Penn State news by
Penn State's student blog

Topics

More

Yudichak: Penn State Trustees May Have Broken Law with Recommendation

State Sen. John Yudichak, a Penn State graduate who represents Luzerne and Carbon counties, says a Penn State Board of Trustees committee may have violated a state law by recommending board reform.

Yudichak said in a prepared statement Thursday that the Governance and Long-Range Planning Committee’s approval of board reform may have been illegal.

“The Board of Trustees at Penn State is neither above the law nor should it be engaged in efforts to further separate itself from core constituencies like the alumni and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” says Yudichak. “I will be making sure that the General Assembly explores all legal and legislative avenues to ensure that the interests of Penn State and the Penn State community are protected.”

With a 7-to-1 vote, the committee approved the following changes:

– Adding a trustee who represents the Penn State Alumni Association

– Adding a student-elected trustee to represent the student body

– Adding a trustee elected by the faculty senate

– Adding three at-large board members appointed by the full board

– Reducing the number of trustees required to be alumni from three to six for both the governor appointed trustees and business and industry trustees

– Eliminating voting rights from the state secretaries of agriculture, education and conservation and natural resources

The board’s size would increase from 32 to 38 members with 33 having voting rights.

The measure, which is considered by much of the committee to be a compromise resolution, will go before the full board in November.

“I am concerned that this committee violated state law by taking this action. The public members of the Board of Trustees and the voting privileges they have are decided by statute, not by a committee of non-lawmakers,” says Yudichak. “Penn State University, after all, remains as the commonwealth’s only land-grant university. This is a world-class institution and it deserves a world-class governing structure in the best interests of all.”

The committee likely felt pressure to act as in June the Pennsylvania Senate’s State Government Committee voted 11-to-0 for Senate Bill 1240, the Penn State University Board of Trustees Reorganization Act, which would reduce the board of trustees from 30 to 23 voting members.

Yudichak drafted the bill.

Penn State spokesperson Lisa Powers said the university does not have a comment on Yudichak’s statement.

Your ad blocker is on.

Please choose an option below.

Sign up for our e-mail newsletter:
OR
Support quality journalism:
Purchase a Subscription!

About the Author

StateCollege.com

Posts from our partner website StateCollege.com.

[Photo Story] Penn State Football’s 2024 Pro Day

Our photographers were at Holuba Hall to capture the 2024 Pro Day events.

Report: Penn State Hoops Forward Favour Aire Enters Transfer Portal

Aire spent 50 minutes on the court in his lone season with the Nittany Lions.

Report: Former Penn State Hoops Guard Kanye Clary Enters Transfer Portal

Clary left Penn State earlier in the season based on a “coach’s decision.”

Follow on Another Platform
113kFollowers
164kFollowers
59.4kFollowers
4,570Subscribers
Other posts by StateCollege.com

Penn State Targets Football Ticket Brokers As Renewal Process Begins

Penn State stopped the renewal process for nearly 500 football season ticket holders after they were deemed to be “ticket brokers.”

Medical Marijuana Dispensary To Open At Former Home D Location

Herwig’s Austrian Bistro Sets Closing Date