Faculty Senate Executive Committee Actions
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, December 9, 2020
| Special Note: The Town Hall held on December 9, “From Campus Access to Testing and Vaccination: What to Expect for Penn’s COVID-Era Spring Semester,” is available for viewing at https://provost.upenn.edu/senate/faculty-senate-seminar-series. Written responses to the remaining questions will also be available at the same page upon their finalization. |
Chair’s Report. Faculty Senate Chair Kathleen Hall Jamieson reminded Senate Executive Committee (SEC) members that Provost Wendell Pritchett will return to SEC in January 2021 and invited questions for him to be submitted to the Senate Office. Senate Committees will also be invited to share questions. Provost Pritchett is prepared to discuss questions on the relationship between Penn and the surrounding community.
On January 20 at 4 p.m. ET, SEC will also convene a virtual, interactive workshop on “Interrogating and Re-Imagining Expressive Public Space on the Penn Campus” during the second half of its meeting; this session will be open to all faculty members.
Past Chair’s Report. No report was offered.
Resolution in Appreciation of Penn’s Contributions to Doctoral Education at Penn and to the School District of Philadelphia through the Penn Compact. Following a motion and discussion, SEC members voted unanimously to adopt the Resolution, which appears as an appendix to these minutes.
Feedback on Engaged Scholarship and Teaching Prioritization in Schools and Departments. Prof. Jamieson reminded SEC that departments are asked to clarify their specific positions on whether and how engaged scholarship should count in their department’s promotion and tenure processes. Developments to-date were presented by SEC members.
Initial Discussion of Proposed Amendments to Faculty Senate Rules. A select committee consisting of the three current Faculty Senate Tri-Chairs along with two former Senate Chairs—Jennifer Pinto-Martin and Santosh Venkatesh—was convened to offer revisions to the existing Rules. Most of the proposals are likely to be non-controversial and serve to bring the Rules into alignment with existing practicalities and customs. A full meeting of the Faculty Senate is expected to convene on March 17, 2021, to vote on whether to adopt the final slate of revisions.