      1. Candidate will be brought in the fall. New VCFA will start in the spring before S. Turner’s retirement.
    • Motion for approval by D. Kozel
    • Seconded by P. Ludwig-Beymer
    • Approved by voice vote
  5. Remarks by the Senate Chair
    • Formation of Academic Structure Task Force
      1. Goal is to explore models, stakeholder engagement across colleges, timeline ~1-year, emphasis on not proposing immediate restructuring but preparing options and broad consultation.
    • Chair is concerned that the timeline was being pushed too quickly; after discussion with Provost and Chancellor, the timeline will be slowed to allow department/college input per FSD 25-08
    • Task Force composition includes representatives from all colleges, advising, finance, and institutional effectiveness; co-chairs Becky Stankowski and Pam Saylor.
    • The Chair noted the need for accurate data and broad consultation (department visits, surveys, open forums).
    • Senate vice-chair election process announced
      1. April election of vice-chair elect; one-year vice-chair followed by one-year chair; ineligibility rules noted.
    • Convocation proposed date May 1 discussed; potential conflicts with senior presentations and finals noted; alternative dates to be checked.
  6. Remarks by the Chancellor
    • Chancellor Holford reinforced the purpose of the Academic Restructuring task force as planning/dialog, not immediate reorganization; need for fiscal analyses for any proposals.
    • He announced a plan to cap reserve balances by unit relative to operating budget and require plans for use of excess; excess funds to be pooled for strategic campus projects (capital, equipment, program starts).
    • Noted ongoing budgetary pressures and need for careful FY27 planning.
  7. Remarks by the Provost/VCAA
    • FY27 budget reductions are being prepared.
      1. Colleges were instructed to submit three scenarios: 3%, 4%, and 5% budget reductions.
      2. Academic Support Units were instructed to submit two scenarios: 3.75% and 5% reductions.
    • Emphasis on protecting student employment where possible.
    • Founders Day and faculty awards recognized.
    • ADA/digital accessibility work and Purdue Focus Award recognition; April 24 federal accessibility deadline noted.
    • Tenure & promotion dossiers being reviewed; Board of Trustees decisions expected April 10.
    • Commencement May 9; faculty encouraged to attend.
    • Shout-out to HSI and sustainability symposium organizers.
  8. SGA Report (Jezelyn Torres)
    • SGA transitions (new acting president Jezelyn Torres).
    • Initiatives: pollinator garden plaque project with CES; collaboration on food waste research (training March 27); SGA elections—applications close tonight, may reopen if insufficient candidates; request for faculty to encourage student leaders to apply.
  9. Budget Report (VCFA Turner)
    • Attachment: Presentation Slides
    • Reviewed FY26 responses to biennial budget cuts and tuition freeze impacts; distinction between one-time and recurring expenses emphasized.
    • FY26 expected to end balanced with a small surplus (~$29K); one-time measures (hiring pause, essential travel only, postponed renovations) applied to achieve balance.
    • FY27 planning variables: projected modest enrollment decline, continuation of tuition freeze for residents, projected utility cost increases, 2% merit lump sum included.
    • FY27 gap estimated ~$4M (includes enrollment-driven revenue loss ~ $1.5M, utility increases, and incorporating second-year state rescission risk).
    • Expense reduction plan: proportional reductions across units (about half from support units); many unit plans due/submitted (SLT review); expectation of using vacant positions where possible; minimal targeted staff reductions anticipated.
    • Opportunities: Roberts Impact Lab, student housing (Calumet Hall), in-house dining, strategic use of operating reserves for capital.
  10. Unfinished Business
    • AI Tiger Team Representative
      1. Librarian Lily Morgan volunteered/was selected as Faculty Senate representative to AI Tiger Team.
        1. The Chair moved that L. Morgan serve as Tiger Team Senate rep.
          1. Seconded by R. Hallock
          2. Approved by voice vote
  • Search committee representative for VCFA Turner’s replacement
    1. The Chair moved that J. Ivy serve as Senate rep for this committee.
      1. Seconded by J. Durocher.
      2. Approved by voice vote.
    2. New Business:
      • Curriculum Documents Approval (Curriculog login)
        1. Kim said COM – 31010 – Creative Coding should be removed.
        2. Motion for approval by H. Kim
        3. Seconded by R. Hallock
        4. Approved by voice vote
  1. For Action:
    • FSD 25-14 Revised P&T guidelines
      1. Will return for approval in April
    • FSD 25-16 Gen Ed. Courses for Approval
      1. Motion for approval by A. Alavizadeh
      2. Seconded by
      3. Approved by voice vote
  1. Discussion Items:
    • Westville/Hammond Survey
      1. The Chair explained the survey and the results. He said the survey could be redistributed if desired. Of 21 respondents, 18 voted for Hammond, 4 voted for Westville.
      2. Concerns were addressed about the survey and results.
      3. This will go back to Exec.
      4. Another survey will be distributed.
      5. Choudhury said sustainability should be considered.
  1. Reports from Senate Standing Committee Chairs
    • Curriculum (Lee Artz)
      1. No report
    • Faculty Affairs (Rob Hallock)
      1. The committee will be conducting a faculty and staff survey on satisfaction and burnout
      2. PNW handbook will be provided as a Brightspace course. Feedback is desired on the structure, flow, and readability of the document.
    • Gen Ed & Assessment (TBA)
      1. Committee meeting scheduled to address AI guideline and course review cycle; working to populate new planning/self-study system with required course documents to meet FSD 18-18 annual review requirement.
    • Nominations, Elections, & Awards (Patrick Keegan)
      1. 2/3 of Senator terms are set to expire. Looking at open Senate positions for F26.
      2. The Chair said Senators should go back to their departments if their term is expiring to…
    • Ed Policy (Pam Saylor)
      1. Task Force membership slide to be shared; Task Force meeting held; Pam solicited questions for Task Force and offered email contact for faculty input; Task Force coordinating with Jeff Schieb and Omar Sahmoudi for data and budget modeling.
    • Student Affairs (James Dolen)
      1. Student of the Month process underway; three active grade appeals; grade appeal policy revision to be presented for April discussion.
  1. West Lafayette Report (Joe Coates)
    • WL Faculty Senate discussed AI and teaching, Purdue Online, immigration guidance updates, budget planning, ADA/digital accessibility, promotion & tenure, childcare; FOIA/no-confidence review on Provost Wolf reviewed with no substantiated evidence found by advisory reviewers.
  2. IFC Report (Geoffrey Barrow)
    • Meeting with IFC regarding unified admission process; initial impressions: PNW admissions currently functioning well; unified system could create complications — Senate to monitor IFC outcome and prepare statement if IFC moves forward.
  3. Open discussion (as time permits)
    • Founders Day committee recognition requested; Alan to circulate the list of contributors so senators may thank staff.
    • Several senators reiterated need for departmental/college-level budget transparency and regular communication from deans; Provost committed to encouraging deans to share budget information.
    • Dining services: discussion of in-house dining/catering affordability and mandatory meal plan for future residential students; Turner to work with dining leadership to design menu/pricing options and prepare Board requests for mandatory meal plans starting with future term (timing discussed for implementation).
  4. Adjournment
    • Meeting adjourned at 12:35 PM