SENATE From the Senate Office

The following statement is published in accordance with the Senate Rules. Among other purposes, the publication of SEC actions is intended to stimulate discussion among the constituencies and their representatives. Please communicate your comments to Kristine Kelly, Box 12 College Hall/6303, (215) 898-6943 or kellyke@pobox.upenn.edu.

Senate Executive Committee Actions

Wednesday, May 5, 2004

 

Special Meeting

The Faculty Senate Executive Committee proposed to amend the Rules of the Faculty Senate to establish a new Standing Committee on Faculty Development, Diversity and Equity. The amendment was voted on and unanimously passed.

Senate Executive Committee Meeting

Chair's Report. Faculty Senate Chair Lance Donaldson-Evans reviewed the accomplishments of SEC and its committees for the past academic year. Professor Donaldson-Evans thanked those members who were rotating off of SEC and Senate Chairs Mitch Marcus and Chuck Mooney for their support and counsel during his tenure as chair.

Past Chair's Report on Academic Planning & Budget and Capital Council. Past Chair Mitch Marcus informed SEC that Academic Planning and Budget discussed the Middle States Evaluation and that it is available for viewing on the web at www.upenn.edu/almanac/v50/n29/education.html.

Patent Policy Committee Report. Committee Chair Professor Andrew Binns presented the revised Patent and Tangible Research Property Policies. SEC approved the revised patent policy after amending the language contained in the section pertaining to the Rules Governing the University Research Foundation Share. The new language incorporates the following sentence: "The Provost will release periodic reports describing the use of these funds."

Senate Committee on Administration Report. Committee Chair Professor Mark Tykocinski presented the revised Policy for Postdoctoral Fellows at the University of Pennsylvania. The policy was approved after it was agreed to that the term "days" as it pertains to sick leave and new child leave would be changed to "work days."

Professor Tykocinski also presented the revised Faculty Handbook Language for the Policy on Extension of the Probationary Periods that Apply to Granting of Tenure or Promotion to Associate Professor. After a lengthy discussion about the inclusion of the domestic partner benefits policy with regard to adoptions, SEC agreed that the document needed to go back to committee for further review.

Nominating Committee Report. Senate Chair Lance Donaldson-Evans read the names on the slate of the Nominating Committee and thanked the committee for their hard work.

New Business. Faculty Senate Chair Charles Mooney discussed his plans for the Senate Executive Committee in the coming year.

SEC requested that the Senate Chairs discuss the final report of the Rui DiSilva incident with the President and Provost. The Committee feels that they did not get a clear explanation of the events surrounding this particular incident.

Finally, SEC would like a Senate Committee to investigate the use of Academic Summer Camps on campus that are created without any faculty input.