UNIVERSITY PARK-- At a special meeting on Feb. 14, the University Faculty Senate voted to pass a nonbinding “Agreement of Shared Governance Cooperation.”
The document requests additional information from University leaders in a number of areas related to the budget and how changes might impact Penn State’s campuses and employees across the state. The document also makes proposals for the shared governance of the University.
University leaders have stressed that no decisions have been made with respect to individual campus budgets and said work will continue over the next 17 months, in partnership with the Senate and individual campuses, to determine a sustainable path forward that reflects each campus’ unique needs and strengths.
The proposal follows the Jan. 22 release of the road map for the University’s future, which charts a path for Penn State’s continued success in a challenging budget environment and higher education landscape.
President Neeli Bendapudi and Executive Vice President and Provost Justin Schwartz addressed Faculty Senate on Jan. 23. During that meeting, Bendapudi and Schwartz said the road map is grounded in advancing Penn State’s academic, research and service mission while creating a sustainable business model for long term strategic growth.
Senators debated over various topics related to the proposal, including the merits of external consultants on some University initiatives, and whether the senate’s proposed agreement was necessary.
Penn State leaders are aware of the faculty senate documents. The University administration has and will continue to work meaningfully with the faculty senate on key areas that fall under the senate's purview within the shared governance model.
The senate also passed a proposal for several senate committees to give regular updates on the status of various initiatives, including the Academic Program and Portfolio Review (APPR) and the implementation of the 2025-26 budget, at future meetings of the Faculty Senate.
About Faculty Senate
Faculty Senate is a legislative body comprised of 200 faculty, elected by faculty in each college and campus. The senate also includes representatives from the undergraduate and graduate student body and University administration. Through a legislative process, the senate holds authority on educational matters including curriculum, student policies, admissions, and retention/graduation requirements. The senate also serves as an advisory and consultative body to the University administration on other matters of University policy and decision-making, a process referred to as shared governance.