Academic Leadership Forums

 

The Office of Faculty Affairs typically conducts several Academic Leadership Forums during the fall and spring semesters for University deans, associate deans, department heads, and other academic administrators.

The Academic Leadership Forum Planning Committee helps to identify topics and speakers for the forums. The topics vary each year depending on what contemporary issues are occurring in U.S. higher education and at Penn State.

Participation in Academic Leadership Forums is by invitation only. Dates, times, topics, agendas, and speakers are subject to change as situations warrant.

 

2023-24 Academic Leadership Forums

 

FALL 2023 ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP FORUM, SESSION I
Date and Time: Friday, October 6, 2023, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (In person)
President Neeli Bendapudi and Interim Executive Vice President and Provost Justin Schwartz addressed academic leaders. This session took place in person at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center in University Park. Fostering student safety and belonging was also discussed.

Agenda and Scenarios

 

Spring 2024 ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP FORUM, SESSION II
Date and Time: Wednesday, February 7, 2024, 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. (Virtual)

 

Spring 2024 ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP FORUM, SESSION II
Date and Time: Thursday, April 18, 2024, 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. (Virtual)

 

2022-23 Academic Leadership Forums

 

FALL 2022 ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP FORUM, SESSION I
Date and Time: Wednesday, October 19, 2022
President Neeli Bendapudi and Interim Executive Vice President and Provost Justin Schwartz addressed academic leaders.
This session took place in person at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center in University Park.

 

SPRING 2023 ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP FORUM, SESSION II
Date and Time: Thursday, February 9, 2023
Remote Work and Other Aspects of the Modern Work Environment: Tools for Supervisors
This session took place virtually via Zoom.
Forum Agenda and Presentation

 

SPRING 2023 ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP FORUM, SESSION III
Date and Time: Friday, April 14, 2023
Penn State DEIB Initiatives. This session took place virtually via Zoom.
Forum Agenda  DOCX  PDF
Forum Presentation – Greater Allegheny
Forum Presentation – Penn State Dickinson Law
Forum Presentation – Engineering 

 

2021-22 Academic Leadership Forums

 

FALL 2021 ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP FORUM, SESSION I
State of the University and a Conversation with the Provost
Date: Wednesday, October 6, 2021
Forum Agenda

 

SPRING 2022 ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP FORUM, SESSION II
Date: Wednesday, February 9, 2022
Forum Agenda

 

SPRING 2022 ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP FORUM, SESSION III
Date: Wednesday, April 13, 2022
Forum Agenda, Presentation, and Recording

 

2020-21 Academic Leadership Forums

 

SPRING 2021 ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP FORUM, SESSION V
The Impact of Government Funding on Penn State and the State of the University Budget
Date: Monday, April 5, 2021
Forum Agenda and Speakers: DOCX  PDF

Presentations:

• “University Overview and Update” – Nick Jones, Executive Vice President and Provost
• “The Impact of Government Funding on Penn State” – Zack Moore, Vice President for Government and Community Relations
• “State of the University Budget” – Mary Lou Ortiz, University Budget Officer

 

SPRING 2021 ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP FORUM, SESSION IV
The State of Research at Penn State
Date: Tuesday, March 2, 2021
Forum Agenda and Speakers: DOCX  PDF

Presentations:

• “Mandatory Annual Federal Compliance Training” – Kenya Mann Faulkner, Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer, and Kimberly Croft, Senior Director, Research Administration
• “SIMBA Implementation Update” – Kimberly Croft, Senior Director, Research Administration; John Hanold, Associate Vice President for Research and Director of Sponsored Programs, and George Lesieutre, Associate Dean for Research, College of Engineering
• “Penn State Research Update” – Lora Weiss, Senior Vice President for Research

 

SPRING 2021 ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP FORUM, SESSION III
Annual Performance Reviews and Update from the Provost
Date: Friday, February 5, 2021
Forum Agenda and Speakers: DOCX  PDF

Presentations:

• “Faculty Reviews” – Kathy Bieschke, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
• “Staff Performance Reviews” – Christy Helms, Senior Director, HR Talent Management
• “Policy AC14 Implementation” – Abby Diehl, Assistant Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs

Reference Documents:

• Additional Dates and Information for Staff Performance Reviews
• Staff Performance Review Communications

 

FALL 2020 ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP FORUM, SESSION II
A Conversation with the President and Provost
Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2020
Forum Agenda and Speakers: DOCX PDF

Presentations:

• “COVID-19 Operations and Plans” – Executive Vice President and Provost Nicholas P. Jones
• “Key Trends and Key Actions Revisited” – President Eric J. Barron

 

FALL 2020 ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP FORUM SESSION I
Academic Leadership During an Election: Supporting Voting and Navigating Campus Speech
Date: Tuesday, October 6, 2020
Forum Agenda and Speakers: DOCX  PDF

 

SUMMER 2020 ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP FORUM
Open Forum and Return to Fall Instruction
Date: Wednesday, July 8, 2020
Forum Agenda and Speakers:  DOCX  PDF

 

SPRING 2020 ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP FORUM, SESSION III
Open Forum and COVID-19 Update
and Resilience in Resource Management: Strategic Budgeting and SIMBA
Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2020
Forum Agenda and Speakers (PDF)

Presentation:

• “Resilience in Resource Management: Strategic Budgeting and SIMBA” – Mary Lou Ortiz, University Budget Officer

 

SPRING 2020 ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP FORUM, SESSION II
Cultural and Political Disputes in a Public University and Strategic Plan Update
Date: Friday, February 14, 2020
Location: Boardroom, Nittany Lion Inn
Forum Agenda and Speakers (PDF)

Presentations:

• “Cultural and Public Disputes in a Public University” – Katherine Allen, Associate General Counsel
• “Cultural and Political Disputes in a Public University” – Zack Moore, Vice President for Government and Community Relations
• “Strategic Planning Update” – Lance Kennedy-Phillips, Ph.D., Vice Provost for Planning, Assessment, and Institutional Research, and Daniel Newhart, Ph.D., Assistant Vice Provost for Planning

 

Past Academic Leadership Forums — Spring and Fall 2019

 

FALL 2019 ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP FORUM, SESSION I
Date: Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Location: Boardroom, Nittany Lion Inn, University Park, PA
Forum Agenda and Speakers (PDF)

Presentations:

• “University Updates,” Executive Vice President and Provost Nicholas P. Jones
• “Managing Student Debt,” President Eric J. Barron 
• “Enhancing Academic Advising”
  A panel discussion led by David R. Smith, Associate Dean for Advising
  and Executive Director, Division of Undergraduate Studies

 

SPRING 2019 ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP FORUM, SESSION II
Date: Thursday, April 15, 2019
Location: The Boardroom, Nittany Lion Inn, University Park, PA
Topic: The Critical and Evolving Role of Compliance at Penn State
Forum Agenda and Speakers (PDF)

Featured Speakers and Presenters

• Nicholas P. Jones, Executive Vice President and Provost
• Kathy Bieschke, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
• Candice Yekel, Associate Vice President for Research, and Director of Research Protections
• Clint Schmidt, Director of the Conflict of Interest Program in the Office for Research Protections
• Jenn Stewart, Unmanned Aircraft Operations Manager in the Office for Research Protections
• Kenya M. Faulkner, Chief, Ethics and Compliance Office, Office of Ethics and Compliance
• Suzanne C. Adair, Associate Vice President for Affirmative Action, Office of Affirmative Action

Presentations:

• Compliance Overview 
• Office of Research Protections
• Titles VII and IX – Affirmative Action 

 

SPRING 2019 ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP FORUM, SESSION I
Date: Monday, February 18, 2019
Location: The Boardroom, Nittany Lion Inn, University Park, PA
Topic: Working Effectively with Students and Faculty in Distress
Forum Agenda and Speakers (PDF)

8:00-8:30 a.m.              Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:30-8:40 a.m.              Opening Remarks and Introductions
                                         Kathy Bieschke, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs

8:40-9:50 a.m.              Working Effectively with Faculty in Distress – Presentation (PPTX)
                                         Leah Zimmerman, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) / 504 Coordinator
                                         Cassandra Kitko, Human Resources Specialist
                                         Mohamad Ansari, University Faculty Ombudsperson – Presentation (PPTX)
                                         Zahraa Zalzala, Assistant General Counsel

9:50-10:10 a.m.            Break

10:10-11:20 a.m.          Working Effectively with Students in Distress 
                                         Margaret Lorah, Interim Assistant Vice President, Diversity and Inclusion
                                         Danny Shaha, Assistant Vice President for Student Rights & Responsibilities
                                         Benjamin D. Locke, Senior Director of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
                                         Sarah Ellen Ades, Associate Dean, The Graduate School

8:30-8:40 a.m.              Wrap Up and Final Thoughts
                                         Kathy Bieschke, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs

Additional Information: New Red Folder initiative to aid faculty, staff in helping distressed students

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), a unit of Penn State Student Affairs, and the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) have worked together to launch the Red Folder initiative, which is designed to provide resources and information to support faculty, staff and administrators in helping distressed students.

To request or obtain additional Red Folders, please email Kate Staley, Assistant Director of Community Education and Outreach, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), at kxr119@psu.edu. Please provide your name, the campus address to send folders to via interoffice mail, and the number of Red Folders requested.

 

 

 

 

Previous Academic Leadership Forums — 2016-2018

 

Date: Wednesday, December 5, 2018
Location: The Boardroom, Nittany Lion Inn, University Park, PA
Topic: The State of the University and One Penn State 2025
Forum Agenda and Speakers (PDF)

Major Initiatives for the 2018-19 Academic Year and One Penn State 2025 — Presentation (PPTX)
Dr. Eric J. Barron, President of the University

One Penn State 2025 — Presentation (PPTX)
Yvonne Gaudelius, Associate Vice President and Senior Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education
Renata Engel, Vice Provost for Online Education                           

 

Date: Friday, April 6, 2018
Location: The Boardroom, Nittany Lion Inn, University Park, PA
Topic: “Inspire, Engage, and Implement – Philanthropy at Penn State”
Featured Speaker: O. Richard Bundy III, Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations
Forum Agenda (PDF)
Presentation (PPTX)

 

Date: Tuesday, February 27, 2018
Location: The Boardroom, Nittany Lion Inn, University Park, PA
Topic: “The Future of Public Higher Education Finances”
Featured Speaker: Dr. Gary Fethke, Dean and Interim President Emeritus, University of Iowa
Forum Agenda (PDF)
Presentation (PPTX)

 

Date: Thursday, November 16, 2017
Location: Boardroom, Nittany Lion Inn, University Park, PA
Topic: “State of the University”
Forum Agenda (PDF)

Updates from the Provost — Presentation (PPTX)
Dr. Nicholas P. Jones, Executive Vice President and Provost of the University

Key Trends, Key Decisions — Presentation (PPTX)
Dr. Eric J. Barron, President of the University

 

Date: Friday, February 3, 2017
Location: Boardroom, Nittany Lion Inn, University Park, PA
Topic: General Education: Foundation, Exploration, and Integration
Agenda

Presentations:

• General Education at Penn State
• What Needs to Be Done Now? Implementation of New Requirements, Assessment, and Recertification of Courses
• Seed Grants for General Education integrative Studies

Date: Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Topic: Leading Through Change
Location: Boardroom, Nittany Lion Inn, University Park, PA
Agenda

 

For more information about the Academic Leadership Forums, including presentations and other materials from previous events, contact the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs.