Board Approves Parameters for 2007-08 State Budget Request

The Pennsylvania College of Technology Board of Directors on Thursday approved parameters for the college's 2007-08 state budget request.

The parameters, which will be reflected in the budget request made by The Pennsylvania State University, include a request for a 6.8-percent increase ($861,000) in the state appropriation for the Operating Budget and a 10.15-percent increase ($141,000) in the appropriation for the Debt Service Budget. The college also will ask that the state continue the current levels for the special appropriation $365,000 for the Operating Budget and $31,000 for the Debt Service Budget.

"This is the beginning of the play, and we will see the third act next June," Board Chairman Robert E. Dunham said of the budgeting process.

In other business, the board authorized Penn College President Davie Jane Gilmour and/or Robert M. Fisher, vice president for business affairs, to engage M&T Bank/M&T Investment Advisors as investment manager for college funds. The college's current investment manager, Wachovia Bank, will close its Williamsport office on Oct. 31 and will not maintain a local presence for investment-management services.

It was reported to the board that Suzanne T. Stopper has been hired as associate vice president for business affairs/controller. Stopper, who begins her duties with the college on Sept. 6, will be the chief accounting officer, administering all accounting, financial record-keeping, cash management and investment, and budget functions. She will serve as a member of President's Council and participate in Governance and planning activities.

Stopper has been employed by Susquehanna Health System and its predecessor institution, The Williamsport Hospital and Medical Center, since 1992, holding the positions of assistant controller, finance and budgets; administrative director/controller, general accounting; acting chief financial officer; and, since July 2002, vice president/controller.

The board received notice of nine faculty promotions. They are:

• Solomon Francis faculty, mathematics (School of Integrated Studies), from instructor to assistant professor
• Ronald A. Garner faculty, automotive technology (School of Transportation Technology), from associate professor to professor
• Lauren Rhodes Gordon faculty, mathematics (School of Integrated Studies), from instructor to assistant professor
• Donald E. Gustafson faculty, business administration/management information systems (School of Business and Computer Technologies), from instructor to assistant professor
• William Ma faculty, mathematics (School of Integrated Studies), from associate professor to professor
• Eugene M. McAvoy faculty, English-composition (School of Integrated Studies), from instructor to assistant professor
• Joanna K. Pruden faculty, mathematics (development/career) (School of Integrated Studies), from instructor to assistant professor
• Patricia A. Scott collection development librarian (College Library), from assistant professor to associate professor
• Joseph C. Straw faculty, lead heavy construction equipment technology (School of Natural Resources Management), from instructor to assistant professor

Veronica M. Muzic, temporary special assistant to the president for academic affairs, attended her final board meeting and informed members about pending changes to the faculty-promotion policy. She thanked the board for its attention to detail during the years of her service as vice president for academic affairs/provost.

The board also heard a brief report on Internal Governance activities in the past year from outgoing Chairman David L. Evans, and it was introduced to incoming Chairman Brett A. Reasner.