Correction appended: Dec. 21, 2012.
Following Penn State Board of Trustees Chairman Karen Peetz’s announcement that she will not stand for re-election, members of the board addressed procedural concerns about how positions will be filled for the upcoming year during a conference call Wednesday.
James Broadhurst, chairman of the Board's Committee on Governance and Long-Range Planning, said that a notice was sent out today to all board members specifying that any interest for the chair and vice chair positions should be forwarded by Dec. 28. Those interested will be required to submit a biographical sketch and a board position statement by the first week of January, to be delivered to all the trustees in preparation for the Jan. 17-18 meeting, he added. The election is set to take place on Jan. 18.
Although Peetz is leaving her position as chair after one year, she said she stands ready to continue her work with the board in other ways.
“I have offered to continue at the pleasure of whoever the new chairman is with vision council, as well as the presidential search, as a normal board member helping to run the two initiatives,” she said.
Peetz said that the Blue and White Vision Council is looking at strategies examining what kind of president the university will be in search of. The examination will culminate in May or June of next year.
“The presidential search will officially be kicked off in November,” Peetz said. “We can expect to have a president sometime either in late 2013 or early 2014.”
Addressing Judge Louis Freeh's report, Peetz said that Keith Masser, the current vice chairman, has been running a joint committee between university and board members geared towards review and evaluation of the recommendations. She added that they are incorporating the auditor general’s recent recommendations and the faculty senate’s recommendations, as well as the local senator’s recommendations.
A Jan. 4 meeting will be spent deliberating about all factors that could influence future governance, and, after the election, it will be decided whether someone else can assist with those recommendations, she added.
Asked whether she would have sought re-election had she not been appointed to her new position at BNY Mellon, Peetz’s answer was affirmative.
“Yes, I would have continued, and I have no reason to think that I wouldn’t have the support of all of the board members or the majority of the board members,” she said.
Broadhurst said that it has been tradition for the vice-chairman to advance to the rank of chairman at Penn State and Keith Masser confirmed his interest in running for chair.
“That is correct," Masser said. "I am running for the next chair, and I want to do what I can, all I can to help bring the university together.”
At the forefront of his agenda, he said, is funding, continuing to make education affordable for students and continuing the initiative for preparing for the next presidential search.
Both Peetz and Broadhurst lent their support to Masser in his bid for chairman.
Peetz cited his “tireless commitment to Penn State,” his ability to render the board cohesive and his insight offered to various committees.
Although he said his prime objective in the call was to address the process moving forward, Broadhurst also spoke to Masser’s potential to fill the chair position.
“I am definitely endorsing him," he said. "I think Keith has some great experience and has demonstrated his capabilities to lead the university. I think he will get strong support from the board."
Though Broadhust said that there is a shorter time frame leading up to this election, they are nonetheless poised to meet the protocol timeline.
An earlier version of this article incorrectly described a initiative with which Karen Peetz plans to continue involvement. Peetz has offered to remain a part of the Blue and White Vision Council, which is looking at several areas of long-term strategic planning for Penn State. The above article reflects the correct information. The Daily Collegian apologizes for this error.
