Committee Charge

Develop and implement a multi-faceted strategy that engages with central administration, shared governance bodies, and other partners both internal and external to the University to   protect and advance the critical role of graduate education in defining a successful Penn State. The committee will advocate for graduate education as an institutional pillar necessary to the overall health of the University and press for its inclusion in any discussions related to the broad planning of the University’s future in light of current budget realities and challenges in the higher education landscape.  

Rationale

In May 2023, in response to the University’s announcement of a new budget model and a subsequent Council discussion with the University Budget Allocation Working Group, an ad hoc committee was formed to address concerns regarding the budget model’s potential impact to graduate education, creative accomplishment, and research. This ad hoc committee advocated for open and inclusive engagement in discussions of the budget model while surveying all graduate program leaders across the University, meeting with a wide variety of stakeholders, and gathering data from other institutions. The Ad Hoc Committee on the University Budget Model presented their findings along with points of concern about and recommendations for modifications to the University budget model at the September 2023 meeting of the Graduate Council which was subsequently endorse through a vote of Council in October 2023. The endorsed points of concern and recommendations have been shared broadly with all members of the Graduate Faculty, the University Faculty Senate, the University Budget Allocation Working Group, and the President. As of January 2023, the University Budget Allocation Working Group has been disbanded and there has been no official response from University administration regarding the points of concern and recommendations.

On January 22, 2024, University administration shared Penn State’s road map for the University’s future along with an announcement of a comprehensive review of all academic programs, including undergraduate and graduate majors and minors offered at all campuses. The Ad Hoc Committee on the University Budget model began discussing the announced review in its relation to the budget. It was quickly recognized however that a full academic program review potentially goes beyond budgetary matters and is part of a broader concern about the focus of the University, historical lack of transparency, and exclusion of graduate education in institutional decision making. The Executive Committee was called to discuss approaches to addressing these issues and partnership opportunities with the Faculty Senate and other stakeholders.  

The formation of a new ad hoc committee with an expanded scope to examine these broad issues was encouraged by the Executive Committee to ensure prompt and vigorous engagement in this issue as soon as possible given the urgency of the topic.   

Outcome

The Ad Hoc Committee will attempt to engage with central administration and other stakeholders on topics related to the administration’s road map for the future of the University. The committee will also develop a strategic communication plan to disseminate information to graduate education constituencies on the potential impact of changes and promote open discussion highlighting the importance of graduate education at Penn State. Periodic reports on the nature of discussions will be provided to the Council with any formalized or final recommendations presented to the Council for review.

Time Frame

The committee will continue its work until the concerns raised above have been addressed, are no longer relevant, or the work of the ad hoc committee has been encompassed by the standing committees of the Council.

Committee Co-Chairs

• Kenneth Davis,  Professor of Meteorology, Immediate Past Chair of Graduate Council, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
• David Vanness, Professor of Health Policy and Administration, College of Health and Human Development

Membership

• Robert Bannon, Director of Graduate Council Administration, Secretary of the Graduate Council
• Kathryn Brasier, Professor of Rural Sociology, College of Agricultural Sciences
• Andy Cole, Professor of Landscape Architecture, College of Arts and Architecture
• Edward Dudley, Professor of Food Science, College of Agricultural Sciences
• John Flanagan, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine
• Renee Flasher, Assistant Professor of Accounting, Capital College
• Matthew Fantle, Professor of Geosciences, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
• Charlene Gross, Associate Professor of Costume Design, Chair of the Senate Committee on Faculty Affairs
• Gabriel Lara, Graduate Student, Graduate and Professional Student Association
• Dana Mitra, Professor of Education, College of Education
• Amber O'Shea, Assistant Professor of Education, College of Education
• Anirban Paul, Assistant Professor, Neural and Behavioral Sciences, College of Medicine
• Ayah Rub, Graduate Student, Graduate and Professional Student Association
• Michael Verderame, Senior Associate Dean of the Graduate School
• Michelle Vigeant-Haas, Associate Professor of Acoustics, College of Engineering
• Kent Vrana, Professor of Pharmacology, University Faculty Senate Liaison
• Josh Wede, Teaching Professor of Psychology, Chair-Elect of the Faculty Senate
• Jan Reimann, Chair of Graduate Council, Ex Officio