PSU BOT Meeting Review

[PSUFTG]

Report from July PSU BOT meetings:
The budget, the much-discussed tuition increases, and the continuation of lack of accountability.

My comments from the Penn State Board of Trustees Meeting, July 21, 2023 – BARRY FENCHAK

 

[Bwifan]

Report from July PSU BOT meetings:
The budget, the much-discussed tuition increases, and the continuation of lack of accountability.

My comments from the Penn State Board of Trustees Meeting, July 21, 2023 – BARRY FENCHAK

Barry I haven't had the time yet to dive into the details but any discussion what the $18.5 million from the sale will be used? Retiring debt or any other discussions?

 

[PSUFTG]

Barry I haven't had the time yet to dive into the details but any discussion what the $18.5 million from the sale will be used? Retiring debt or any other discussions?

Interesting question.
Its a bit unusual - and convoluted - because the properties were initially purchased (in significant part) with State funds.
Without getting too far into the weeds, the proceeds of the sale will go to the Commonwealth.
PSU has made statements along the lines of "$$ will come back to PSU to cover the portion of the original purchase/construction costs that were layed out by PSU" (paraphrasing). Whether or not that actually happens?

Here is the best public write up I have seen that touches on the issue you raised:
Penn State to Sell 2 Philadelphia Navy Yard Properties for $18.5 Million (msn.com)

I didn't get into it in any detail on the Navy Yard stuff (not at all really) at the BOT meetings... and didn't get into it in the report, as it was a bit convoluted, and I try to keep the newsletters to a smaller length.
Same wrt some specific issues on the budget - though I will probably do some separate communications on some of those in the future.

 

[Sharkies]

Barry, as always, thanks for this. Embarrassing all around to have one of the new alumni reps absolutely no-show a meeting where there's a tuition increase proposal at hand. These idiots, and many of them are younger (?), who basically said she'd be a voice of reason, blah blah blah... and then we get that. Unreal.

Also, should be noted B. Short has continued to also be a big disappointment.

 

[Bwifan]

Report from July PSU BOT meetings:
The budget, the much-discussed tuition increases, and the continuation of lack of accountability.

My comments from the Penn State Board of Trustees Meeting, July 21, 2023 – BARRY FENCHAK

FYI not sure you saw this story on a group looking for PSU board transparency

Link PSU board transparency

 

[Achowalogan]

Not surprising, and disappointing, no way to measure if objectives achieved. Measurable objectives are a basic tenet. When this type of stuff is passed, it only reaffirms what we already know about most BOT members, they are clueless or intentionally corrupt. Sadly, appears in many ways new university president is a continuation of past practices. Purdue gets it wrt tuition. PSU is an embarrassment.

 

[GrimReaper]

FYI not sure you saw this story on a group looking for PSU board transparency

Link PSU board transparency

Love groups like that. "This is what we want and we want someone else to pay for it."

 

[ValleyForgeLion]

"* The document generated by the Administration stating 2023-2024 goals and objectives for Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi and approved at the public meeting has been labeled a privileged document and is not available to the public."

Can somebody explain this sentence to me like I went to Pitt.

 

[Nittany1865Farmer]

"* The document generated by the Administration stating 2023-2024 goals and objectives for Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi and approved at the public meeting has been labeled a privileged document and is not available to the public."

Can somebody explain this sentence to me like I went to Pitt.

What we say publicly about our goals and what the actual white paper drawn up by the BOT, are two separate realities and good luck finding out what the true BOT actual goals and realities are!!!!

 

[GrimReaper]

What we say publicly about our goals and what the actual white paper drawn up by the BOT, are two separate realities and good luck finding out what the true BOT actual goals and realities are!!!!

And people want to know why Harrisburg isn't more forthcoming with money.

 

[BobPSU92]

And people want to know why Harrisburg isn't more forthcoming with money.

I‘m sure that isn’t the only reason.

 

[Keyser Soze 16802]

I‘m sure that isn’t the only reason.

How many do they need?

 

[Midnighter]

Report from July PSU BOT meetings:
The budget, the much-discussed tuition increases, and the continuation of lack of accountability.

My comments from the Penn State Board of Trustees Meeting, July 21, 2023 – BARRY FENCHAK

First, voted for Krieger and very disappointed she was a no show. Yes, everyone here warned me. Would love to know the excuse/reason. Second, what is the point of abstaining from a vote? It serves no purpose. Speaking of, Short is an all timer on the field, but he needs to go next.

Appreciate the effort Barry - thanks!

 

[Midnighter]

"* The document generated by the Administration stating 2023-2024 goals and objectives for Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi and approved at the public meeting has been labeled a privileged document and is not available to the public."

Can somebody explain this sentence to me like I went to Pitt.

Translation: For us to know; not you.

 

[J.E.B]

First, voted for Krieger and very disappointed she was a no show. Yes, everyone here warned me. Would love to know the excuse/reason. Second, what is the point of abstaining from a vote? It serves no purpose. Speaking of, Short is an all timer on the field, but he needs to go next.

Appreciate the effort Barry - thanks!

Krieger was probably at World Cup. Could have at least zoomed in. Her squad was a farce and those whose voted for them are getting what was expected.

 

[ValleyForgeLion]

First, voted for Krieger and very disappointed she was a no show. Yes, everyone here warned me.

She does win best trustee picture. I want to see all of them in black pleather.

 

[JohnJumba]

Did they discuss properly honoring Joe? Going after the B10 for the stolen bowl money?

 

[PSUJam]

She does win best trustee picture. I want to see all of them in black pleather.
View attachment 372858

I thought you'd use this for best trustee pic.

 

[ValleyForgeLion]

I thought you'd use this for best trustee pic.

Black is not Karen Peetz's color but the blonde hair is an improvement.

 

[JohnJumba]

Black is not Karen Peetz's color but the blonde hair is an improvement.

 

[Bison13]

West Virginia University’s unprecedented proposed cuts become clear

The flagship university is recommending eliminating 9 percent of its majors, all the foreign language programs and 7 percent of full-time faculty members.

www.insidehighered.com

Don’t need to go this far but maybe Penn State could knock a couple programs off the list

 

[BobPSU92]

West Virginia University’s unprecedented proposed cuts become clear

The flagship university is recommending eliminating 9 percent of its majors, all the foreign language programs and 7 percent of full-time faculty members.

www.insidehighered.com

Don’t need to go this far but maybe Penn State could knock a couple programs off the list

Maybe PSU can absorb some new majors, if any, and the faculty from wvu.

 

[GrimReaper]

West Virginia University’s unprecedented proposed cuts become clear

The flagship university is recommending eliminating 9 percent of its majors, all the foreign language programs and 7 percent of full-time faculty members.

www.insidehighered.com

Don’t need to go this far but maybe Penn State could knock a couple programs off the list

Eliminate world languages? So English will no longer be taught at WVU, not that anyone would notice

 

[LB99]

Eliminate world languages? So English will no longer be taught at WVU, not that anyone would notice

Do you know how you know that the toothbrush was invented in West Virginia?

Because if it was invented any where else it would have been called a teethbrush.

 

[BW Lion]

I thought you'd use this for best trustee pic.

View attachment 373149

So who’s the blonde freak with the lion tattoo on its’ thigh?

 

[PSUJam]

So who’s the blonde freak with the lion tattoo on its’ thigh?

Her wife.

 

[BW Lion]

Her wife.

Straight outta Rocky Horror

 

[Fizz1]

West Virginia University’s unprecedented proposed cuts become clear

The flagship university is recommending eliminating 9 percent of its majors, all the foreign language programs and 7 percent of full-time faculty members.

www.insidehighered.com

Don’t need to go this far but maybe Penn State could knock a couple programs off the list

Not a bad move to eliminate specific majors vs. taking an across the board approach. Fund the strengths.

 

[BobPSU92]

Not a bad move to eliminate specific majors vs. taking an across the board approach. Fund the strengths.

Strengths? It’s wvu.

 

[Anon1690805700]

Did we get the stolen bowl money?

 

[TiogaLion]

I always thought a foreign language was required for a Bachelor of Arts degree. I guess not.

 

[PSUFTG]

Not a bad move to eliminate specific majors vs. taking an across the board approach. Fund the strengths.

At some point, one would think, spending millions of dollars to fund a department - that, year after year, doesn't have any students (or damn few) - might be considered fiscally sub-optimal.

 

[BobPSU92]

At some point, one would think, spending millions of dollars to fund a department - that, year after year, doesn't have any students (or damn few) - might be considered fiscally sub-optimal.

If we fund it, they will come (eventually). If they don’t come, fund it more to draw them in.

 

[Bison13]

I always thought a foreign language was required for a Bachelor of Arts degree. I guess not.

good question. I know that so many schools require two (or more) years of foreign language in HS to get in to the school.

 

[BobPSU92]

I believe it is typical for two university presidents to meet when they play in football. Assuming Neeli and the wvu president meet in a few weeks, perhaps they will discuss wvu’s shrinkage announcement. If they do, will Neeli laugh at wvu, ask how they went about the analysis and decision-making process, or ask if PSU can get wvu’s scraps on the cheap?

 

[TiogaLion]

I believe it is typical for two university presidents to meet when they play in football. Assuming Neeli and the wvu president meet in a few weeks, perhaps they will discuss wvu’s shrinkage announcement. If they do, will Neei laugh at wvu, ask how they went about the analysis and decision-making process, or ask if PSU can get wvu’s scraps on the cheap?

Why is it always about shrinkage with you?

 

[BobPSU92]

Why is it always about shrinkage with you?

I yam what I yam.

 

[manatree]

West Virginia University’s unprecedented proposed cuts become clear

The flagship university is recommending eliminating 9 percent of its majors, all the foreign language programs and 7 percent of full-time faculty members.

www.insidehighered.com

“The university is reviewing plans to eliminate the language requirement for all majors [and] is exploring alternative methods of delivery such as a partnership with an online language app or online partnership with a fellow Big 12 university,” WVU said in its news release. It said student interest in the department’s programs “is very low and declining.”

Is it even possible to offer a BA without a language requirement?

 

[Anon1690805700]

German, Spanish and French.

Better learn how to speak Chinese.

 

[LionJim]

Is it even possible to offer a BA without a language requirement?

Yes. The faculty decides what the requirements are. There are no hard and fast rules about what a BA or BS means. If WVU is serious about eliminating the foreign language departments, then either the faculty approve BA curriculums that don’t include foreign language or they go the online route.

Foreign languages are really under siege nowadays, a comparatively easy way to cut costs.