SENATE: From the Senate Office |
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January 26, 2016, Volume 62, No. 20 |
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, January 20, 2016
Chair’s Report. Faculty Senate Chair Reed Pyeritz reported that the Report of the Senate Committee on the Economic Status of Faculty (SCESF) has been submitted to the Office of the Provost and is under review. The Provost’s Office is working with SCESF to identify faculty data that will be provided to next year’s committee, which may include data not previously provided for SCESF’s use. The Senate Committee on Faculty and the Administration (SCOA) is working to examine research administration opportunities and conflict of interest policies across schools. The Faculty Senate Symposium is scheduled for April 6, at 4 p.m., in Houston Hall’s Hall of Flags; the topic is the role of faculty in the evolution of the research university.
Past-Chair’s Report. Faculty Senate Past Chair Claire Finkelstein reported that the Academic Planning and Budget Committee and Capital Council have not met since the previous SEC meeting. The Campaign for Community is continuing to accept applications for project grants through March 15. The Campaign for Community, along with the Faculty Senate and the Office of the Vice Provost for University Life, will convene a “Faculty/Student Conversation about Race, Respect and Classroom Culture” on Wednesday, January 27, at 6 p.m., in the Law School’s Fitts Auditorium. The session will be moderated by Wendell Pritchett, the Presidential Professor of Law and Education, and will feature faculty panelists Camille Charles, Shaun Harper and Emilio Parrado, and student panelists Kwadwo Agyapong, Ramon Garcia Gomez, Leslie Jones, Samantha Miller and Rachel Palmer.
Update from the Office of the Provost. Provost Vincent Price provided SEC with an update on the Action Plan for Faculty Diversity and Excellence, which is in the final stage of its five year plan. In Fall 2016, a report will be released that will describe progress on the plan’s goals. The Vice Provost for Faculty is collaborating with the Provost on an ongoing three-year art and culture initiative that resonates with the core values of the Penn Compact and capitalizes on the University’s resources to enhance and support opportunities for the teaching and learning of humanities at Penn. Penn Global initiatives include continued work with the Perry World House, the Wharton China Center and globally funded research opportunities. This includes support from the Vice Provost for Research, who sponsors 22 post-doctorate fellowships—mostly in STEM fields—aimed at diversifying the professoriate.
Discussion and vote on proposed SAS Track Changes. The Senate Committee on Faculty and the Academic Mission (SCOF) reviewed a series of four proposed track changes in the School of Arts and Sciences. The proposals seek to: (1) create in the SAS Associated Faculty a “Practice Professor” track, which already exists in other schools; (2) create the new positions “Lecturer in Critical Writing” and “Senior Lecturer in Critical Writing” in the Academic Support Staff; (3) raise the cap on the number of “Lecturers in Foreign Languages” from 6% to 15% of the Standing Faculty and the number of “Senior Lecturers in Foreign Languages” from 3% to 8% of the Standing Faculty; and (4) raise the cap on the number of “Senior Lecturers” in the Academic Support Staff from 3% to 8% of the Standing Faculty. These proposals went through a rigorous review by SAS faculty and by the Provost prior to consideration by the Faculty Senate. SCOF met with Dean Steve Fluharty and representatives from the Critical Writing Program and from two departments who utilize Lecturers in Foreign Languages to gain their perspectives. SEC members noted that non-standing faculty members do not currently have a representative voice at Penn and inquired as to whether the economic interests of these Associated Faculty members were considered during the review process; SEC members agreed to deliberate these issues at a future time. Provost Price, who was present for a portion of this discussion, noted that these non-standing faculty roles are complementary rather than substitutional. He added that these tracks exist in great part to support the Standing Faculty, who pursue scholarship, service and teaching of higher level courses to undergraduates and graduates; these tracks serve to professionalize the full-time roles of these non-standing faculty who are tasked specifically to teach these introductory level courses. The motion was called to question; because it received a majority of votes cast, the proposals passed.
Update from the Office of the Vice Provost for Research. Vice Provost for Faculty Dawn Bonnell described changes to the University Research Foundation (URF) that will optimize research support across campus. The new structure maintains research grants up to $50,000 for pilot projects, instrumentation, and grant matching, and it replaces the Provost’s Interdisciplinary Seminar Fund with Impact Conference Grants (up to $20,000 to highlight Penn faculty or visiting scholarship) and Research Opportunity Grants (up to $200,000 to encourage larger scale research development). Grants will be given in the areas of biomedical and life science, social science, humanities and natural science and engineering.
2016 Senate Committee on Committees. SEC members voted for the members of the 2016 Senate Committee on Committees.
Discussion of Revised Faculty Procedures for Resolving Sexual Violence Complaints. SEC members reviewed the revised procedures that were discussed at the previous SEC meeting with General Counsel Wendy White and Vice Provost for Faculty Anita Allen. Following the discussion, SEC members offered a consensus of support in endorsing the drafted procedures prior to their review by the Board of Trustees.
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