PSU Board of Trustees Meetings:

[PSUFTG2]

PSU Board of Trustees meetings this week:

The public is invited to attend, or to ZOOM in (location and links attached below)

https://trustees.psu.edu/february-15-16-2024-thursday-and-friday/

Compensation Committee Thursday at 1:15:

Public Session
1. Call to Order (M. Schneider)
2. Approval of December 1 and December 19, 2023, Meeting Minutes (M. Schneider)
3. Personnel Matter (M. Schneider)
• Approval of Compensation for President (M. Schneider)
4. Adjournment (M. Schneider)

Finance Committee Thursday at 1:45:

Public Session
1. Call to Order (R. Fenza)
2. Approval of November 9, 2023, Meeting Minutes (R. Fenza)
Action Items
3. Proposed Naming of the Chemistry Building, “Benkovic Building” University Park (B.
Sitzabee)
4. Proposed Project Approval, Physics Building and Osmond Lab Renovation,
University Park (B. Sitzabee)
5. Proposed Real Estate Divestiture at 505 East Wopsononock Avenue, Penn State
Altoona (S. Thorndike)
Informational Reports (made available to Trustees)
• Operational Efficiencies and Optimized Service Teams Update
• Quarterly FY2024 Budget to Actual Results
• Auxiliary and Business Services Financial and Capital Projects Updates
• College of Medicine and Penn State Health Financial Update
• Intercollegiate Athletics Financial and Capital Projects Update
• Investment Performance and Benchmarking
• Key Financial Ratios
• Capital Plan and Borrowing Report.

Audit Committee Thursday at 3:00:

Public Session
1. Call to Order (R. Black)
2. Introduce New Director of Internal Audit (S. Thorndike / R. Black)
3. Approve Minutes – November 9, 2023 Meeting (R. Black)
4. Review External Auditors (S. Thorndike)
5. Adjournment (R. Black)

Full Board meeting Friday at 1:00:

1. Chair Welcome/Remarks
2. Call to Order
3. Consent Action Items
a. Approval of Minutes from November 10, 2023 meeting
b. Approval of 2025 Dates for Meetings of the Board of Trustees
c. Approval of University Park Airport name change to State College Regional Airport
4. Reports from Standing Committees
Discussion of action and/or information items by the Standing Committees for consideration
by the Board of Trustees:
a. Committee on Academic Affairs and Student Life – Steve Wagman, Chair
b. Committee on Audit and Risk – Randy Black, Chair
c. Committee on Equity and Human Resources – Mary Lee Schneider, Chair
d. Subcommittee on Compensation – Mary Lee Schneider, Chair
1) Presidential Compensation
e. Committee on Finance, Business and Capital Planning – Rob Fenza, Chair
1) Proposed Naming of the Chemistry Building, “Benkovic Building” University Park
2) Proposed Project Approval, Physics Building and Osmond Lab Renovation, University
Park
3) Proposed Real Estate Divestiture at 505 East Wopsononock Avenue, Penn State
Altoona
f. Governance and Long-Range Planning – Julie Anna Potts, Chair
g. Committee on Legal and Compliance – Alvin de Levie, Chair
1) Proposed Annual Applications, Renewals and Other Filings Required by the
Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board
h. Committee on Outreach, Development and Community Relations – Rick Sokolov, Chair
5. President’s Report
• Robert Sainburg, PhD, Dorothy F. and J. Lloyd Huck Distinguished Chair in Kinesiology
and Neurology, Director of the Center for Movement and Technology, Professor of
Kinesiology and of Neurology
• Candice Maenza, PhD, Neurorehabilitation Laboratory Manager, Penn State College of
Medicine
6. Closing Remarks/Announcement

 

[LionJim]

Give 'em hell, Barry.

 

[Midnighter]

PSU Board of Trustees meetings this week:

The public is invited to attend, or to ZOOM in (location and links attached below)

https://trustees.psu.edu/february-15-16-2024-thursday-and-friday/

Compensation Committee Thursday at 1:15:

Public Session
1. Call to Order (M. Schneider)
2. Approval of December 1 and December 19, 2023, Meeting Minutes (M. Schneider)
3. Personnel Matter (M. Schneider)
• Approval of Compensation for President (M. Schneider)
4. Adjournment (M. Schneider)

Finance Committee Thursday at 1:45:

Public Session
1. Call to Order (R. Fenza)
2. Approval of November 9, 2023, Meeting Minutes (R. Fenza)
Action Items
3. Proposed Naming of the Chemistry Building, “Benkovic Building” University Park (B.
Sitzabee)
4. Proposed Project Approval, Physics Building and Osmond Lab Renovation,
University Park (B. Sitzabee)
5. Proposed Real Estate Divestiture at 505 East Wopsononock Avenue, Penn State
Altoona (S. Thorndike)
Informational Reports (made available to Trustees)
• Operational Efficiencies and Optimized Service Teams Update
• Quarterly FY2024 Budget to Actual Results
• Auxiliary and Business Services Financial and Capital Projects Updates
• College of Medicine and Penn State Health Financial Update
• Intercollegiate Athletics Financial and Capital Projects Update
• Investment Performance and Benchmarking
• Key Financial Ratios
• Capital Plan and Borrowing Report.

Audit Committee Thursday at 3:00:

Public Session
1. Call to Order (R. Black)
2. Introduce New Director of Internal Audit (S. Thorndike / R. Black)
3. Approve Minutes – November 9, 2023 Meeting (R. Black)
4. Review External Auditors (S. Thorndike)
5. Adjournment (R. Black)

Full Board meeting Friday at 1:00:

1. Chair Welcome/Remarks
2. Call to Order
3. Consent Action Items
a. Approval of Minutes from November 10, 2023 meeting
b. Approval of 2025 Dates for Meetings of the Board of Trustees
c. Approval of University Park Airport name change to State College Regional Airport
4. Reports from Standing Committees
Discussion of action and/or information items by the Standing Committees for consideration
by the Board of Trustees:
a. Committee on Academic Affairs and Student Life – Steve Wagman, Chair
b. Committee on Audit and Risk – Randy Black, Chair
c. Committee on Equity and Human Resources – Mary Lee Schneider, Chair
d. Subcommittee on Compensation – Mary Lee Schneider, Chair
1) Presidential Compensation
e. Committee on Finance, Business and Capital Planning – Rob Fenza, Chair
1) Proposed Naming of the Chemistry Building, “Benkovic Building” University Park
2) Proposed Project Approval, Physics Building and Osmond Lab Renovation, University
Park
3) Proposed Real Estate Divestiture at 505 East Wopsononock Avenue, Penn State
Altoona
f. Governance and Long-Range Planning – Julie Anna Potts, Chair
g. Committee on Legal and Compliance – Alvin de Levie, Chair
1) Proposed Annual Applications, Renewals and Other Filings Required by the
Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board
h. Committee on Outreach, Development and Community Relations – Rick Sokolov, Chair
5. President’s Report
• Robert Sainburg, PhD, Dorothy F. and J. Lloyd Huck Distinguished Chair in Kinesiology
and Neurology, Director of the Center for Movement and Technology, Professor of
Kinesiology and of Neurology
• Candice Maenza, PhD, Neurorehabilitation Laboratory Manager, Penn State College of
Medicine
6. Closing Remarks/Announcement

What should be worth watching? Presidential Compensation?

 

[Nittany1865Farmer]

The renovation of Osmond Labs and the Physics department is long overdue. That project should have been pushed ahead of the new Arts Museum because of the urgent need for new equipment and keeping pace with the rest of the academic research done in particle physics.

 

[BobPSU92]

Barry, go get us a win!

 

[BobPSU92]

The renovation of Osmond Labs and the Physics department is long overdue. That project should have been pushed ahead of the new Arts Museum because of the urgent need for new equipment and keeping pace with the rest of the academic research done in particle physics.

Yes, but the physics department won’t bring millions of visitors to Happy Valley annually.

 

[LionJim]

The renovation of Osmond Labs and the Physics department is long overdue. That project should have been pushed ahead of the new Arts Museum because of the urgent need for new equipment and keeping pace with the rest of the academic research done in particle physics.

The UMd president during my time was William Kirwan, a mathematician. He prioritized the sciences and the departments of physics, computer science, math, and applied math were each top 20 at the same time, roughy about when I got my degree, 1995. From the Ivies, only Harvard, Yale, and Princeton could say the same. That made Maryland’s reputation for a couple of decades. Md sciences are not as good now. But Kirwan always had the correct focus, a great president.

 

[GrimReaper]

What should be worth watching? Presidential Compensation?

That ought to be interesting.

 

[LionJim]

That ought to be interesting.

Only if BF is allowed to ask questions, I surmise.

 

[psuro]

Yes, but the physics department won’t bring millions of visitors to Happy Valley annually.

 

[BobPSU92]

What should be worth watching? Presidential Compensation?

That ought to be interesting.

I could be really diverse and equitable and feel all kinds of included and belonged if PSU paid me Neeli’s salary.

 

[GrimReaper]

I could be really diverse and equitable and feel all kinds of included and belonged if PSU paid me Neeli’s salary.

Not sure about that. You'd have to trade latte and scones for onion dip. Onion dip gets really messy when you use tongs.

 

[PSUFTG2]

What should be worth watching? Presidential Compensation?

I'll let you know after

Seriously, sometimes you can be surprised.

 

[manatree]

PSU Board of Trustees meetings this week:

The public is invited to attend, or to ZOOM in (location and links attached below)

https://trustees.psu.edu/february-15-16-2024-thursday-and-friday/

Compensation Committee Thursday at 1:15:

Public Session
1. Call to Order (M. Schneider)
2. Approval of December 1 and December 19, 2023, Meeting Minutes (M. Schneider)
3. Personnel Matter (M. Schneider)
• Approval of Compensation for President (M. Schneider)
4. Adjournment (M. Schneider)

Finance Committee Thursday at 1:45:

Public Session
1. Call to Order (R. Fenza)
2. Approval of November 9, 2023, Meeting Minutes (R. Fenza)
Action Items
3. Proposed Naming of the Chemistry Building, “Benkovic Building” University Park (B.
Sitzabee)
4. Proposed Project Approval, Physics Building and Osmond Lab Renovation,
University Park (B. Sitzabee)
5. Proposed Real Estate Divestiture at 505 East Wopsononock Avenue, Penn State
Altoona (S. Thorndike)
Informational Reports (made available to Trustees)
• Operational Efficiencies and Optimized Service Teams Update
• Quarterly FY2024 Budget to Actual Results
• Auxiliary and Business Services Financial and Capital Projects Updates
• College of Medicine and Penn State Health Financial Update
• Intercollegiate Athletics Financial and Capital Projects Update
• Investment Performance and Benchmarking
• Key Financial Ratios
• Capital Plan and Borrowing Report.

Audit Committee Thursday at 3:00:

Public Session
1. Call to Order (R. Black)
2. Introduce New Director of Internal Audit (S. Thorndike / R. Black)
3. Approve Minutes – November 9, 2023 Meeting (R. Black)
4. Review External Auditors (S. Thorndike)
5. Adjournment (R. Black)

Full Board meeting Friday at 1:00:

1. Chair Welcome/Remarks
2. Call to Order
3. Consent Action Items
a. Approval of Minutes from November 10, 2023 meeting
b. Approval of 2025 Dates for Meetings of the Board of Trustees
c. Approval of University Park Airport name change to State College Regional Airport
4. Reports from Standing Committees
Discussion of action and/or information items by the Standing Committees for consideration
by the Board of Trustees:
a. Committee on Academic Affairs and Student Life – Steve Wagman, Chair
b. Committee on Audit and Risk – Randy Black, Chair
c. Committee on Equity and Human Resources – Mary Lee Schneider, Chair
d. Subcommittee on Compensation – Mary Lee Schneider, Chair
1) Presidential Compensation
e. Committee on Finance, Business and Capital Planning – Rob Fenza, Chair
1) Proposed Naming of the Chemistry Building, “Benkovic Building” University Park
2) Proposed Project Approval, Physics Building and Osmond Lab Renovation, University
Park
3) Proposed Real Estate Divestiture at 505 East Wopsononock Avenue, Penn State
Altoona
f. Governance and Long-Range Planning – Julie Anna Potts, Chair
g. Committee on Legal and Compliance – Alvin de Levie, Chair
1) Proposed Annual Applications, Renewals and Other Filings Required by the
Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board
h. Committee on Outreach, Development and Community Relations – Rick Sokolov, Chair
5. President’s Report
• Robert Sainburg, PhD, Dorothy F. and J. Lloyd Huck Distinguished Chair in Kinesiology
and Neurology, Director of the Center for Movement and Technology, Professor of
Kinesiology and of Neurology
• Candice Maenza, PhD, Neurorehabilitation Laboratory Manager, Penn State College of
Medicine
6. Closing Remarks/Announcement

Did you make sure that Ali Krieger got an invite?

 

[Keyser Soze 16802]

Aren't we still owed a listening tour?

 

[ValleyForgeLion]

Only if BF is allowed to ask questions, I surmise.

They'll cut his microphone off, again. Hope he can talk loudly.

 

[PSU_Lions_84]

Yes, but the physics department won’t bring millions of visitors to Happy Valley annually.

It will when they perfect room-temperature fusion as an unlimited power source.

 

[BobPSU92]

Plan to renovate Osmond Laboratory advances

Renovations to add individual and collaborative research spaces, improve lecture halls

https://www.psu.edu/news/administration/story/plan-renovate-osmond-laboratory-advances/

“UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Board of Trustees Committee on Finance, Business and Capital Planning advanced a proposal today (Feb. 15) to renovate a portion of Osmond Laboratory at the University Park campus, constructing a 48,000-square-foot addition in support of the physics department.

The proposal will be considered by the full board at its meeting on Feb. 16.

This project, referred to as the “Physics and Osmond Renovation Project,” will feature new, cutting-edge research lab spaces and a high-bay research facility; a space to facilitate collaborations; updated outdoor spaces, including a courtyard outside of the lecture halls; and lecture hall renovations.

“This project provides critical updates to the Osmond Laboratory in support of world-class physics research and education,” said Tracy Langkilde, Verne M. Willaman Dean of the Eberly College of Science. “The quality of our faculty and their research has a direct impact on our reputation, student success and scientific innovation, which in turn allows us to recruit the best students. This project is critical for our ability to meet that goal.”

The new high-bay research facility will provide space for large-scale instrument assembly and testing that includes balloons, rockets, satellite payloads and deep-underground experiments in areas of particle and astroparticle physics. The addition of this facility will be instrumental in the research done by the physics department and will help attract more large interdisciplinary projects to Penn State.“

And,

”This project has an allotted budget of $115 million, and construction is expected to begin in March.“

 

[BobPSU92]

Committee advances plan to rename Chemistry Building as 'Benkovic Building'

https://www.psu.edu/news/administration/story/committee-advances-plan-rename-chemistry-building-benkovic-building/

“UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Board of Trustees Committee on Finance, Business and Capital Planning today (Feb. 15) advanced a proposal to rename the Chemistry Building at the University Park campus in honor of the careerlong scholarly impact of Stephen Benkovic, Atherton Professor of Chemistry.

The plan will be considered by the full board on Feb. 16.

“Stephen Benkovic is a world leader in chemical biology, whose work defined the field and our understanding of biological principles,” said Tracy Langkilde, Verne M. Willaman Dean of the Eberly College of Science. “His meteoric rise through the ranks at Penn State is unparalleled, and he continues to bring prestige to our institution. A decorated researcher, entrepreneur and educator, he embodies the University’s mission of creating new knowledge and fostering innovation for the benefit of society and serves as a role model to many across the globe. The naming of the Benkovic Building recognizes this extraordinary research impact and the high regard that Penn State holds for Steve and his wife, Pat. They are an incredible team whose legacy is amplified through the trainees they have mentored.”

Benkovic joined the University’s faculty as an assistant professor of chemistry in 1965, became a full professor in 1970 and was named Evan Pugh Professor of Chemistry in 1977. His work at the University defined the field of bio-organic chemistry and set the stage for its rapid development. Aimed at understanding biological phenomena through the application of chemical principles, Benkovic’s research has been fundamental in the design of new treatments for bacterial and fungal infections, HIV and cancer, and he is a highly sought-after scientific consultant in academia, industry and government.“

Well deserved.

 

[Midnighter]

Does she have Franklin’s agent?

Oh - and I heard she’s skipping THON. #vision

 

[BobPSU92]

Does she have Franklin’s agent?

Oh - and I heard she’s skipping THON. #vision

Is THON not DEIB. enough for her?

 

[Tom McAndrew]

Oh - and I heard she’s skipping THON. #vision

Is THON not DEIB. enough for her?

A grandchild of hers was just born. Doctors have advised her to avoid large, indoor crowds or stay away from the grandchild. Given the choice, I can't find fault with her decision.

 

[BobPSU92]

A grandchild of hers was just born. Doctors have advised her to avoid large, indoor crowds or stay away from the grandchild. Given the choice, I can't find fault with her decision.

Go to THON, avoid the grandchild.

 

[PSUFTG2]

Does she have Franklin’s agent?

Oh - and I heard she’s skipping THON. #vision

Trustee Barry Fenchak stood in opposition to the motion, noting the move would be improper amid university budget cuts. The board member also noted Penn State’s presidential compensation was the second-highest among Big Ten schools, arguing the university was already providing Bendapudi with competitive compensation.


“First and foremost, we need to not make unwise decisions,” the board member said. “Given the environment we’re currently in, especially with even tougher fiscal decisions awaiting down the road, the disconcert among many of our constituents and elements of the Penn State community, that this would be in total perceived as a tone-deaf, perhaps, and unwise decision and action.”

The board member gave the only opposition vote in an otherwise unanimous decision to increase Bendapudi’s salary.

 

[Midnighter]

Trustee Barry Fenchak stood in opposition to the motion, noting the move would be improper amid university budget cuts. The board member also noted Penn State’s presidential compensation was the second-highest among Big Ten schools, arguing the university was already providing Bendapudi with competitive compensation.


“First and foremost, we need to not make unwise decisions,” the board member said. “Given the environment we’re currently in, especially with even tougher fiscal decisions awaiting down the road, the disconcert among many of our constituents and elements of the Penn State community, that this would be in total perceived as a tone-deaf, perhaps, and unwise decision and action.”

The board member gave the only opposition vote in an otherwise unanimous decision to increase Bendapudi’s salary.

Not always 100% with you but this is spot on.