YSU Board of Trustees summary, March 16, 2016

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"6096","attributes":{"class":"media-image alignleft wp-image-9192","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"290","height":"285","alt":"YSU seal large"}}]]Youngstown State University Board of Trustees Wednesday, March 16, 2016

The following is a summary of the YSU Board of Trustees meeting in the Trustees Meeting Room on the first floor of Tod Hall. For more details, including full texts of the resolutions and policies, click here. Moment of Silence: Board Chair Carole Weimer called for a moment of silence for James Greene, a member of the board who died March 13. President’s report: President Tressel noted that it has been 20 months since his administration took leadership of the university. He expressed gratitude and appreciation to students, faculty, staff, administration and trustees for their work and their passion for the university. He acknowledged Trustee Greene’s constant positive manner and thanked outgoing Trustee Harry Meshel and Student Trustee Bryce Miner for their service and leadership. The president also talked about the opportunities that exist just within a one-hour drive of YSU: 6.83 million people, 3.11 million jobs, $141 billion in earned wages, $195 billion in revenue generated by companies, the headquarters of 34 Fortune 1000 companies. He said the region provides tremendous opportunity for students attending YSU. “We will only be limited by our creativity and our willingness to compete,” he said. The Board approved the following resolutions: Academic Quality and Student Success Resolution to Modify Recognition, Publication, and Support of Employee Degrees. The policy was reviewed as part of the university’s regular and ongoing policy review process. Minimal changes were made, including adding the complete title of the provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, indicating the appropriate vice president to receive verified materials of employees, and having the Office of Human Resources verify degrees. Additional changes include updating the name of the board committee responsible for the policy, aligning the policy with the new numbering system, and indicating a new review date. Resolution to Modify Research, Grants, and Sponsored Programs Policy. Minimal changes were made, including changing the individuals responsible to serve as authorized institutional officials by deleting the associate provost/dean of Graduate Studies and adding the provost and the associate vice president for Research. Additional changes include updating the name of the board committee responsible for the policy, aligning the policy with the new numbering system, and indicating a new review date. Resolution to Authorize Conferral of Honorary Degree – Joseph G. Carson, director of Global Economic Research for AllianceBernstein. Carson will receive the doctor of Business Administration degree at commencement in May. Resolution to Authorize Conferral of Honorary Degree – Andrea Wood, chair and president of the Youngstown Publishing Co. and publisher and editor in chief of The Business Journal. Wood will receive the doctor of Letters degree at commencement in May. Resolution Entrusting the Academic Senate with Establishing Conditions for Granting Undergraduate Course Credit to Students Who Have Successfully Completed an International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. New state law requires the board of trustees of each public university to adopt and implement such a policy. The policy charges the YSU Academic Senate with identifying undergraduate course credit to grant to students who have successfully completed an international baccalaureate program; establishing conditions for granting course credit, including minimum scores on examinations to receive credit; identifying specific course credit or other academic requirements; and maintaining a list of conditions for granting credit for the international baccalaureate. Resolution to Approve Tenure for Dean of the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. In December 2015, the board of trustees appointed Wim F.A. Steelant as the new dean of the College of STEM. This resolution grants Steelant tenure as a professor in the Department of Chemistry. Institutional Engagement Committee Resolution to Confirm Appointment of Community Member to the Board of Directors of the Northeastern Educational Television of Ohio Inc. NETO is owned by a consortium of YSU, the University of Akron and Kent State University. The NETO board is made up of 15 members, including four members appointed by the president of each university. In this resolution, President Tressel appoints Bruce Sherman, owner of Sherman Creative Promotions, to the board. Resolution to Accept Alumni Engagement and WYSU Memberships. The resolution formally accepts 800 Alumni Relations members and 1,113 WYSU-FM members for the period July 1 to Dec. 31, 2015. Finance and Facilities Resolution to Modify Reduction/Refund of Tuition and Fees Policy. The resolution was reviewed as part of the regular five-year cycle and was updated to clarify when a refund or reduction in student tuition or fees may be appropriate. Resolution to Modify Acceptable Use of University Technology Resources Policy. Modifications include making YSU email an official means of university communication and streamlining file access procedure of former employees. Resolution to Modify Cellular Equipment Usage Policy. Some sections of the policy listed under procedures were modified to establish additional controls for purchasing cellular equipment and to require justification to purchase nonstandard equipment with university funds. Resolution to Rescind the Previously Approved Room Rental Rates for the University Courtyard Apartments. In December 2015, the board of trustees approved increasing room rental rates for the University Courtyard Apartments. After careful consideration, the university believes that rates should remain unchanged for all university-owned housing and meal plans and that any increases be deferred. Therefore, the increases approved in December for University Courtyard Apartments are being rescinded. Resolution to Approve the Leasing of University Land for Student Housing and Retail. In June 2015, the board of trustees authorized leasing property on the West Side of campus to Hallmark Student Housing Youngstown for development of student housing. The lease has since been approved by the state, construction has started and the first phase of the apartments are to be open for occupancy by the start of this Fall semester. The lease also allows Hallmark the option to construct additional housing or retail buildings. This resolution approves leasing the option land for the development of a second phase of additional student housing and/or retail. University Affairs Resolution to Modify Development and Authorization of Institutional Procedures Policy. Changes to the policy include adding an explanation of the purpose of the procedures, streamlining and delineating the review process as overseen by the president, providing for the publication/posting of an institutional procedure on the website of the office responsible for its implementation. Resolution to Modify Divisional Administrative Procedures Policy. Changes include an explanation of the purpose for the procedure, providing formatting guidelines, and providing for the publication/posting of new or revised procedures on the website of the office responsible for its implementation. Resolution to Modify Americans with Disabilities Act. Changes explain the university’s responsibilities in the area of disability and accommodation, to provide relevant definitions and responsibilities applicable to reasonable accommodations and to serve as an educational tool for the campus community. Resolution to Modify and Retitle Vacation Leave, Exempt Professional/Administrative Staff and Department Chairs Policy. Sections of the policy listed under procedures have been modified to recognize that the leave reporting process has been converted from a paper process to electronic reporting. Resolution to Modify Administrative Complaint Process – Professional/Administrative Exempt Employees Policy. The policy was modified to clarify and expedite the review process, streamlining the appeal process and reducing the timeline to 31 days. Resolution to Amend and Restate the Youngstown State University Alternative Retirement Plan. The plan is required to be amended to comply with various requirements, including the Internal Revenue Code. Resolution to Approve the Selection of the Position of Associate Provost for International and Global Initiatives. The board of trustees approves the appointment of Nathan Myers as associate provost for International and Global Initiatives and associate professor of Educational Foundations, Research, Technology and Leadership. The position was established in order to expand activities within the YSU Center for International Studies and Programs. Myers previously was executive director of the International Programs Division at Ashland University. Resolution to Approve the Selection of the Position of Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. The board of trustees approves the appointment of Kristine Blair as dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. Blair previously was professor and chair of English at Bowling Green State University. Blair replaces Jane Kestner, who has been serving as interim dean of the college since Shearle Furnish left the post in the summer of 2014. Resolution to Ratify Personnel Actions. The resolution includes appointments and other personnel actions that have been made since the Dec. 16, 2015, meeting of the board of trustees. Resolution to Accept YSU-FOP Fact Finder’s Report and Ratify Tentative Agreement. The existing contract between YSU and the YSU-Fraternal Order of Police expired June 30, 2015. A Fact Finder report was received in March 2016 addressing five unresolved issues in the contract. The FOP accepted the report. This resolution accepts the Fact Finder report on behalf of the board of trustees, thus ratifying the agreement, which runs through June 30, 2018. Provost Martin Abraham introduced and acknowledged Wim Steelant, new dean of STEM; Kristine Blair, new dean of CLASS; and Nathan Myers, new associate provost for International and Global Initiatives. Trusteeship Resolution to Amend the Bylaws of the Board of Trustees of Youngstown State University. Nomination of 2016-2017 Board Officers. The board nominated on first reading: Carole Weimer for chair; Leonard Schiavone for vice chair; and Franklin Bennett Jr. for secretary. Communications Resolution of Appreciation for Harry Meshel, whose nine-year term on the board of trustees expires. Chair Weimer and Trustee Ted Roberts thanked Meshel for his service. “Thank you, Harry, for passionately helping to maintain the integrity of YSU,” Roberts said. Resolution of Appreciation for Bryce A. Miner, whose two-year term as a student member of the board of trustees expires. Chair Weimer thanked Miner for his service. Chairperson’s Remarks: Chair Weimer thanked members of the YSU-FOP for their dedication and for their willingness to accept a new contract with concessions. She also thanked members of the YSU negotiating team for their work. She reminded everyone that the university was entering awards season and encouraged every to attend an event and learn more about the many accomplishments of YSU students. She also acknowledged the presence of past YSU student trustees, Josh Prest and Eric Shehadi. Meetings: The board set the following times/dates for future meetings: 3 p.m., Wednesday, June 15, 2016; 3 p.m., Wednesday, September 21, 2016; 3 p.m., Wednesday, December 14, 2016 Adjournment