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, March 14, 2018

Chair’s Report. Faculty Senate Chair Santosh Venkatesh reminded SEC members of the Teach-In, to be held March 18-22, 2018. More than 30 events have been planned across campus, with participation from all 12 of Penn’s schools.  Recent coverage has included an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer.  A full schedule can be found at the Teach-In website:  www.upenn.edu/teachin  All events are free to attend and open to the public, and students are particularly encouraged to get involved.

Past Chair’s Report. Prof. Venkatesh reported on behalf of Faculty Senate Past Chair Laura Perna that the University Council Committee on Diversity and Equity (UCCDE), in conjunction with the Faculty Senate, the Penn Forum for Women Faculty, and the Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity, convened a second “Listening to Diversity” open forum event that was held at the same time as this SEC meeting.  Prof. Perna attended the event on the Tri-Chairs’ behalf.  The event will be summarized in a report that will be shared with various stakeholder offices on campus, including the school deans, and will be published as part of the UCCDE report in Almanac.

Update from the Office of the Executive Vice President. Executive Vice President Craig Carnaroli and Vice President for Human Resources Jack Heuer reported on a variety of matters. A number of new buildings are being constructed or revitalized, including New College House–West that will provide additional undergraduate housing opportunities on-campus; a new patient pavilion at HUP that will include at least 450 private beds and is slated to open in 2021; a revitalized Wharton Academic and Research Building; and a revitalized Perelman Center for Political Science and Economics.  The Human Capital Management Transformation Initiative continues, and the Penn Employee Solution Center was launched in January. A new Undergraduate Course Catalogue was launched in May 2017. The Climate Action Plan 2.0 Progress Report was published in February 2018. The 2018 Models of Excellence Program ceremony and reception will be held on April 4, and all Penn community members are invited.  Faculty Retiree Benefits programs and information were discussed at length, and all faculty members (regardless of their proximity to retirement) were encouraged to begin the retirement planning process early. The University has partnered with the Penn Association of Senior and Emeritus Faculty (PASEF) on the 12th edition of the “Hitchhiker’s Guide to Faculty Retirement,” which all faculty are encouraged to review.  An upcoming retirement information session will be held on April 25 at 3:30 p.m. in Van Pelt-Dietrich Library; more information can be found at the PASEF website. The Health Advocate service was discussed; this service is available to anyone who receives health insurance through Penn, as well as to members of their families (including elderly parents), and aims to help individuals navigate “the healthcare and insurance maze.”

Update from the Office of the Provost.  Provost Wendell Pritchett reported on planned updates to the policy on Consensual Sexual Relations Between Faculty and Students. The policy will be revised to prohibit sexual relations between faculty (of which the definition will be broadly defined and further clarified in the policy update) and undergraduate students.  It will also clarify (but not change) the existing policy as it applies to relationships between faculty and graduate or professional students. The policies on sexual violence and sexual harassment are currently under review to ensure that they reflect best practices. Provost Pritchett invited comments concerning Penn’s procedures specifically related to sexual harassment, how those procedures could be made more effective and equitable, and what best practices exist among our peer universities. Comments will be accepted through April 6 to provost-comments@upenn.edu All comments will be held in confidence and will not be attributed to an individual.