UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Four Penn State Board of Trustees committees met virtually on Oct. 20 in a series of off-cycle meetings.
The committees meeting included Equity and Human Resources; Academic Affairs, Research and Student Life; Outreach, Development and Community Relations; and Governance and Long-Range Planning.
The Committee on Equity and Human Resources:
- Reviewed the University’s diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) dashboard and discussed Penn State’s DEIB priorities and metrics for DEIB. The dashboard, created by the University’s Office of Planning, Assessment and Institutional Research, focuses on four key metrics: Student graduation rates; faculty at different ranks; staff leadership development opportunities; and employee ‘belonging’ scores as measured through various employee surveys. The dashboard, which is still in early development, will seek to identify gaps and trends within each of the metrics, the pipelines for the groups, and how areas of need could be addressed. Officials hope to make the dashboard available to the public once it has been completed and approved in a few months;
- Discussed feedback and results for the Broadening Understanding and Inclusion through Learning and Dialogue, or BUILD, program that was launched as a pilot program this past summer. BUILD is a new University-wide diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) education initiative for Penn State employees designed to support the University’s efforts to foster and promote a more welcoming and inclusive campus environment. The full board also plans to participate in the BUILD program; and
- Heard an update on Penn State’s Compensation Modernization Initiative, which kicked off in fall 2020 with the goal of creating modern, competitive compensation structures and clear, supportive career development resources for staff. The initiative is completing its salary market assessment phase and beginning salary structure development. Officials anticipate the initiative to be completed in early 2023.
The Committee on Academic Affairs, Research and Student Life heard a panel discussion on “The Future of the Higher Education Workforce: Trends and Potential Strategies in the Faculty Labor Market for Penn State” led by Justin Schwartz, interim executive vice president and provost.
The Committee on Outreach, Development and Community Relations:
- Discussed strategies for communicating Penn State’s proposed funding request to the Pennsylvania Legislature. During the full board’s meeting on Sept. 23, the board approved a plan to seek an increase of $115.2 million for its 2023-24 general support appropriation from the commonwealth. Zack Moore, vice president for Government and Community Relations, said Penn State’s efforts include growing and educating the University’s advocate base, as a way to help secure crucial state funding that contributes directly to the in-state tuition discount for students.
- Received an update from the Office of Development and Alumni Relations, including transitions to new technology platforms and philanthropic giving to Penn State in the period after the conclusion of the University’s latest fundraising campaign.
- Talked about strategies to broaden alumni engagement and participation in the Board of Trustees election process; and
- Received an update on the University’s crisis communication protocols.
The Committee on Governance and Long-Range Planning:
- Discussed and approved its comprehensive board assessment plan and calendar; and
- Reviewed the operating guidelines for the selection of the student trustee.
Full committee agendas, as well as recorded meetings, can be found on the Board of Trustees website at https://trustees.psu.edu/board-and-committee-meetings-2022-23/.