1. Penn State University
Faculty Senate Council
Special Meeting
Considering Senate Responses to the Freeh Group Report
July 18, 2012
2. Purpose of Meeting
Background to Freeh Group Report
Responses by Board and Administration
Theme: Coordination of review and operationalization
Senate Response and role
Preserving procedural fairness
Operationalization
Coordination
Organization of Senate Response and Role
Open Discussion Going Forward And Additional Issues
4. Responses
Administration
Small group to coordinate operationalization of
recommendations
Board of Trustees
Small group, headed by Vice Chair, to coordinate Board
consideration of recommendations
Standing committees to determine recommendations
within their purview
Each to report back to coordinating committee
Students
5. Coordination
Board and Administration task forces will work autonomously
Both will report to Board coordinating committee
Senate will play a role
“As we move forward, there are many decisions that must be
made — decisions that are not without consequences and must
not be done without careful thought. Many of these decisions
involve individuals and practices deeply woven into the fabric
of our community.”
“All of this will take time.”
“Time to heal. Time to comprehend. Time to trust. Time to
transform. Time to regain what has been lost, and time to move
forward.” (Rod Erickson “Moving Forward from the Freeh
Report” July 16., 2012).
6. Senate Response and Role
Substantive Objectives
Procedural fairness
Operationalization of Recommendations
Identify recommendations within Senate’s governance role
Evaluate value/utility of recommendations
Propose specific changes in university rules
Coordination
7. Procedural Fairness
Review Freeh Group Report for process
related issues
Ensure scrupulous adherence to University procedures
fairly and consistently applied
Revocations of tenure/Contract non-renewals/Others?
Faculty Rights & Responsibilities HR 76.
Operationalization
Appointment of a task force to monitor procedural fairness
8. Process Intervention Rationale
Sensitivity to issues of process already part of Senate role
(e.g., FA review of procedural compliance by Board of
Trustees in administrative terminations
Avoid reliance on Post hoc protections (Standing
Committee on Tenure and HR 70 protects individuals but
the Senate role is to protect systemic integrity
Signal the importance of process fairness, fairly and
consistently applied as a core value of the emerging Penn
State culture
9. Operationalization
Identify recommendations within Senate purview
Consider means of implementation
Recommend specific forms of implementation
Address problematic recommendations
10. Coordination (1)
Senate:
Responds to initiatives of administration task
force
Serve as a resources and provide consultation
for Board initiatives
Participates in governance rule making
ordinary course consideration of final proposals for
change.
11. Coordination (2)
Senate Leadership
plays a “bridging role;”
Presents transparent, periodic, and
complete reports to Senate bodies
12. Organization of Senate Role and
Response
Options:
(1) Senate Council undertakes task as a Special Committee.
(2) Senate Council plays a coordinating role
devolves work on specific recommendations to Senate standing
committees
(3) Council does not play a coordinating role
Senate leadership assigns tasks to standing committees
(4) Special Task Force appointed for this task
Members drawn either from Senate Council, Senate, or from
faculty at large.
My preference is # 2 or # 4.
13. Issues For Decision
Will Senate Council Play Role in Responding to Freeh
Group Report?
Will Senate Council Form Task Force to Monitor
Procedural Fairness and Report to Senate?
Will Senate Council Approve Institutional
Organization/Coordination Efforts?
14. Open Discussion Going Forward
Update on the inclusion of Faculty Members on Board of
Trustees Committee
Connection between athletics and academics within the
normative framework: student-athlete
Response to NCAA investigations
Process by which the university is developing responses
IAC to take the lead
Settlements with victims
Percentage covered by insurance
Additional litigation
Effect on budget (UPC Charge)
15. Additional Efforts
Task Force Senate Self Study
Task Force Student Conduct Code
Task Force on Undergraduate Student Research
External Matters Sub Committee
mapping education in Pennsylvania