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SENATE: From the Senate Chair
December 18, 2007, Volume 54, No. 16

The following is published in accordance with the Faculty 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 Sue White, executive assistant to the Senate Office, either by telephone at
(215) 898-6943, or by e-mail at
senate@pobox.upenn.edu.

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Actions
Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Chair’s Report.  Faculty Senate Chair Larry Gladney reported that Penn’s Faculty Senate will hold a Founders Day Symposium from 3 to 5 p.m., on Friday, January 18, 2008. Aristotle’s Brain:  Integrating Knowledge in the 21st Century—A Conversation with the PIK (Penn Integrates Knowledge) Professors will be moderated by President Amy Gutmann. Dr. Gladney encouraged SEC members and their students to attend. Dr. Gladney reported on the activities of the Senate committees. SEC members engaged in a brief discussion concerning the increasing use of technology with regard to teaching and look forward to further conversations on that topic in the spring.

Past Chair’s Report.  Past Chair Neville Strumpf reported that Provost Ron Daniels and Associate Provost Vincent Price updated the Academic Planning and Budget Committee on the progress of the Faculty Information System (FIS). The Tri-Chairs will suggest that Provost Daniels discuss the Faculty Information System at the February SEC meeting.

Presentation of a Draft Policy for Postdoctoral Trainees at the University of Pennsylvania. Vice Provost for Research Steve Fluharty discussed this annual review of the postdoctoral policy guidelines and the recommended revisions: changes in the position title, new health insurance plan, clarification of vacation plan, sick plan, and clarification of termination ambiguities. 

Updates on the University. President Amy Gutmann updated SEC on Making History:  The Campaign for Penn, which has raised $1.69 billion or 48% of the final goal. President Gutmann discussed the appointment of Stacey Lopez as Assistant Vice President for Institutional Research and Analysis for the University, explaining that Ms. Lopez had been the director of institutional research at Carnegie Mellon University. President Gutmann reported on the searches for the Dean of Admissions, the Dean of the School of Design, and the Vice President for Government and Community Affairs. President Gutmann enthusiastically discussed current agenda items including working with a new city government and her role as a co-chair of the transition team, and the Global Colloquium of University Presidents, a group of university presidents from all over the world committed to making a difference on climate change.  SEC engaged in a lively discussion concerning the PIK Professors’ impact on the University. President Gutmann encouraged faculty and their students to attend the Founders Day Symposium. 

Public Safety Update.  Maureen Rush, Vice President of Public Safety, presented an overview of public safety discussing strategic safety planning practices & initiatives, layers of security at Penn, Operation SAFE, lighting consortiums, DPS patrol deployment and sector map, shared responsibilities, emergency preparedness at Penn, and UPenn Emergency Notification System (Almanac October 30, 2007).  The status of initiatives, goals, and funding of Operation SAFE were reviewed including hiring more security, a change in the uniform color to fluorescent green, more cellular emergency phones, a Division of Public Safety annex at 40th and Sansom Sts., and additional police officers now totaling 116 officers. 

Almanac - December 18, 2007, Volume 54, No. 16