Board welcomes new member, engages auditing firm, hears reports

The Pennsylvania College of Technology Board of Directors on Thursday approved a contract with a firm to provide auditing services, welcomed a new member and heard about faculty promotions and new/retired academic majors.

In the lone action item, the board authorized the appointment of Baker Tilly to perform audit services for the college for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024.

The board also welcomed new member Michael Stefan. Stefan, vice president for government and community relations at Penn State, succeeds Zack Moore, who had served on the board since June 2021. Moore stepped down as vice president for government and community relations at Penn State on Feb. 2 following seven years in that position.

Stefan was appointed to the Penn College Board by the Corporation for Penn State. The college is a special mission affiliate of the university.

“You have always been a strong advocate for our institution, and it’s great to have you on board,” said President Michael J. Reed.

Board Chair Sen. Gene Yaw also welcomed board member Larry D. Terry II to his first in-person meeting of the board. Terry is vice president for Penn State Outreach.

Joanna K. Flynn, vice president for academic affairs and provost, presented information to the board for new and retired majors, as well as promotions and sabbaticals.

During the 2023-24 academic year, Flynn said, the Curriculum Committee approved a new minor and the sunsetting of one major. In addition, nearly 50 majors went through the curriculum revision process.

A new minor in manufacturing was approved for Fall 2024 implementation. Students majoring in polymer engineering and engineering design technology are the target audience for this minor.

The offering of a two-year major in civil engineering technology ended, effective Spring 2024; all students currently enrolled in the major will be able to complete their degrees. The four-year degree in Civil Engineering Technology was maintained.

Nearly 50 majors were revised during the 2023-24 academic year, with many more individual courses revised or created. In most instances, the changes were made to enhance alignment to industry, for programmatic accreditation needs or in response to assessment results.

The following full-time employees were approved for promotion in rank, effective at the beginning of the 2024-25 academic year. Those promoted will be recognized at the All-College Meeting on May 9.

•    Eric L. Anstadt, electrical technology/occupations (School of Engineering Technologies) from instructor to assistant professor.

•    Tammy S. Clossen, dental hygiene (School of Nursing & Health Sciences) from assistant professor to associate professor.

•    Rob Cooley, anthropology/environmental science (School of Business, Arts & Sciences) from associate professor to professor.

•    Luke J. Davies, CNC machining & automation (School of Engineering Technologies) from instructor to assistant professor.

•    Jill M. Hicks, dental hygiene (School of Nursing & Health Sciences) from instructor to assistant professor.

•    Christopher J. Holley, automotive (School of Engineering Technologies) from assistant professor to associate professor.

•    Steven J. Kopera, welding (School of Engineering Technologies) from instructor to assistant professor.

•    Donnamarie Lovestrand, nursing programs (School of Nursing & Health Sciences) from assistant professor to associate professor.

•    Eric W. Nagy, English composition & technical communication (School of Business, Arts & Sciences) from instructor to assistant professor.

•    Jessica U. Oberlin, librarian, information technology initiatives, 185-Day (Library) from assistant professor to associate professor.

•    Charles F. Probst, automotive, Honda PACT (School of Engineering Technologies) from instructor to assistant professor.

•    Vii J. Rice, plastics technology (School of Engineering Technologies) from instructor to assistant professor.

•    Elizabeth P. Waugh, librarian, virtual & distance learning initiative, 172-Day (Library) from instructor to assistant professor.

•    Melissa A. Webb, technology and information literacy/course coordinator (School of Engineering Technologies) from instructor to assistant professor.

•    Kimberly A. Yoder, mathematics (School of Business, Arts & Sciences) from instructor to assistant professor.

In his comments to the board, Reed noted that applications for schools to participate in the Baja SAE Williamsport, to be held May 16-19 at the Heavy Construction Equipment Operations Site, “sold out in 3½ minutes.” SAE recently expanded the field from 100 to 110 schools.

The president told the board that Spring 2024 Commencement will be held May 10-11, and he noted that the graduates this time include students in four-year programs who opted to enroll during “the heart of COVID,” despite the uncertainty at the time.

“It’s a pretty special group,” he said.

Reed also noted the impending retirement of Valerie A. Baier, coordinator of president’s office operations, who also served under President Emeritus Davie Jane Gilmour.

“We are really going to miss you, Val,” Reed said.

In his comments, Yaw said the upcoming Baja SAE Williamsport is “pretty amazing,” given its reliance on the volunteer efforts of students in multiple majors and the participation of “every major engineering school in the country.”

He added that the event would be a boon for the region.

“It is a big deal. It’s a big deal for the community. … and for this part of the state,” Yaw said.

The next regularly scheduled Penn College Board of Directors meeting is June 27.