Kevin Mathe

The meeting included a report from the president, discussing the university's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the new strategic plan focusing on student success, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and financial sustainability. Reports from various committees covered topics such as university advancement (including fundraising progress and new endowments), administration and finance (including budget updates and tuition rate proposals), academic affairs (including program updates and senate actions), student affairs (including student athlete recognitions), and enrollment management. The meeting also included approvals for various resolutions, committee appointments, and the order of succession plan.

The Academic Affairs Committee report covers several key actions and initiatives. It recommends approval of IUP-APSCUF Representative Council actions, including program revisions, moratoriums, a track deletion, and a new certificate in Secondary English Education. Updates were provided on newly funded grant initiatives focused on teacher preparation and expansion of the STEAMSHOP makerspace. The report also includes overviews of the Liberal Studies re-envisioning process and the Big Ideas: Transformative Culture and the Professions certificate program, which aims to enhance student career preparation by integrating humanities and soft skills.

The Administration and Finance Committee reviewed and discussed items related to the Administration and Finance Division, including business process improvement projects, an update on international undergraduate tuition changes, and the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex financial report. The committee also reviewed and recommended approval for a five-year, priority capital project spending plan and the FY2022-23 Comprehensive Planning Process (CPP) Mid-Year Progress Report.

The IUP Council of Trustees meeting covered a wide range of topics, including the president's report, which highlighted a nearly 20 percent tuition reduction for out-of-state undergraduate students, the exploration of developing a school of osteopathic medicine, and various university achievements and initiatives. Reports from the Audit, Administration and Finance, Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, University Advancement, and Enrollment Management committees were presented and discussed. The meeting also included resolutions of commendation for IUP men's golf, Guillermo Salazar, Karolin Kirchtag, and IUP football. Finally, the council approved the exploration of developing a school of osteopathic medicine at IUP and set the date for the next meeting.

The Academic Affairs Committee reviewed and recommended approval for various program revisions, variability of delivery, new programs, and program moratoriums, all of which had been previously considered by the IUP-APSCUF Representative Council. The committee also noted actions awaiting approval from the council. Additionally, the University Senate approved revisions to several academic policies, including those related to academic standards, schedule changes, grades, experiential learning, re-enrollment, excess credit load, conflict of interest, timely degree completion, catalog applicability, student classification, audit, undergraduate transfer admissions, grade changes, student grade appeals, time limitations for graduate students, and time-to-degree extensions for theses and dissertations.