PRINTER'S NO. 1280
No. 177 Session of 2005
INTRODUCED BY ARMSTRONG, BARRAR, BENNINGHOFF, BIRMELIN, BOYD,
CALTAGIRONE, CLYMER, CRAHALLA, CREIGHTON, FAIRCHILD, FICHTER,
FORCIER, GABIG, GILLESPIE, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, HERSHEY, JAMES,
W. KELLER, KILLION, LEH, METCALFE, R. MILLER, MUSTIO,
PALLONE, PHILLIPS, READSHAW, ROBERTS, ROHRER, SCAVELLO,
SCHRODER, SHANER, STERN, R. STEVENSON, E. Z. TAYLOR, TRUE,
WILT, YOUNGBLOOD AND DENLINGER, MARCH 29, 2005
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, MARCH 29, 2005
A RESOLUTION
1 Establishing a select committee to examine the academic
2 atmosphere and the degree to which faculty have the
3 opportunity to instruct and students have the opportunity to
4 learn in an environment conducive to the pursuit of knowledge
5 and truth at State-related and State-owned colleges and
6 universities and community colleges in this Commonwealth.
7 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives establish a
8 select committee of seven members, four from the majority party
9 appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and
10 three from the minority party appointed by the Minority Leader,
11 to examine, study and inform the House of Representatives on
12 matters relating to the academic atmosphere and the degree to
13 which faculty have the opportunity to instruct and students have
14 the opportunity to learn in an environment conducive to the
15 pursuit of knowledge and truth and the expression of independent
16 thought at State-related and State-owned colleges, universities
17 and community colleges, including, but not limited to, whether:
1 (1) faculty are hired, fired, promoted and granted
2 tenure based on their professional competence and subject
3 matter knowledge and, in the humanities, social sciences and
4 arts, with a view of helping students explore and understand
5 various methodologies and perspectives;
6 (2) students have an academic environment, quality life
7 on campus and reasonable access to affordable course
8 materials that create an environment conducive to learning,
9 the development of critical thinking and the exploration and
10 expression of independent thought and that the students are
11 evaluated based on their subject knowledge or ability to
12 defend their perspective in various courses; and
13 (3) academic freedom and the right to explore and
14 express independent thought is available to and practiced
15 freely by faculty and students;
16 and be it further
17 RESOLVED, That the Speaker of the House of Representatives
18 appoint the chairman of the committee from among the members of
19 the committee, that committee vacancies not affect the power of
20 the remaining members to execute committee functions and that
21 committee vacancies be filled in the same manner as the original
22 appointment; and be it further
23 RESOLVED, That the committee may hold hearings, take
24 testimony and conduct investigations within this Commonwealth as
25 necessary, each committee member having the power to administer
26 oaths and affirmations to witnesses appearing before the
27 committee; and be it further
28 RESOLVED, That the Chief Clerk, with the Speaker's approval,
29 pay for the reasonable, appropriate and proper expenses incurred
30 by the committee; and be it further
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1 RESOLVED, That the committee make a report of its findings
2 and any recommendations for remedial legislation and other
3 appropriate action by June 30, 2006, and that the committee may
4 extend the investigation for additional time, if necessary, but
5 no later than November 30, 2006.
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