A Critical Endorsement of the Past Chairs Statement Regarding the Freeh Report and NCAA Consent Decree

During the course of the University Faculty Senate Meeting held Tuesday August 28, 2012 (e.g. Faculty Senate August 24 Meeting Agenda) Kim Steiner an eminent former Chair of the University Faculty Senate introduced a  "Statement by a Group of Past Chairs of The Pennsylvania State University Faculty Senate Regarding the Freeh Report, the NCAA Consent Decree, and Their Academic Implications August 28, 2012." On motion made at the end of the meeting, the Senate will consider endorsing this statement at its October 2012 meeting.

 (Pix (c) Larry Catá Backer 2012)

I have given this Statement sustained and serious consideration, analyzing it critically.  There is much in that Statement that is worthy of serious consideration, but there are also important lacunae that weaken the analysis and misdirect its focus. Putting aside questions of the utility of this exercise (e.g. Statement of Senate Chair Made at the Aug 28, 2012 Meeting), I conclude that I will support the motion for Senate endorsement of the Statement at the October 201232 meeting.  This post includes a copy of the Statement and my critical assessment. 

Statement of Senate Chair Made at the Aug 28, 2012 Meeting

The Penn State University Faculty Senate held its first meeting of this academic year on Tuesday August 28, 2012 (e.g. Faculty Senate August 24 Meeting Agenda).  I have spoken to the forensic discussion requested by one of our Senators to consider the NCAA sanctions and the university's response (e.g. My Thoughts on the Questions Posed for the Senate Forensic Discussion on the NCAA and Big 10 Sanctions).

(Pix (c) Larry Catá Backer 2012)

This post includes the remarks I made at the start of the meeting,

My Thoughts on the Questions Posed for the Senate Forensic Discussion on the NCAA and Big 10 Sanctions

The Penn State University Faculty Senate's first meeting of this academic year is scheduled for Tuesday August 28, 2012 (e.g. Faculty Senate August 24 Meeting Agenda).  Among the many important items up for consideration, and one that has generated a substantial amount of interest (e.g. Chris Rosenblum, Penn State Faculty Senate questions NCAA sanctions, Freeh findings, Centre Daily Times, August 23, 2012) is a forensic session to discuss the NCAA sanctions and the report of the Freeh Group, the university's response to the sanctions and the role of the Senate.

(Pic (c) Larry Catá Backer 2012)

This post sets out the materials provided by for forensic convener, Senator Keith Nelson, Penn State Liberal Arts: (1) brief description (from the Senate Meeting Agenda; and (2) the extended statement and forensic questions.  And because I will not have a chance to participate in what is likely to be a very interesting and useful discussion, I have provided some of my own thoughts here about the important questions raised by Senator Nelson.

Faculty Senate August 24 Meeting Agenda

The Penn State Faculty Senate has moved to a paperless agenda system (e.g.,Implementing Strategies for More Sustainable Meeting Practices--The Senate Moves To Paperless Meetings, The Faculty Voice,  Aug. 9, 2012).  Our first meeting of the 2012-2013 Academic Year is scheduled for Tuesday August 28, 2012.

(Pix (c) Larry Catá Backer 2012)

I have included below the Agenda of the matting that may also be accessed here.I encourage those interested to send comments to their unit Senators or otherwise to the Senate officers. We expect a lively meeting. 

The AGENDA MAY ALSO BE ACCESSED HERE.

Faculty Senate Welcome Message

Set out below is our standard form-welcome message in anticipation of our first full Senate Meeting of the 2012-13 Academic Year.

(Pix (c) Larry Catá Backer 2012))

FAQs About the Accreditation of Penn States--The Word From the Middle States Commission on Higher Education

As can be imagined, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education action against the accreditation status of Penn State, a global 50 university, has raised eyebrows and elevated stress.

(Pix (c) Larry Catá Backer 2012)

In order to minimize the inflammatory nature of its action, perhaps, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education has issued a FAQs about their action against Penn State.  This is reproduced below.
Traditional information about the accreditation may be accessed HERE.

Informal Notes of August 14, 2012 Senate Council Meeting

On August 14, 2012, the Penn State Faculty Senate Council held a regularly scheduled meeting.  This post provides an informal summary of the meeting.  In the event of conflict the formal minutes will be regarded as authoritative. 

(Pix (c) Larry Catá Backer 2012))

My thanks to my colleagues for the great job of organizing the informal notes from which this summary was prepared. The slides of the PowerPoint Presentation made by Chair Backer at the meeting may be accessed HERE.

Board of Trustees Meeting Scheduled for Sunday to Discuss NCAA Consent Agreement

It appears that the Penn State Board of Trustees continue to change the shape of their governance habits and are becoming more intimately involved in shaping policy for the university.  

This from the Penn State Alternative Website--Onward State: "The Penn State Board of Trustees will hold a special phone conference Sunday evening at 5 p.m. to discuss the consent decree with the NCAA accepting the sanctions, a board source confirmed to Onward State earlier today."

Implementing Strategies for More Sustainable Meeting Practices--The Senate Moves To Paperless Meetings

This message is being sent to all members of Senate Council:

(Pix (c ) Larry Catá Backer 2012)

Effective with the August 14, 2012 Senate Council meeting, agendas for all Senate and Senate Council meetings will no longer be provided in a print-based format.

A link to the Senate and Senate Council agendas will be sent approximately one week before each Senate and Senate Council meeting. As with past practices, the Senate meeting agenda will be posted on the Senate homepage at http://www.senate.psu.edu/.

The August 14 Senate Council agenda is posted at http://www.senate.psu.edu/about_senate/committees/sc/scagenda.pdf. The unit constitutions listed under Action Items are posted in ANGEL under Senate Council/2012-2013/August 14, 2012.

My statement on the move toward less paper follows: