Faculty Senate Minutes, August 21, 2026

Faculty Senate, August 21, 2026

10:00 AM-12:00 PM: Hammond – SULB 321

Minutes

1. Determination of quorum.
   • Quorum determined at 9:58 AM
2. Call to order.
   • Meeting called to order at 10:04 AM
3. Approval of the agenda.
   • The Executive Committee determined that the following documents should be removed from For Action:
     • FSD 25-07 PTR Document revisions
     • FSD 25-18 EXL Process
     • FSD 25-19 MA 164
       • Motion for approval with amendments by P. Ludwig-Beymer
       • Seconded by D. Kozel
       • Approved by voice vote
4. Approval of the minutes from May 8, 2026
   • Motion for approval by D. Kozel
   • Seconded by P. Ludwig-Beymer
   • Approved by voice vote
5. Remarks by the Senate Chair
   • The Chair reported that the Executive Committee met at 9:00 a.m. prior to the Senate meeting, an unusual step taken in response to the recent storm, and explained that the agenda was revised from the original calendar invitation by moving some items from action to discussion.
   • Senators were thanked for their flexibility with the meeting location; although the Senate prefers the Lawshe room, it was unavailable, and A. McCafferty is investigating room-booking system issues.
   • Service expectations were reiterated: serving as a senator includes service on at least one Senate committee, and suggestions for improving Senate processes were welcomed.
   • As a small token of appreciation and to support Senate visibility at the resource fair, retractable dry-erase markers were provided at the sign-in table for senators to take.
   • An overview of Senate structure was given, noting that the Executive Committee consists of the Chair, Vice Chair, and standing committee chairs; that this group meets before each Senate meeting to set the agenda and discuss upcoming issues; and that the Chair and Vice Chair also participate in regular leadership meetings with the Chancellor and the Provost. Standing committees such as Curriculum, Faculty Affairs, and Student Affairs each have defined functions and chairs, and are expected to meet immediately after Senate.
   • The Chair outlined the typical path for issues: they may originate from individual faculty, legislative or policy changes, or committee discussions; are routed to the appropriate standing committee for consideration; may result in a drafted resolution or a decision not to pursue the matter; and, if advanced, come to Senate for discussion (often over multiple meetings) before a vote. Approved items become Faculty Senate Documents, which are numbered sequentially, with the “’25” and “26” prefixes indicating the academic year of origin.
   • Senators were reminded that all approved Faculty Senate Documents, along with the current Senate roster by college and department, are posted on the Faculty Senate website. When faculty email concerns or proposals directly to the Chair, the Chair forwards them to the relevant committee without judgment, and the originator may be consulted when routing is unclear.
   • Recent work was highlighted, including updated guidance on the use of AI, development of competency guidelines and a microcredentials process, implementation of the academic structure change process (FSD 25-08), establishment and first-cycle implementation of the post-tenure review policy, and updates to promotion and tenure guidelines. Ongoing and anticipated topics include refinement of post-tenure review procedures, revisions to grade appeals and academic integrity policies, monitoring of state legislative impacts, an experiential learning (EXL) process, continued work on the Integrative Human Health program, and exploration of alternatives to Interfolio through an ad hoc committee that still needs additional members, with interested faculty encouraged to contact P. Keegan.
   • The Chair acknowledged delays in responding to some recent emails due to storm-related power and internet outages, affirmed that this was not intentional, and reiterated a commitment to addressing all communications and ensuring that issues are distributed appropriately to committees.
   • It was announced that J. Ivy has accepted an Associate Dean position within CHESS effective this summer. She clarified that the role is not supervisory and does not involve faculty evaluation, that the Provost is honoring the teaching release associated with the Senate Chair role, and that she intends to remain Chair for the full academic year to maintain continuity. She committed to recusing herself from votes when appropriate and noted that the associate dean role aligns with Senate work on promotion and tenure, post-tenure review, and teaching-related initiatives. Senators with concerns were invited to contact members of the Executive Committee or the Chancellor.
   • Later in the meeting, the Chair reported her service on the search committee for the next Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, indicating that the search is progressing with strong candidates, and noted that the committee expects to bring forward a smaller pool for campus consideration in the fall. She also reminded senators that the next Senate meeting will be held on September 11 at the Westville campus and that committee meetings will follow immediately afterward in assigned rooms.
6. Remarks by the Chancellor
   • Chancellor Holford began by acknowledging the ongoing impact of the recent storm on faculty, staff, and students, noting that many still lack power or reliable internet. He emphasized that the coming days will be challenging as students move into residence halls, parking lots fill, orientations continue, and substantial numbers of students are still trying to register, in some cases without internet or electricity. He asked instructors to show compassion and flexibility with students and colleagues at the start of the semester.
   • On campus operations, Chancellor Holford reported that the Hammond campus is fully energized, but the Westville campus remains without power. Crews have been working for several days to replace poles and re-string lines, and there is hope for restoration as early as later that day, though material and logistics issues have caused delays. He planned to provide a more detailed update at the Year Ahead presentation at 2:00 p.m. and send a campus-wide letter later that afternoon with the latest information, especially for those teaching in Westville.
   • Regarding enrollment and budget, Chancellor Holford stated that the university finished FY26 with a balanced budget and has presented a balanced budget for FY27. As of two days prior, incoming first-year enrollment stood at 1,633 students, below last year’s record class of 1,800, with final numbers still in flux as several hundred students continue to register. He noted that overall enrollment is being negatively affected by a significant drop in retention of graduate students, particularly international students, similar to the pattern during COVID, while undergraduate retention has improved.
   • Retention results were highlighted as a major success: campus-wide retention has risen to approximately 71.5%, up from around 65–66% two to three years ago. Chancellor Holford reported that this represents an increase of roughly 300–350 students who historically would not have persisted from freshman to sophomore year. He credited faculty, advisors, staff, and the broader campus culture for these gains and noted that recent retention improvements are already contributing to higher four-year and six-year graduation rates, key metrics for state evaluation and funding.
   • On facilities and student experience, Chancellor Holford described completion of the new residence facility at the south end of campus (Calumet Hall), noting that it offers traditional-style dorms with singles and doubles and pods with common areas to support community-building and retention. All residential spaces are fully occupied, even with the additional 150 beds. Food service has been brought in-house in the cafeteria, with extended hours and meal plans to better support the growing residential population.
   • He also reported that the Welcome Center has moved into CLO, which now serves as the primary entry point for prospective and new students. The space has been renovated, including a new mural, and is intended to improve first impressions of the campus. The Roberts Impact Lab, a high-performance computing and AI-capable, quantum-ready facility, is expected to open in late spring or early summer once fiber connectivity is completed; colleges are being encouraged to plan how they will use this resource for cybersecurity, AI, and other research.
   • Chancellor Holford informed the Senate that the Board of Trustees has approved forwarding a major capital request for a $26 million renovation project, including library and CHESS-related facilities, to the state budget committee. The project is ranked second among Purdue system capital priorities, the highest rank ever achieved by a regional campus project. He cautioned that last year the state did not fund any higher education capital projects and that this proposal still depends on state approval, with clarity expected in the spring semester. The project would involve modernization of first-floor space in the current building and demolition of the older elementary-school building; programming and relocation planning will not begin until after state funding is confirmed.
   • Turning to AI and academic initiatives, Chancellor Holford reiterated the institutional goal of ensuring that all students graduate with AI literacy or competency, under the AI² approach (artificial intelligence meets authentic intelligence). He stressed that AI is intended to augment, not replace, human work, and that graduates lacking AI competence may be disadvantaged in the job market. The campus will work with Faculty Senate and faculty more broadly to define discipline-appropriate AI competencies and assessment strategies.
   • In alignment with system-wide efforts, Chancellor Holford announced that all incoming first-year students will receive access to a Gemini license through the Purdue–Google agreement. He requested that faculty and staff complete a short campus survey (distributed via QR code) to indicate whether and how they are using AI tools (e.g., Gemini, Copilot, Claude, ChatGPT, and others), in order to inform campus support and planning. He stated that feedback from those not using or disliking AI is also valuable.
   • Finally, Chancellor Holford invited senators and the wider campus community to the Fall Sports Fest, scheduled for Sunday, September 27 at Dowling Park, featuring multiple sports (men’s and women’s soccer and tennis, softball, ice hockey, and baseball). He highlighted strong student-athlete academics, noting a cumulative GPA around 3.2 and strong retention and on-time graduation rates, and reported national rankings for the women’s stunt team (6th) and men’s hockey (top 15). He closed by expressing appreciation for faculty engagement and humorously suggested “Power On” as a fitting slogan for the university in light of the recent outages.
7. Remarks by the Provost/VCAA
   • Provost Mora welcomed new and returning senators, emphasized the importance of shared governance, and expressed appreciation for the opportunity to work closely with the Faculty Senate in the coming year.
   • She reported that several student-support units have moved into the renovated CLO space, including the Student Success Hub and the Career Center, thereby consolidating key student services in one location; a more detailed update on the Hub will be provided at the Year Ahead presentation.
   • Provost Mora conveyed appreciation from D. Wysong (PAC) for the substantial increase in faculty reading student access plans compared to the prior year, crediting the Senate’s collaboration for this improvement in accessibility compliance.
   • She announced a pilot initiative to enhance academic leadership support for the Westville campus without adding a new permanent administrator. Under this pilot, J. Swarts will serve as interim dean and director of the Westville campus, working with faculty, staff, chairs, deans, students, and non-academic units to provide consistent on-site leadership and to help define a campus-specific vision. At the same time, R. Abuizam will assume the role of interim dean of the Honors College and University College.
   • In developing this Westville model, Provost Mora noted that the structure was informed by practices at institutions such as Ohio State (regional campus deans/directors), San Diego State (deans overseeing regional campuses), and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (where a dean/vice provost structure was recently adopted for a smaller, unified campus). She indicated that the pilot will be assessed using agreed-upon metrics and benchmarks, and that progress and outcomes will be reported back to the Senate.
   • Turning to post-tenure review, Provost Mora characterized the first full cycle as a success in terms of collaboration and process execution, while acknowledging there were predictable first-implementation issues. Feedback from participants and the Faculty Review Panel has been collected, and Academic Affairs is drafting revisions to the post-tenure review process document. She will work with P. Ludwig-Beymer, R. Kramer, and others to bring proposed refinements to Faculty Affairs and the Senate.
   • She highlighted the previous year’s 100% compliance with the state requirement for public posting of syllabi. She noted that the transition to the system-wide “Simple Syllabus” vendor was complex on the back end, but should make posting easier and more automated for faculty moving forward.
   • Provost Mora announced that Academic Affairs will be launching a promotion pathway for continuing lecturers, modeled on practices at West Lafayette (e.g., senior lecturer), with comprehensive reviews and clear criteria. Details of the process and expectations will be developed this year and brought forward for Senate discussion.
   • She reported that two new faculty fellows have begun work in the Provost’s Office: L. Gielda as Faculty Fellow for Curriculum and Assessment (working with R. Stankowski) and C. Belous as Faculty Fellow for Graduate Studies. She also indicated that the Provost’s Office will announce and recruit a new Faculty Fellow for Community Engagement and Experiential Learning in the near future.
   • Provost Mora noted that implementation of the institutional strategic plan was active over the past year and that a report outlining progress will be released. She thanked Senate leadership for providing representatives to the Strategic Implementation Action Committee and indicated she will continue to use Senate meetings to provide updates on strategic initiatives.
   • In response to a question from D. Kozel about limits on hourly pay for graduate students and the push toward 0.5 FTE assistantships, Provost Mora clarified that there is no blanket ban on hiring graduate students hourly, but that Academic Affairs is examining graduate assistant stipend levels relative to peer campuses (such as Fort Wayne) and exploring more sustainable models that combine teaching and research within 0.5 FTE appointments. She agreed to follow up and provide additional clarification at a future Senate meeting to address cases where current practices may be creating difficulties for departments.
8. SGA Report (Chase Solberg)
   • No report
9. Unfinished Business
   • None
10. New Business:
    • Curriculum Documents Approval (Curriculog login)
      1. No documents for approval

11. For Action:
    • FSD 25-20 Integrative Human Health
      1. During consideration of FSD 25-20, J. Ivy noted that the Integrative Human Health (IHH) proposal materials had been updated over the summer to meet West Lafayette formatting requirements, but that no substantive changes were made to the proposed program structure. She reminded senators that the document had been introduced and discussed at the May meeting and was now returning for action.
      2. Durocher, speaking as the principal author, reported that enrollment in the IHH program continues to grow, increasing from 124 students last year to 141 students as of the morning of the meeting. He highlighted that the revised document now more clearly articulates alignment with the Purdue One Health Initiative and Purdue Northwest’s institutional mission, and noted that the Provost indicated a willingness to provide bridge funding, if needed, for the proposed half-time administrative support position.
      3. In support of the proposal, H. Naji described the program’s growth since he joined in 2017 and emphasized the breadth of disciplinary expertise now on the IHH faculty (exercise physiology, exercise psychology, athletic training, anatomy, and public health). He reported that, between last year and this year, the program has grown its student population by approximately 48%, and that after Senate approval of the kinesiology concentration, enrollment in that concentration rose from 20 to 58 students (about 190% growth), which he presented as evidence of strong demand and future potential.
      4. Kozel expressed support for the proposal and indicated that earlier concerns he had raised about projected enrollment growth were alleviated by the current numbers and continued upward trend. He drew an analogy to prior growth in Computer Science after it became a standalone department and suggested that departmental status for IHH could similarly increase visibility and enrollment. He also relayed positive feedback from students he encountered who were participating in IHH-related clinical settings.
      5. Provost Mora stated that Academic Affairs would not have advanced the revised document through the West Lafayette formatting and review steps if there were not confidence in the program’s continued growth and viability. She noted that central administration is now paying closer attention to whether degree enrollment projections are realized and indicated that the IHH program’s recent performance supports the case for approval.
      6. Following discussion, D. Spoljoric moved to approve FSD 25-20 as written and revised; the motion was seconded, and the Senate voted in favor. J. Ivy congratulated J. Durocher and the IHH faculty, and she thanked all parties for working through the new academic structure change process established by FSD 25-08.
         1. Motion for approval by D. Spoljoric
         2. Seconded by R. Hallock
         3. Approved by voice vote
      7. Discussion Items:
         • FSD 25-22 Senate Roster ’26-’27 [amended]
           1. This document was approved in spring; the version presented today includes Michael Johnson as Chair of Ed Policy
              1. Motion for approval by R. Hallock
              2. Seconded by P. Ludwig-Beymer
              3. Approved by voice vote

• Approval of the Chair of Academic Integrity and Grade Appeals
  1. Dolen thanked S. Batistatos for his work as the previous chair
  2. He said Mohammed Errihani has stepped forward to chair Academic Integrity and Grade Appeals.
     1. Motion for approval by J. Dolen
     2. Seconded by W. St. Jean
     3. Approved by voice vote
  3. Reports from Senate Standing Committee Chairs
     • Curriculum (Maria Hughes)
       1. Hughes reported that, according to the Senate bylaws, the Curriculum Committee is responsible for ensuring the timely and thoughtful consideration of all matters related to curricula and for bringing specific curriculum proposals to the Senate for approval.
       2. She explained that all curriculum changes must be initiated by a faculty member, approved by the relevant college curriculum committee(s), and only then forwarded to the Senate Curriculum Committee before Faculty Senate review.
       3. Hughes announced that the committee is welcoming two new members this year, M. Tu from the College of Technology and A. Hestdalen from CHESS.
     • Faculty Affairs (Patti Ludwig-Beymer)
       1. Ludwig-Beymer reported that the Faculty Affairs Committee is charged with matters affecting the responsibilities, rights, privileges, opportunities, and welfare of faculty, both individually and collectively.
       2. She noted that the committee’s scope includes issues such as promotion and tenure, retention, appointments, advancement, compensation and benefits, teaching load, working conditions, and faculty evaluation processes.
       3. Ludwig-Beymer announced that the committee is welcoming two new members, W. St. Jean and S. Turedi, and that G. Aryal and M. Fathizadeh will be continuing on the committee.
     • Gen Ed & Assessment (TBA)
       1. It was noted that the Gen Ed & Assessment Committee currently does not have a chair and that the members present appeared to be entirely new to the committee’s work.
       2. At the Chair’s request, M. Hughes read the committee’s stated purpose, emphasizing that it defines common educational goals for all PNW students, oversees accountability and continuous improvement for those goals, and serves as a conduit between faculty and assessment groups across colleges and programs.
       3. Ivy asked the committee to begin its work by reviewing its formal charge on the Senate website and selecting a chair, indicating that she and Vice-Chair R. Hallock could assist if needed.
       4. The committee was specifically asked to review the existing MA 164 general education proposal (FSD 25-19) that had moved partway through the approval process previously, with the expectation that Gen Ed and Assessment would consider it at the committee level and, if approved, bring it forward to the Senate for possible action at a future meeting.
     • Nominations, Elections, & Awards (Patrick Keegan)
       1. Keegan reported that the Nominations, Elections and Awards Committee is responsible for managing nominations for all Senate standing committees and subcommittees, as well as for award-related committees (for example, those that review Founders Day award nominations).
       2. He noted that the committee’s role is to solicit and organize nominations and to populate the appropriate selection committees, rather than to choose award recipients itself.
       3. Keegan indicated that the committee is still seeking two representatives to serve on the Intercampus Faculty Council, and he invited senators to suggest either senators or non-senators from their departments who might be interested in serving.
          1. Point of clarification: Upon review after the meeting, it was discovered that T. Roach had volunteered to serve as the Intercampus Faculty Council representative. This is reflected in FSD 25-22 approved at this meeting.

• Ed Policy (Michael Johnson)
  1. Johnson reported that, under the Senate charge, the Educational Policy Committee is responsible for ensuring the timely and thoughtful consideration of all matters related to the university’s central educational mission, including quality standards, admissions and advising, and academic administrative policies and procedures.
  2. He noted that the committee’s membership includes long-time Senators D. Spoljoric, R. Kramer, and D. Kozel, as well as incoming Senators J. Spores, M. Walski, and S. Kim.
  3. Johnson announced that the Educational Policy Committee would meet immediately after the Senate meeting in SULB 353.
• Student Affairs (James Dolen)
  1. Dolen reported that the Student Affairs Committee focuses on matters related to student welfare, including policies and procedures such as the student absence policy, the honor code, the Student of the Month Award, and grade appeals and academic integrity appeals.
  2. He noted that the committee works closely with the Dean of Students Office and other student-support units as new issues arise.
  3. For the coming year, the committee’s immediate priorities include reconstituting the Student of the Month selection process (with awards planned for October, November, February, and March) and completing revisions to the Grade Appeals and Academic Integrity policies.
  4. Dolen stated that a solid draft of the revised grade appeals policy already exists and that the committee will coordinate with the Provost’s Office and the Dean of Students Office over the next few weeks to refine both policies before bringing them back to the Senate.

14. West Lafayette Report (Joe Coates)
    • No report. Will meet September 14.
15. IFC Report (TBA)
    • No report
16. Open discussion (as time permits)
    • The Chair reminded everyone that the September meeting will be in Westville.
    • FSD 25-07 PTR Document revisions
      1. During open discussion, D. Kozel raised concerns about the recently revised promotion and tenure/post-tenure review language that prevents faculty from serving on more than one P&T-related committee (department, college, or university) and also prohibits associate professors from serving on committees evaluating candidates for full professor. He explained that in his department (Electrical and Computer Engineering), there are only two full professors (the department head and himself). Because he is on the college committee, the departmental committee for full promotions will contain no departmental members, which he argued undermines appropriate disciplinary context at the initial review stage.
      2. Kozel suggested two possible remedies:
         1. Allowing faculty to serve on more than one committee as before, while maintaining the rule that they may cast only one vote on a candidate; and/or
         2. Allowing an associate professor from the candidate’s department to attend the departmental committee meeting in a non-voting, advisory capacity to provide disciplinary context (for example, on journal quality or departmental contributions).
      3. In response, P. Ludwig-Beymer cautioned that current guidance emphasizes that promotion materials must “stand on their own” and that committee members are generally not supposed to supplement files with additional, undocumented information. She noted that in her own promotion to full professor, her committee included no one from nursing, and she emphasized the need to reconcile any proposed changes with that underlying principle.
      4. Several senators provided historical and procedural context. N. Tarfulea recalled that in earlier years faculty could serve on multiple committees but were required to recuse themselves after casting one vote; he indicated that the stricter one-committee limit is relatively recent and has created practical difficulties, especially where there are few full professors. D. Spoljoric observed that nursing has long had to “borrow” external members because of a lack of full professors in the unit and agreed that the broader P&T structure may need to be reconsidered given the varying departmental situations.
      5. Ivy summarized that there appear to be at least two distinct questions for policy review:
         1. Whether faculty should be allowed to serve on more than one promotion-related committee (while limiting them to a single vote per candidate), and
         2. Whether associate professors or other departmental colleagues should be permitted to participate in an advisory, non-voting role at the departmental level for full-professor cases, to provide disciplinary context. She also flagged a related question raised prior to the meeting concerning the interpretation of the “0.5 FTE” teaching/appointment requirement for service on P&T committees (e.g., whether this applies per semester or as an overall appointment pattern, and how it interacts with course buyouts and grant support).
      6. The consensus of the discussion was that the current language is causing confusion and potential inequities, particularly for small departments with few full professors. Faculty Affairs, chaired by P. Ludwig-Beymer, was asked to review the promotion and tenure/post-tenure review documents with particular attention to
         1. Committee service limits,
         2. Possible advisory roles for associate professors or departmental representatives, and
         3. Clarification of the 0.5 FTE requirement, and to report back with recommendations at a future Senate meeting.
      7. The Chair encouraged the committee to review the document.

17. Adjournment
    • Meeting adjourned at 11:52 a.m.