SENATE From the Senate Office: |
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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 Patrick Walsh, executive assistant to the Senate Office, either by telephone at (215) 898-6943 or by email at senate@pobox.upenn.edu
Faculty Senate Executive Committee Actions
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Chair’s Report. After introductions by all those present, Faculty Senate Chair Reed Pyeritz welcomed the members of the Senate Executive Committee (SEC) and offered a brief review of the Senate and its structure. He indicated that the work of the Senate’s committees is beginning, and they will have more to report as the year progresses. He noted that they have received a copy of a letter sent by the Tri-Chairs to United States Senators from Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey discouraging the adoption of a policy by the US Department of Health and Human Services that would lower the salary cap for investigators who receive federal research grants. He also noted that the Penn Alumni Association is seeking nominations for the Faculty Award of Merit. A symposium, open to the University community, will be sponsored by the Senate in spring 2016; suggestions for topics were solicited. The Campaign for Community will sponsor its first event, Academic Freedom Now, which will be held at the Kislak Center on Tuesday, October 27 from 3-6 p.m.
Past-Chair’s Report. Faculty Senate Past Chair Claire Finkelstein reported that the Academic Planning and Budget Committee and the Capital Council have both held their first meetings of the year.
Update from the Office of the Provost. Provost Vincent Price updated the Faculty Senate on a number of items. Professor Stanton Wortham has taken over as the Faculty Director of the Online Learning Initiative, and its offices will relocate to the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library. Penn has 50 open courses now available on the Coursera and edX platforms, which will make the outstanding teaching at Penn broadly available to the world. The Perry World House is targeted for opening in the spring; the facility will be available for use by all faculty and student organizations doing work related to international affairs. The four undergraduate schools have agreed to pilot for one year the Faculty Wellness Ambassador program, which was initially proposed by SEC in the spring; the results will be assessed at the conclusion of the pilot year. Penn was one of 27 institutions to take part in the AAU Campus Climate Survey on Sexual Assault and Sexual Misconduct, the results of which were released last month (Almanac September 29, 2015). Penn will continue to broaden its outreach efforts in combatting the problems highlighted by the survey results. Consideration is being given to online learning modules or other educational programs for faculty and students in this respect. A spirited discussion between the Provost and SEC ensued.
Discussion and Vote of Draft Committee Charges. The specific charges of the Faculty Senate committees were reviewed and approved unanimously, with one amendment.
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