SIAP: The Composition of Penn State’s Board of Trustees Needs to Change by John Hook

[StamfordBridgeVikingatLeftOffensiveTackle]

I like "Captain" Hook's style. I mean he quoted Albus Dumbledore in an article on the BOT. Cheeky.

The Composition of Penn State's Board of Trustees Needs to Change

A little over a week ago, my annual email from the Penn State Board of Trustees appeared in my inbox, requesting that I cast my ballot for alumni-elected

www.statecollege.com

 

[BobPSU92]

The bot laughs at change.

 

[Zenophile]

Very interesting (& well written). The only additional factor I might suggest for consideration is setting aside distinct categories for subject matter experts so that when dealing with an operational issue -- or heaven forbid another nuclear-level crisis comes along -- there would be sufficient expertise on hand for formulating a plan to address it. For example, HR and Crisis Management were *CLEARLY* missing from the table in November 2011.

 

[BobPSU92]

I like "Captain" Hook's style. I mean he quoted Albus Dumbledore in an article on the BOT. Cheeky.

The Composition of Penn State's Board of Trustees Needs to Change

A little over a week ago, my annual email from the Penn State Board of Trustees appeared in my inbox, requesting that I cast my ballot for alumni-elected

www.statecollege.com

“Do you know why I admire you, Newt? More perhaps than any man I know? You do not seek power or popularity. You simply ask, is a thing right, in itself? And if it is, you do it no matter the cost.”

So if it costs a lot, it’s the right thing. The bot is doing their job.

 

[BobPSU92]

Very interesting (& well written). The only additional factor I might suggest for consideration is setting aside distinct categories for subject matter experts so that when dealing with an operational issue -- or heaven forbid another nuclear-level crisis comes along -- there would be sufficient expertise on hand for formulating a plan to deal with it. For example, HR and Crisis Management were *CLEARLY* missing from the table in November 2011.

George Costanza is available for risk management.

 

[Zenophile]

“Do you know why I admire you, Newt? More perhaps than any man I know? You do not seek power or popularity. You simply ask, is a thing right, in itself? And if it is, you do it no matter the cost.”

Like standing by a quarterback falsely accused of crimes against an off-duty police officer?

 

[BobPSU92]

Very interesting (& well written). The only additional factor I might suggest for consideration is setting aside distinct categories for subject matter experts so that when dealing with an operational issue -- or heaven forbid another nuclear-level crisis comes along -- there would be sufficient expertise on hand for formulating a plan to deal with it. For example, HR and Crisis Management were *CLEARLY* missing from the table in November 2011.

All good points. It is well written, but I’m sure nothing will change in my lifetime.

 

[StamfordBridgeVikingatLeftOffensiveTackle]

All good points. It is well written, but I’m sure nothing will change in my lifetime.

BARRY! BARRY! BARRY!

 

[Metal Mike]

Captain Hook makes some very good suggestions. His best suggestion is to eliminate the Business and Industry (B&I) and the Ag board members. However, he does not give a reason to eliminate these positions. He implies they do not have the best interest of the university and I agree. At one time the B&I and Ag members had a large role to play in what was taught at PSU. That no longer is the case. I do not know the percentage of students in Ag majors but I assume it is small, less than 15 %. As we do not have board members for Liberal Arts we do not need board members for Ag. As for B&I members, when the switch was made from having professional organizations nominate folks to fill these positions to having the board itself nominate replacements this was the beginning of the “inner circle” that came to dominate the board. We must get rid of the B&I members or go back to having professional organizations nominate folks to break up the “inner circle”.

 

[Zenophile]

Captain Hook makes some very good suggestions. His best suggestion is to eliminate the Business and Industry (B&I) and the Ag board members. However, he does not give a reason to eliminate these positions. He implies they do not have the best interest of the university and I agree. At one time the B&I and Ag members had a large role to play in what was taught at PSU. That no longer is the case. I do not know the percentage of students in Ag majors but I assume it is small, less than 15 %. As we do not have board members for Liberal Arts we do not need board members for Ag. As for B&I members, when the switch was made from having professional organizations nominate folks to fill these positions to having the board itself nominate replacements this was the beginning of the “inner circle” that came to dominate the board. We must get rid of the B&I members or go back to having professional organizations nominate folks to break up the “inner circle”.

AKA the cabal.