cllehrend Colkg
VOL. XXXV NO. 16
Director Kochel To Receive Medallion Awar•
Director Irvin Kochel will
coveted Medallion Award.
The Medallion Award, the
highest honor that can be con
ferred at The Behrend College of
Penn State, will be presented to
Irvin H. Xochel, who has served
as director of Behrend for more
than a quarter of a century.
Presentation will be at a
noontime ceremony Saturday,
May 3. Leading the list of some
400 invited to pay tribute to
PSU's Tenure Policy: "Keystone Of Academic Freedom"
(Editor's Note: This is the first
in a series of articles dealing with
the Tenure policies of Behrend
College and Penn State
University. This installation
deals with the basic
requirements and procedures
involved in the tenuring process.
For the sake of space, this is not a
detailed account of the total
procedure. For further in
formation on the intricices of the
policy, we suggest that you
consult Dr. Thomas Fox,
Academic Dean).
"Tenure is the keystone for
academic freedom; safeguarding
the free expression and risk
taking inquiry is the basis for."
from the Preamble of the
Promotion and Tenure
Procedures and Regulations
section of the Pennsylvania State
University Policy Manual (PS
-23).
The granting or denial of
tenure to faculty members an
nually presents problems on
many campuses. The reason
tenure is so coveted is that it
affords professional security and,
at least in theory, protects
faculty members from un
warranted dismissal. On the
grounds of "adequate cause,"
though, faculty members can be
let go for incompetency; ex
cessive absenteeism; moral
turpitude, and-or grave
misconduct. Also, a tenured
appointment may be terminated
for "demonstrated financial
exigency" - when a program is
eliminated or revised.
The criteria by which can
didates are judged include the
following: teaching ability and
effectiveness; research com
petence; scholarship and
mastery of subject matter; and
service to the University and the
public. • •
I•II II IC 1,11.11,.<4 e. ‘••
Published by the Students of the Behrend College of the Pennsylvania State University
be the fourth
recipient of the
Kochel will be Penn State
President Dr. John W. Oswald.
The Medallion Award
distinguishes an individual who,
by serving society and by at
taining eminence in jiis chosen
field, brings honor - to himself, -- to
his community, and to mankind.
Thezaward provides a means of
recognition of Northwest Penn
sylvania persons who have
brought honor and fame to the
Three Behrend divisions, Arts
and Humanities, Natural
Sciences and Engineering, and
Social and Behavioral Sciences,
have separate but similar tenure
and promotion policies. Behrend
College, the other Com
monwealth Campuses, and each
Department of Penn State have
issued policies with slight
deviances due to the nature of the
Department or Division.
Behrend Faculty members
must follow through many levels
of peer and administrative
review beginning at the
Divisional level. If the candidate
is approved at this level, his case
is then considered by a com
mittee of peers at the Depart
mental level of Penn State. If the
professor clears this step, he will
then be considered by a college
wide committee, college Dean,
University-wide committee, and
finally the Provost. The final
decision then rests with the
President of the University. This
entire process, which may take
up to a year, ends with the faculty
member receiving written notice
of the President's decision. At
any (level) the request for tenure
may be denied; however this
decision may be appealed.
Tenure is not available to all
college appointments. Appoint
ments labelled "fixed term" or
"visiting" are ineligible; ap
pointments that are without
remuneration; any affiliate
academic. ranks; academic
appointments in the areas other
than a college or the University
libraries; and appointments to
the ranks of lecturer, instructor,
assistant librarian, and research
assistant are also all exempt
from tenure.
The "Suggested Activities for
Promotion and Tenure
Categories" section of the
Behrend College Promotion and,
Station Road, Erie, Pa. 16563
area through notable
achievement or prominence in
their fields. It further provides an
inspiration for others and brings
together representative persons
to foster the welfare of The .
Behrend College to increase its
contribution to society.
For his years of dedicated and
distinguished service to Behrend
and to higher education, the
award committee selected
Kochel for this year's honor.
In June of 1954, just four years
after the Behrend Center opened
its doors, Kochel took over the
reins leading the institution from
a narrowly focused two-year
branch campus to the four-year
college status it holds today.
Under Kochel's leadership, the
remarkable conversion from a
farm to a college continued. The
425-acre campus had been the
estate, Glenhill Farm, of the
Ernst Behrend family.
The handsome rustic buildings
from the residence to the horse
barn, from the garage and
liveryman's quarters to the small
barn studio and kennels were
transformed into offices, dor
mitories, cafeterias, libraries
and classrooms. These buildings
are still in use today in various
capacities.
In the sixties, Kochel guided a
flurry of construction activity.
The Otto F. Behrend Science
Building was built (1962) - and
named after the brother of Ernst
Behrend; , the J. Elmer Reed
Building, named after one of
Behrend's founders, went up
(1968) to house library and
Tenure Policy outlines a
framework of what ultimately is
considered at all levels when a
faculty member seeks tenure.
For the teaching ability
requirements, a professor is
evaluated by students, advisees,
peers, and possibly by a
department representative.
Teaching awards and
nominations are looked upon as
evidence of academic excellence.
The techniques and growth of a
professor through counseling,
advising and service are included
in the overall rating of the can
didate's abilities.
For research competence, the
Committees review grants that
supported scholarly activity;
papers presented at professional
conferences; contributions to the
arts by way of exhibitions,
performances or publications;
articles published in state,
regional, and nationwide journals
and, also, publications in
discipline journals, or journals
concerned with higher education.
Often this is the area where
most professors seeking tenure
encounter problems. Having
articles accepted and published
is an arduous task that often
detracts from classroom per
formance. In a recent poll of
Main Campus professors, con
ducted by the Weekly Collegian,
40 per cent of them claimed that
they spent most of their time on
research. (The Weekly Collegian,
-Universities' publish or perish
policy is deteriorating the level of
teaching" April 23, 1980, by
Thomas Boyer).
Interpreted as evidence of
scholarship and mastery of
subject matter are: membership
and participation in professional
meetings; attendance at these
gatherings; publication of
educational and materials-texts
,and. manuals; papers presented
student activity facilities.
Dormitories Perry and
Niagara Halls were dedicated
(1969); a third dormitory,
Lawrence, and dining facility,
Dobbins, were opened (1971) all
named after heroes in Erie's
history. The Edwin N. Nick
Building was dedicated (1970) in
honor of the first Advisory Board
president. In 1969 the Flora W.
Wilson Picnic Pavilion was
donated by her widower, Norman
W. Wilson, longtime board
member.
In the mid-seventies, a
maintenance building was put
into use. Before Kochel's arrival,
a gymnasium -auditorium was
built (1952) following a com
munity fund drive and named
after its contributors. Numerous
outdoor facilities dot the lovely
campus.
The physical plant has in
creased in value from $918,000 to
over $8 million and a multi
million dollar academic complex
is on the drawing boards.
But Behrend's growth under
Kochel has not just been in bricks
and mortar. He took over when
Behrend was a branch campus
with an enrollment of 138
students. A steady growth was
maintained until today
enrollment is more than 1,800
fulltime students and an ad
ditional 1,000 evening and Con
tinuing Education - students.
In 1973 Behrend's activities
inspired by Kochel were
recognized when it became the
first and only branch campus in
the 22-campus Penn State.
at Departmental meetings or at
campus forums; involvement in
course development and-or
revision and what is called:
"further academic or
professional experience."
Necessary exhibitions of
service to the University and the
public are: a demonstrated
willingness on Divisional and
College committees and on the
Behrend Faculty Council; in
volvement on University Park's
Faculty Senate and Committees,
extra-curricular participation in
student organizations, campus or
community workshops or study
groups; activity in professional
and community service
organizations; the availability of
one's expertise to colleagues,
students, and the community;
serving peers and students;
Spring Week 'BO Continues
Spring Week is off to an April
Showers start, but it appears that
things may clear up by the
weekend so that students may
enjoy the festivities.
Last night, Tim Eyerman and
the East Coast Connection, a jazz
quartet from the Washington,
D.C. area performed in the Reed
Lecture Hall at 8 p.m. The
Behrend community was ad
mitted free.
Lenny Litman of the Pittsburgh
Press . has said "Tim Eyerman's
first appearance in Pittsburgh
had all the jazz buffs spreading
the word," and Bill Bennett of the
Washington Post described the
group as "producing a supple
blend of jazz melodies and
harmonies and jazz rock rhythms
. . . they do it better than anyone
else in the area and quite possibly
in the country."
Friday, a memorial service is
planned by the Alphi Phi Delta
lan
FRIDAY, MAY 2, 1980
system to be accorded four-year
college status. Today Behrend
offers 14 majors leading to
bachelor of science, arts, or
philosophy degrees; five two
year associate degree programs,
and the master of engineering
degree. In addition the first two
years of 120 majors at the
University can be completed at
Behrend.
Kochel, a native of Boyertown,
attended public schools, then
earned his bachelor and master's
degrees at Penn State. After
Army service in World War 11, he
taught and coached in state
public schools before joining
Penn State in 1948. He held ad
ministrative positions at
Schuylkill and Harrisburg
campuses before coming to Erie.
He has long been active in
community and educational
organizations and throughout the
years has earned the respect and
admiration of those who have
attended and worked at Behrend,
as well as from fellow ad
ministrators.
In September he will leave
Behrend to take a high ad
ministrative post at University
Park, serving as assistant vice
president for administration.
This is only the fourth time the
Medallion Award has been
presented. Previous recipients
were Skylab Astronaut Paul 3.
Weitz - (1973); - Dr. Russell P.
Roth, past president of the
American Medical Association
(1975); and Msgr. Wilfrid J.
Nash, former president of
Gannon University (1977).
publication of reviews or
newspape,r articles; and ad
dressing a community
organization on a topic one
specializes in.
Each policy statement from the
Divisional level on up to the main
policy has been ratified by the
faculty members affected by it.
The present policy took effect
July 1, 1975. The tenets of this
policy are to be reviewed on a
regular basis by the University
Administration and Faculty
Senate.
(Editor's Note: Part-Two of
1 his special series on Tenure will
continue with the reactions of the
students and faculty to the an
nouncements of recent tenure
denials and a discussion of
whether this policy should be
changed).
fraternity for deceased students
and friends of Behrend college.
The service will be held near the
Reed Parking lot in front of the
library at 12:15 p.m.
Also on Friday, is the "Last
Dance" sponsored by the SUB
Board to be held at Peek 'n Peak
Ski Lodge. Dancing will be from
9-1 with music provided by Joel
Miller. Tickets are $2.50 per
person and $4.50 per couple. The
SUB is providing a limited
amount of round trip trans
portation at $1 per person but
arrangements must be made in
advance at the RUB desk.
On a hopefully sunny and warm
Saturday morning. Behrend's
Second Annual 10,000 Meter Run
for Fun will begin at 11 a.m. The
course runs through the Gorge
and encompasses most of the
campus.
Continued on , page 2