“Penn State Board of Trustees to gather for Nov. 7-8 meetings”

[BobPSU92]

Penn State Board of Trustees to gather for Nov. 7-8 meetings | Penn State University

The Penn State Board of Trustees will hold its next public meetings Nov. 7-8 at the University Park campus. Committee meetings and the meeting of the full board will be livestreamed.

www.psu.edu

 

[Lionville]

While the public is invited, what about a certain alumni elected board member?

 

[Zenophile]

While the public is invited, what about a certain alumni elected board member?

A thoughtful judge was kind enough to ensure that he received an invitation.

 

[Nittany1865Farmer]

So, one of the "items of business" is the consideration of a screening matrix for future Trustee Board members. Why would they need to have this but only to "weed out" the undesirables and the unworthy" from even being considered as candidates for the Board? Smacks of pure elitism on the Trustees part.


UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Board of Trustees nominating subcommittee today (Oct. 23) advanced a proposed screening matrix that will be used to evaluate candidates for seats on the board.

The proposed screening matrix will assess materials submitted by the candidate; the candidate’s skills; their past professional and personal experience, including board service; their past service and depth of engagement with Penn State; and a background check.

Designed to provide a fair, consistent and transparent method to determine trustee candidates’ eligibility, the document will be considered by the board’s Governance Committee on Nov. 7. If it receives final approval, the screening matrix will be used to assess trustee candidates with fairness and uniformity, including alumni, at-large, and business and industry candidates for election and appointment to the board.

The Governance Committee’s nominating subcommittee – which includes representatives from across the board, including alumni -- leads Governance’s responsibility for the trustee nomination, election and appointment processes in an effort to standardize expectations for prospective trustees and allows the board to seek individuals who bring a balanced set of skills and experiences that are aligned with Penn State’s strategic needs.

The nominating subcommittee was created as part of a broader update of the Board of Trustees’ bylaws and committee structures enacted on July 30, and was tasked with determining a candidate’s eligibility to be listed on the ballot, in accordance with a screening matrix that was to be developed by the subcommittee.

A governance working group – comprised of trustees from a broad representation of the board – developed recommendations and related governance revisions for the updated bylaws over the course of a year. The group also engaged an external governance expert to ensure best practices were incorporated into the bylaws revisions.

At the same July 30 meeting, the board updated the required materials and processes for all candidates (except gubernatorial appointees) for the board, and approved lowering the minimum nominations required for alumni trustees from 250 to 50 to encourage more alumni to seek election to the group and foster a greater variety of candidates.

If the screening matrix is advanced to and approved by the Governance Committee, the proposal will be considered by the full board at its next meeting on Nov. 8.

 

[PSUFTG]

So, one of the "items of business" is the consideration of a screening matrix for future Trustee Board members. Why would they need to have this but only to "weed out" the undesirables and the unworthy" from even being considered as candidates for the Board? Smacks of pure elitism on the Trustees part.


UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Board of Trustees nominating subcommittee today (Oct. 23) advanced a proposed screening matrix that will be used to evaluate candidates for seats on the board.

The proposed screening matrix will assess materials submitted by the candidate; the candidate’s skills; their past professional and personal experience, including board service; their past service and depth of engagement with Penn State; and a background check.

Designed to provide a fair, consistent and transparent method to determine trustee candidates’ eligibility, the document will be considered by the board’s Governance Committee on Nov. 7. If it receives final approval, the screening matrix will be used to assess trustee candidates with fairness and uniformity, including alumni, at-large, and business and industry candidates for election and appointment to the board.

The Governance Committee’s nominating subcommittee – which includes representatives from across the board, including alumni -- leads Governance’s responsibility for the trustee nomination, election and appointment processes in an effort to standardize expectations for prospective trustees and allows the board to seek individuals who bring a balanced set of skills and experiences that are aligned with Penn State’s strategic needs.

The nominating subcommittee was created as part of a broader update of the Board of Trustees’ bylaws and committee structures enacted on July 30, and was tasked with determining a candidate’s eligibility to be listed on the ballot, in accordance with a screening matrix that was to be developed by the subcommittee.

A governance working group – comprised of trustees from a broad representation of the board – developed recommendations and related governance revisions for the updated bylaws over the course of a year. The group also engaged an external governance expert to ensure best practices were incorporated into the bylaws revisions.

At the same July 30 meeting, the board updated the required materials and processes for all candidates (except gubernatorial appointees) for the board, and approved lowering the minimum nominations required for alumni trustees from 250 to 50 to encourage more alumni to seek election to the group and foster a greater variety of candidates.

If the screening matrix is advanced to and approved by the Governance Committee, the proposal will be considered by the full board at its next meeting on Nov. 8.

Discussion, from last week, regarding the "qualification matrix":

Nominating Subcommittee October 23, 2024 - Penn State MediaSpace (kaltura.com)

My comments begin at about the 18:45 mark.

 

[Erial_Lion]

Discussion, from last week, regarding the "qualification matrix":

Nominating Subcommittee October 23, 2024 - Penn State MediaSpace (kaltura.com)

My comments begin at about the 18:45 mark.

Good discussion, and agree with everything that you, Jay, and Anthony had to say.

As an aside, huge kudos to Ali for taking the time to attend. I guess actually staying engaged through the full 45 minutes was too much to ask, but baby steps...

 

[Zenophile]

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Board of Trustees nominating subcommittee today (Oct. 23) advanced a proposed screening matrix that will be used to evaluate candidates for seats on the board.

The proposed screening matrix will assess materials submitted by the candidate; the candidate’s skills; their past professional and personal experience, including board service; their past service and depth of engagement with Penn State; and a background check.

Will this standard also be applied to sitting and emeritus trustees? Asking for a friend.

 

[Zenophile]

The below article may well deserve its own thread but definitely seems an appropriate update to this one.

'They've Lost Their Way,' Former Trustee Says of Penn State Board

I’ve tried my best this fall to focus on Happy Valley news that really matters. Like the exploits of the Penn State football team or the pre-season

www.statecollege.com

 

[Bwifan]

The below article may well deserve its own thread but definitely seems an appropriate update to this one.

'They've Lost Their Way,' Former Trustee Says of Penn State Board

I’ve tried my best this fall to focus on Happy Valley news that really matters. Like the exploits of the Penn State football team or the pre-season

www.statecollege.com

Really good interview and agrees with much of what information Barry is seeking. The rats on the BOT don't want any light shining on something. They are hiding things at great costs. The more all of this comes out the more the public should demand answers. For those chastising Barry on here for asking for this information well at this point we can't help you if you can't see it.

 

[Bkmtnittany1]

Penn State Board of Trustees to gather for Nov. 7-8 meetings | Penn State University

The Penn State Board of Trustees will hold its next public meetings Nov. 7-8 at the University Park campus. Committee meetings and the meeting of the full board will be livestreamed.

www.psu.edu

Stella’s and onion dip on site… get there early!

 

[Mrdibbs]

The StateCollege.com article
with the interview with former BOT member Alan de Levie should be pinned at the top.

This is most articulate and those of us unwashed members of the alumni association should open their eyes.

 

[NittPicker]

So, one of the "items of business" is the consideration of a screening matrix for future Trustee Board members. Why would they need to have this but only to "weed out" the undesirables and the unworthy" from even being considered as candidates for the Board? Smacks of pure elitism on the Trustees part.


UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Board of Trustees nominating subcommittee today (Oct. 23) advanced a proposed screening matrix that will be used to evaluate candidates for seats on the board.

The proposed screening matrix will assess materials submitted by the candidate; the candidate’s skills; their past professional and personal experience, including board service; their past service and depth of engagement with Penn State; and a background check.

Designed to provide a fair, consistent and transparent method to determine trustee candidates’ eligibility, the document will be considered by the board’s Governance Committee on Nov. 7. If it receives final approval, the screening matrix will be used to assess trustee candidates with fairness and uniformity, including alumni, at-large, and business and industry candidates for election and appointment to the board.

The Governance Committee’s nominating subcommittee – which includes representatives from across the board, including alumni -- leads Governance’s responsibility for the trustee nomination, election and appointment processes in an effort to standardize expectations for prospective trustees and allows the board to seek individuals who bring a balanced set of skills and experiences that are aligned with Penn State’s strategic needs.

The nominating subcommittee was created as part of a broader update of the Board of Trustees’ bylaws and committee structures enacted on July 30, and was tasked with determining a candidate’s eligibility to be listed on the ballot, in accordance with a screening matrix that was to be developed by the subcommittee.

A governance working group – comprised of trustees from a broad representation of the board – developed recommendations and related governance revisions for the updated bylaws over the course of a year. The group also engaged an external governance expert to ensure best practices were incorporated into the bylaws revisions.

At the same July 30 meeting, the board updated the required materials and processes for all candidates (except gubernatorial appointees) for the board, and approved lowering the minimum nominations required for alumni trustees from 250 to 50 to encourage more alumni to seek election to the group and foster a greater variety of candidates.

If the screening matrix is advanced to and approved by the Governance Committee, the proposal will be considered by the full board at its next meeting on Nov. 8.

Apparently, the alumni at large can't be trusted to make choices on their own.

 

[ApexLion]

hmm...let's draw up some rules on future members/yes men!

 

[Lionville]

So they are paying some financial organization $112 million to manage that $4.5 billion endowment. 3.4 times what they were paying previously.

Move along. Nothing to see here.

 

[JohnJumba]

So, one of the "items of business" is the consideration of a screening matrix for future Trustee Board members. Why would they need to have this but only to "weed out" the undesirables and the unworthy" from even being considered as candidates for the Board? Smacks of pure elitism on the Trustees part.


UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Board of Trustees nominating subcommittee today (Oct. 23) advanced a proposed screening matrix that will be used to evaluate candidates for seats on the board.

The proposed screening matrix will assess materials submitted by the candidate; the candidate’s skills; their past professional and personal experience, including board service; their past service and depth of engagement with Penn State; and a background check.

Designed to provide a fair, consistent and transparent method to determine trustee candidates’ eligibility, the document will be considered by the board’s Governance Committee on Nov. 7. If it receives final approval, the screening matrix will be used to assess trustee candidates with fairness and uniformity, including alumni, at-large, and business and industry candidates for election and appointment to the board.

The Governance Committee’s nominating subcommittee – which includes representatives from across the board, including alumni -- leads Governance’s responsibility for the trustee nomination, election and appointment processes in an effort to standardize expectations for prospective trustees and allows the board to seek individuals who bring a balanced set of skills and experiences that are aligned with Penn State’s strategic needs.

The nominating subcommittee was created as part of a broader update of the Board of Trustees’ bylaws and committee structures enacted on July 30, and was tasked with determining a candidate’s eligibility to be listed on the ballot, in accordance with a screening matrix that was to be developed by the subcommittee.

A governance working group – comprised of trustees from a broad representation of the board – developed recommendations and related governance revisions for the updated bylaws over the course of a year. The group also engaged an external governance expert to ensure best practices were incorporated into the bylaws revisions.

At the same July 30 meeting, the board updated the required materials and processes for all candidates (except gubernatorial appointees) for the board, and approved lowering the minimum nominations required for alumni trustees from 250 to 50 to encourage more alumni to seek election to the group and foster a greater variety of candidates.

If the screening matrix is advanced to and approved by the Governance Committee, the proposal will be considered by the full board at its next meeting on Nov. 8.

Just another way of rigging the outcome.

 

[Bwifan]

 

[Keyser Soze 16802]

Will this standard also be applied to sitting and emeritus trustees? Asking for a friend.

He needs a mental exam too. If you can't remember a prison stay, your brain might be seriously damaged!

 

[Psumatt85]

The below article may well deserve its own thread but definitely seems an appropriate update to this one.

'They've Lost Their Way,' Former Trustee Says of Penn State Board

I’ve tried my best this fall to focus on Happy Valley news that really matters. Like the exploits of the Penn State football team or the pre-season

www.statecollege.com

After reading that, why would anyone give them any money?!

 

[Nitt1300]

a wretched hive of scum and villainy

 

[Srg111]

a wretched hive of scum and villainy

Is the entire point of this "screening matrix" to block Barry from running again?

 

[ApexLion]

Is the entire point of this "screening matrix" to block Barry from running again?

Basically ‘people like you and Barry’.

“Just give and stfu, we are governin’, nothing to see here.”

 

[BobPSU92]

Basically ‘people like you and Barry’.

“Just give and stfu, were are governin’, nothing to see here.”

No room for people who smell like us.

 

[Nittany1865Farmer]

No room for people who smell like us.

Leaked picture of PSU's BOT when they were in college???

 

[Midnighter]

How Barry should roll up to the next BOT meeting...

 

[JohnJumba]

The BoT has the process so corrupted, it may never be righted.

 

[leinbacker]

Penn State Board of Trustees to gather for Nov. 7-8 meetings | Penn State University

The Penn State Board of Trustees will hold its next public meetings Nov. 7-8 at the University Park campus. Committee meetings and the meeting of the full board will be livestreamed.

www.psu.edu

Will they be discussing Franklin’s contract post tOSU game?

 

[BobPSU92]

Money will be spent.

Proposal for new classroom building at University Park advances | Penn State University

The Penn State Board of Trustees’ Finance and Investment Committee advanced a plan on Nov. 7 to construct a new classroom building at the University Park campus.

www.psu.edu

Trustees support new Applied Research Laboratory facility at Innovation Park | Penn State University

The Penn State Board of Trustees’ Finance and Investment Committee advanced a proposal on Nov. 7 to construct a new Applied Research Laboratory Building on the University Park campus.

www.psu.edu

Plan advances for additions, renovation to Sackett Building | Penn State University

The Penn State Board of Trustees Committee on Finance and Investment advanced a proposal on Nov. 7 for renovations and additions to Sackett Building, which borders the southwest edge of Pattee Mall on the University Park campus.

www.psu.edu

 

[PSUFTG]

Letter to the Editor.
Today’s Centre Daily Times

‘BOTTOMLESS PIT’ OF PSU ISSUES:

Penn State has received a great deal of unfavorable press, both published, the subject of court proceedings, and general public inquiry. PSU trustees were “spanked” by court recently vis a vis Fenchak matter. PSU seems to have a bottomless pit being tapped in court settlements, fines for oversights in administrative and governmental requirements and general sloppiness.
Is the PSU legal team “asleep”on the job? Increased fees, tuition, costs being borne by students, and so forth are impacted. Thank goodness for PSU football or PSU’s endowment would be at risk. Hooray for Messrs. Fenchak and Lubrano.

Piet H. van Ogtrop, State College

 

[PSUFTG]

More on this to come:


Penn State Partnering With Private Developer for New Student Housing Complex​

A rendering of the planned Greystar Inc. student housing development at Penn State’s University Park campus. Image via Penn State
By
Geoff Rushton
–
November 8, 2024
Latest Penn State News, Local News

---

Penn State will partner with a private developer for a new 1,500-bed housing project to accommodate planned enrollment growth at the University Park campus.
The Board of Trustee on Friday approved entering a long-term ground lease with South Carolina-based developer Greystar Inc., which will build and operate the complex on university-owned land near the corner of University Drive and East College Avenue. Penn State will maintain ownership of the land and Greystar will pay the university annual ground rent.
Penn State did not disclose any of the anticipated terms of the ground lease.

The complex is intended for non-first year students. It will offer a mix of six different unit types, “providing unit types and price points that will meet the needs of a wide range of students,” according to a presentation to the board’s Finance and Investment Committee on Friday.
Rental rates proposed by Greystar “are affordable relative to rents in the State College market,” according to the presentation, though the rates were not detailed
Greystar is expected to complete approximately 775 beds by the fall of 2027 and another 730 by the fall of 2028.

A “road map” for the future of the university unveiled earlier this year plans to “leverage” growing demand for attendance at University Park by increasing undergraduate enrollment 9,175 in 2023-24 to 10,000 over several admission cycles. The current maximum based on housing capacity, however, is 9,500.

Penn State issued a request for proposals from developers for the new housing project in June, and after a monthslong evaluation process landed on Greystar, which also has partnerships with 11 other universities in Pennsylvania.
“This structure allows the university to continue to focus on using housing reserves and debt for existing housing renovations,” Sara Thorndike, senior vice president for finance business, said at Friday’s board meeting.

Alumni-elected Trustee Barry Fenchak was the lone dissenting vote. His opposition was not about the specifics of the project, which he said might have “a lot of potential positives,” if it were merely about filling unmet housing demand through a different avenue than the historical way of building campus residences financed by Housing and Food Services funding and debt.

Instead, Fenchak said he disagreed with the overall strategy of trying to increase enrollment at University Park, citing internal and external factors such as a reliance on having more students, particularly from out-of-state, changing demographics and growing alternatives to traditional higher education.
“I think when we look at those concerns it in my view is not in the best interest of the university to be looking to expand enrollment at University Park,” Fenchak said. “We’re already digging far, far deeper into our applicant pool because of those issues … in order to maintain enrollment there. If we put ourselves in a position where we have to increase enrollment, that’s only going to exacerbate those concerns.”
Since 2000, Penn State has added the Eastview Terrace complex and new dormitories at East and North halls. The university has also undertaken comprehensive overhauls of its 1950s and ’60s era dorms, completing renovations to North, East and South halls, with Pollock Halls next up on the docket starting in 2025. The older West Halls is also undergoing some mor modest modernization and capacity expansion.

​

 

[BobPSU92]

More on this to come:​

​

​

Penn State Partnering With Private Developer for New Student Housing Complex​

A rendering of the planned Greystar Inc. student housing development at Penn State’s University Park campus. Image via Penn State
By
Geoff Rushton
–
November 8, 2024
Latest Penn State News, Local News

---

Penn State will partner with a private developer for a new 1,500-bed housing project to accommodate planned enrollment growth at the University Park campus.
The Board of Trustee on Friday approved entering a long-term ground lease with South Carolina-based developer Greystar Inc., which will build and operate the complex on university-owned land near the corner of University Drive and East College Avenue. Penn State will maintain ownership of the land and Greystar will pay the university annual ground rent.
Penn State did not disclose any of the anticipated terms of the ground lease.

The complex is intended for non-first year students. It will offer a mix of six different unit types, “providing unit types and price points that will meet the needs of a wide range of students,” according to a presentation to the board’s Finance and Investment Committee on Friday.
Rental rates proposed by Greystar “are affordable relative to rents in the State College market,” according to the presentation, though the rates were not detailed
Greystar is expected to complete approximately 775 beds by the fall of 2027 and another 730 by the fall of 2028.

A “road map” for the future of the university unveiled earlier this year plans to “leverage” growing demand for attendance at University Park by increasing undergraduate enrollment 9,175 in 2023-24 to 10,000 over several admission cycles. The current maximum based on housing capacity, however, is 9,500.

Penn State issued a request for proposals from developers for the new housing project in June, and after a monthslong evaluation process landed on Greystar, which also has partnerships with 11 other universities in Pennsylvania.
“This structure allows the university to continue to focus on using housing reserves and debt for existing housing renovations,” Sara Thorndike, senior vice president for finance business, said at Friday’s board meeting.

Alumni-elected Trustee Barry Fenchak was the lone dissenting vote. His opposition was not about the specifics of the project, which he said might have “a lot of potential positives,” if it were merely about filling unmet housing demand through a different avenue than the historical way of building campus residences financed by Housing and Food Services funding and debt.

Instead, Fenchak said he disagreed with the overall strategy of trying to increase enrollment at University Park, citing internal and external factors such as a reliance on having more students, particularly from out-of-state, changing demographics and growing alternatives to traditional higher education.
“I think when we look at those concerns it in my view is not in the best interest of the university to be looking to expand enrollment at University Park,” Fenchak said. “We’re already digging far, far deeper into our applicant pool because of those issues … in order to maintain enrollment there. If we put ourselves in a position where we have to increase enrollment, that’s only going to exacerbate those concerns.”
Since 2000, Penn State has added the Eastview Terrace complex and new dormitories at East and North halls. The university has also undertaken comprehensive overhauls of its 1950s and ’60s era dorms, completing renovations to North, East and South halls, with Pollock Halls next up on the docket starting in 2025. The older West Halls is also undergoing some mor modest modernization and capacity expansion.

​

”Planned enrollment growth”? Where are all these dumb, well-heeled kids coming from?

 

[JohnJumba]

Money will be spent.

Proposal for new classroom building at University Park advances | Penn State University

The Penn State Board of Trustees’ Finance and Investment Committee advanced a plan on Nov. 7 to construct a new classroom building at the University Park campus.

www.psu.edu

Trustees support new Applied Research Laboratory facility at Innovation Park | Penn State University

The Penn State Board of Trustees’ Finance and Investment Committee advanced a proposal on Nov. 7 to construct a new Applied Research Laboratory Building on the University Park campus.

www.psu.edu

Plan advances for additions, renovation to Sackett Building | Penn State University

The Penn State Board of Trustees Committee on Finance and Investment advanced a proposal on Nov. 7 for renovations and additions to Sackett Building, which borders the southwest edge of Pattee Mall on the University Park campus.

www.psu.edu

Let us give money to PiT.

 

[Bison13]

“Private” developer.

 

[BobPSU92]

Trustees November recap: Board approves projects, elects new leaders | Penn State University

The Penn State Board of Trustees concluded its November meetings, giving final approval to several capital projects and electing new officers, among other actions, Nov. 7-8 at the University Park campus.

www.psu.edu

“The trustees approved:

• A new classroom building at the University Park campus;
• A new building for the Applied Research Laboratory at Innovation Park;
• The renovation and additions to the historic Sackett Building at University Park;
• The construction of a new Academic Learning Center at Penn State Harrisburg;
• A ground lease agreement with a developer to build a 1,500-bed housing project at University Park; and
• Revised assessment criteria for trustee candidates.”

 

[Train027]

Trustees November recap: Board approves projects, elects new leaders | Penn State University

The Penn State Board of Trustees concluded its November meetings, giving final approval to several capital projects and electing new officers, among other actions, Nov. 7-8 at the University Park campus.

www.psu.edu

“The trustees approved:

• A new classroom building at the University Park campus;
• A new building for the Applied Research Laboratory at Innovation Park;
• The renovation and additions to the historic Sackett Building at University Park;
• The construction of a new Academic Learning Center at Penn State Harrisburg;
• A ground lease agreement with a developer to build a 1,500-bed housing project at University Park; and
• Revised assessment criteria for trustee candidates.”

I Agree