Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education
KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY
MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL OF TRUSTEES
February 16, 2015
The Council of Trustees met on Monday, February 16, 2015 at 4:05 p.m. in Stratton Administration
Center, room 301.
PRESENT:
Dr. Charles Blocksidge (via conference call) ............................................... McKees Rocks
Ms. Letecia Garcia ................................................................................................... Topton
Mr. Dennis Giorno ........... ………………………………………………...…....Harrisburg
Mr. Thomas H. Heck, Secretary ........................................................................Wyomissing
Mr. Anthony Iannelli…………………………………………………… .... …... Macungie
Ms. Dianne Lutz .............................................................................................. Wernersville
Mr. James Ludlow .............................................................................................. Fogelsville
Mr. Guido Pichini ………………...…………………………………….Wyomissing Hills
Mr. Roger Schmidt ... ............ …………………………………………………….Leesport
Mr. John Wabby, Chairperson .............................................................................. Pottsville
ABSENT:
ALSO PRESENT:
Mr. John Green, Associate Vice President, Communication, Marketing and External Affairs
Dr. James Mackin, Acting Provost
Mr. David Mekeel, Reading Eagle Reporter
Ms. Lisa Mitchell, Kutztown Patriot
Mr. Jesus Peña, Esq., Associate Vice President for Equity and Compliance
Ms. Julia S. Peitzer, Chair, Allies Equality Network
Dr. Joseph Piscitelli, Professor Emeritus
Mrs. Diane Piscitelli, Kutztown Borough Resident
Mr. Matt Santos, Director of University Relations
Mr. Jerry Silberman, Vice President for Administration and Finance
Ms. Tracey Thompson, Executive Director, KU Foundation
Dr. Carlos Vargas-Aburto, Acting President
Dr. Carole Wells, Vice Provost
Dr. Anne Zayaitz, Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
1.
Call to Order
At 4:05p.m., Chairperson Wabby called the meeting to order; a quorum being present.
2.
Public Comments
None
3.
Remarks by Council Chair
None
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4.
Doctor of Social Work
Dr. Charles Blocksidge asked Dr. Carlos Vargas-Aburto to discuss the Doctor of Social Work
Executive Summary to the Council.
Dr. Vargas stated that he is pleased to propose this program to the Council. The Doctorate in
Social Work proposed by Kutztown University and Millersville University is designed to
offer education and training to prepare graduates to create, implement, and evaluate social work
interventions—skills necessary for social work leaders—while simultaneously training them to
teach advanced practice to undergraduate and graduate level students. This program is for
accomplished professional social workers who are ready to take on advanced leadership positions
in which they will create and evaluate innovative programs and best practices in executive and
academic positions, as well as function as professional educators. Graduates will understand and
will be able to apply leadership and organizational theory from an interdisciplinary perspective;
conduct translational research; and develop, implement and evaluate academic curricula in social
work. Graduates will be professional social work scholar-practitioners.
The program aligns with PASSHE’s Strategic Plan 2020: Rising to the Challenge by
adapting to ever-changing student populations, aligning academic programs with real
workforce and personal growth needs and providing greater flexibility in how, when and
where students learn.
At the campus level, the social work profession’s core values identified in the proposed DSW
align directly with the values of Millersville’s new strategic plan, Our Bold Path: integrity,
compassion (respect), public mission (service learning), professionalism (cultural competence),
and exploration (scientific inquiry). The program also supports KU’s Strategic Goals, particularly
the second goal related to community engagement through enhanced internship experiences,
community-based research, and faculty-student outreach.
Mr. Pichini gave his congratulations on this great achievement. He is proud that Kutztown
University will be a doctoral institution and is pleased with the collaboration with Millersville.
Dr. Blocksidge also gave his congratulations and noted that extensive research regarding this was
completed. The research showed there is a demand in the market place for this program. The
program will be relevant to the education and training needed to prepare students for jobs in
the industry. He commended Dr. Vargas and the staff who brought this program forward.
Dr. Blocksidge moved that the Council of Trustees at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
approve the joint Doctor of Social Work from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania and
Millersville University of Pennsylvania to move forward to the Board of Governors of the State
System of Higher Education for final approval. Mr. Heck seconded the motion and the motion
carried. (Exhibit A)
Other Business
5.
Executive Session
At 4:18 p.m. the Council voted to go in to executive session to discuss personnel matters. At
4:54 p.m., the meeting reconvened.
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6.
Presidential Search
Mr. John Wabby, Chair of the Presidential Search Committee presented the following report to
the Council of Trustees.
The Kutztown University Presidential Search Committee (“Committee”), appointed to make
recommendations to the Council of Trustees in connection with the selection of a new President
to serve Kutztown University, has completed its work and submits this report and
recommendation.
Members of the Committee are:
Mr. Gregory Bamberger, Athletic Director
Dr. Charles Blocksidge, Council of Trustees
Mr. Chad Brown, Student Success Coordinator, Kutztown University SCUPA
Representative
• Mr. Ray Dunkle, President of AFCSME Local #2234
• Ms. Letecia Garcia, Student, Council of Trustees
• Mr. Thomas Heck, Council of Trustees
• Dr. William Mowder, Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Ms. Moira O’Connor-Servis, President of KU Alumni Association
• Dr. Glenn Richardson, Professor of Political Science
• Dr. Jennifer Schlegel, Professor of Anthropology/Sociology
• Mr. Joe Scoboria, President of Student Government Board
• Ms. Ramona Turpin, KU Alumna, Former Council of Trustees
• Mr. Jack Wabby (Chair), Council of Trustees
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The Committee also includes Dr. Kathleen Howley, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic and
Student Affairs and Dr. Michael Fiorentino, President of Lock Haven University as non-voting
members.
Through the standard RFP process, upon appointment by the Council of Trustees and
authorization to proceed from the Office of the Chancellor, Greenwood/Asher & Associates, Inc.
was selected in July 2015 as the consulting firm from the approved vender list maintained by the
Chancellor.
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On September 5, 2014, an announcement was sent to the Kutztown University
Community to inform them of the progress of the search, give them a link to the
Presidential Search website – www.kutztown.edu/PresidentSearch and invite them to the
university leadership needs assessment open forums on September 19, 2014.
On September 19, 2014, Greenwood/Asher & Associates visited campus to conduct a
university leadership needs assessment with the following constituent groups: Community
Leaders, Staff, Faculty, and Students. Following the assessment forums, the Committee
convened their first meeting with Greenwood/Asher & Associates, Inc. At this meeting, the
consulting firm reviewed the search process, tentative schedule and executed verbal
confidentiality agreements with the committee in order to maintain the security of the
search process and to protect the privacy of candidates who may be employed elsewhere.
At this meeting a subcommittee was formed to finalize the position description and profile
summary of Kutztown University for publication to prospective candidates.
On September 24, 2014, the Ad and Profile Subcommittee met to finalize the materials.
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In October the position description and profile summary were reviewed and approved by
the Committee. The position was advertised in the Chronicle of Higher Education,
Hispanic Outlook, Diverse Issues, Women in Higher Education, InsideHigherEd.com,
and Higher Ed Jobs according to the approved advertising plan from Greenwood/Asher
& Associates, Inc.
On November 3, 2014, the Committee convened a meeting to review the pool of applicants
and select a limited pool to afford in-person hotel interviews by the full Committee.
On December 5 – 6, 2014, the Committee held interviews with twelve prospective candidates.
On December 18, 2014, the Committee held interviews with four prospective candidates and
held the reference feedback meeting to determine which candidates would be invited to
participate in campus interviews.
On January 13, 2015, the Committee convened a meeting regarding the campus interviews.
Five candidates were selected to participate in campus interviews: Dr. Carol Bresnahan,
Dr. Lorrie Clemo, Dr. James Conneely, Dr. Kenneth Hawkinson, and Dr. Lori Quigley.
On January 16, 2015, an announcement was sent to the campus community regarding the
campus visits and release of the names of the candidates.
On January 20, 2015, an announcement was sent to the campus community to clarify the
release of the names of the candidates.
On January 21, 2015, an announcement was sent to the campus community regarding the
release of names.
The Committee facilitated the visits that were held from January 25 through February 7, 2015.
During the campus visits feedback surveys were posted on the website for all
constituencies to utilize. Each feedback survey link was live for 57 hours. The results of
the feedback surveys were given to the Committee for consideration in their review of
the candidates.
On February 11, 2015, the Committee convened a meeting to consider the relative strengths
of the five candidates who participated in the campus interviews.
The Committee recommends the following two candidates, listed in alphabetical order, to
the Council of Trustees for further consideration.
Lorrie Clemo, Ph.D.
Ph.D. 1988 – Binghamton University
M.A. 1987 – Binghamton University
B.A. 1983 – LeMoyne College
Currently – Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, State University of New York at
Oswego, Oswego, New York
Kenneth Hawkinson, Ph.D.
Ph.D. 1986 – Southern Illinois University
M.A. 1979 – Western Illinois University
B.A. 1978 – Western Illinois University
A.A. 1976 – Elgin Community College
Currently – Provost and Academic Vice President, Western Illinois University, Macomb,
Illinois
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Mr. Heck moved that the Council of Trustees at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania recommend
the following two candidates, listed in alphabetical order, to move forward to the Chancellor of
the State System of Higher Education as per Board of Governors Policy 1983-13-A: Lorrie Clemo,
Ph.D. and Kenneth Hawkinson, Ph.D. Ms. Lutz seconded the motion. Mr. Pichini abstained from
voting and the motion carried.
Mr. Wabby noted that the candidates would meet with Chancellor Brogan and then meet with the
Board of Governors on February 27, 2015.
Mr. Wabby thanked the Committee, Dr. Jan Greenwood and Dr. Lisa Hagen form
Greenwood/Asher & Associates, and Ms. Kim Petrosky for their service, time and effort during
the search process. He also thanked the Kutztown University campus community and the
community residents for their participation. Mr. Wabby thanked the Council of Trustees for their
participation and input in the search process.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:01 p.m.
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Chair
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