| Faculty Senate Grievance Commission—Annual Report (2010) |
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September 21, 2010,
Volume 57, No. 04
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The Faculty Senate Grievance Commission of the University of Pennsylvania is an independent committee consisting of three faculty members appointed by the Faculty Senate Executive Committee. This Commission is available to members of the Penn faculty and academic support staff who allege they have been subject to action contrary to University procedures, policies, and/or regulations. With the exception of the last two months of the AY 2009-2010 term, the commission was composed of Barry Cooperman (chemistry, past chair), Vivian Seltzer (social policy and practice, chair), and David Brownlee (history of art, chair elect). In May 2010, due to resignation of the past chair, the Commission was composed of the Chair and the Chair Elect, with special arrangements to fill the post of Presiding Officer for two grievance hearings held subsequent to date of resignation (see paragraph following).
During AY 2009-2010, the Commission was approached by five members of the faculty, all of whom were either tenured or tenure track (two from School of Veterinary Medicine, one each from Schools of Medicine, Nursing, and Arts and Sciences). Following initial discussion with the Chair of the Commission, one individual elected to bring the complaint on a non-tenure matter to the Senate Committee on Academic Freedom and Responsibility (SCAFR), where the case was heard. The second individual, who contacted the commission after a denial of tenure, made no request for a hearing. The third individual met and spoke with the Commission Chair and met with the entire Commission regarding a second denial of tenure. No hearing was requested, and the Commission was informed that negotiations elsewhere led to a reconsideration of the case which did not lead to a reversal of the tenure denial.
Two further cases resulted in requests for grievance hearings, which were granted by the Commission. Due to the resignation by the past chair, both hearings were delayed for one month in order to find substitute Presiding Officers for the hearings, a position normally occupied by the Past Chair. The two vacancies were filled by former past chairs of the Grievance Commission Steven Sondheimer (obstetrics and gynecology, Medical School) and Kenneth Lande (physics, School of Arts and Sciences). In the first matter, a tenure denial, the panel did not find in favor of the grievant. The second grievance, regarding the negotiation of retirement benefits, was supported by the hearing panel. Both panel findings were forwarded to the Provost. The Provost rejected the findings in the second case and the panel’s recommendation for the reimbursement of the grievant’s legal costs. The grievant sent a letter of objection to the Provost and Chair of the Faculty Senate.
—Vivian C. Seltzer (Grievance Commission Chair, 2009-2010) |
