Final Report of The Consultative Committee on the
Appointment of a Vice Provost for Faculty |
|
January 12, 2010,
Volume 56, No. 17
|
In July 2009, Provost Vincent Price convened a consultative committee to advise him on the appointment of a Vice Provost for Faculty. Its members were:
• Robert Hornik (Chair), Wilbur Schramm Professor of Communication, Annenberg School for Communication; Chair-Elect, Faculty Senate
• Regina Austin, William A. Schnader Professor of Law, Law School
• Vijay Kumar, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and UPS Foundation Professor, School of Engineering and Applied Science
• Caryn Lerman, Mary W. Calkins Professor, School of Medicine and Annenberg School for Communication
• Deborah Thomas, Associate Professor of Anthropology, School of Arts & Sciences
• Michael Useem, William and Jacalyn Egan Professor of Management, Wharton School
• Leo Charney, Office of the Provost (Staff)
As the campus leader with broad oversight of faculty affairs across the University, the Vice Provost for Faculty reports directly to the Provost and is a member of the Provost’s senior leadership team for academic and strategic planning. S/he develops faculty policies; works closely with the deans and department chairs, Faculty Senate, Ombudsman, Affirmative Action Officer, and Vice President for Human Resources; coordinates the Provost’s Staff Conference; and oversees the academic personnel process at Penn, including recruitment, retention, and retirement; appointments, tenure, and promotions; enhancement of faculty diversity and gender and minority equity; and resolution of individual faculty issues, including grievances.
The committee sought nominations of and applications from currently tenured faculty members at Penn with demonstrated administrative skills and experience, extensive knowledge of the University and its policies and practices, and experience addressing sensitive issues in an effective and principled manner, handling confidential information tactfully and discreetly, and working well with faculty, staff, deans, and department chairs in negotiating difficult situations.
Nominations and applications were solicited through an e-mail to all faculty members and an announcement in Almanac.
44 faculty members were nominated or applied, of whom 18 were women and 8 were members of historically underrepresented groups. The committee interviewed 8 candidates, of whom 6 were women and 1 was a member of a historically underrepresented group, and recommended 4 candidates to the Provost. Lynn Hollen Lees, professor of history in the School of Arts & Sciences, was subsequently appointed by the Provost as Vice Provost for Faculty, effective January 1, 2010.
Related: From the Office of the Provost: Lynn Hollen Lees Appointed Vice Provost for Faculty |
