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 18, 2017

Chair’s Report. Faculty Senate Chair Laura Perna invited SEC members to participate in “Listening to Diversity,” a forum for the Penn community to share suggestions for how to bring about productive change on campus. The forum, to be held today, January 24, 4-6 p.m., at the Van Pelt Library’s Orrery Pavilion (6th floor), is convened by the University Council Committee on Diversity and Equity, the Faculty Senate and the Penn Forum for Women Faculty.  This initial public forum will provide all members of the campus community (faculty, staff, and students) the opportunity to voice their concerns and share their suggestions for how Penn might work together to bring about productive change. The coordinating committee for the event will then make recommendations to the university as to how best to be preemptively responsive to ongoing questions and concerns about equity and diversity that are directly affecting the Penn community. 

Past-Chair’s Report. Faculty Senate Past Chair Reed Pyeritz reported that the Academic Planning and Budget Committee and Capital Council continued to meet and that the Campaign for Community Steering Committee is in the process of scheduling its next meeting.

Update from the Office of the President. President Amy Gutmann provided updates on philanthropic initiatives, innovation efforts and the search for a new provost. She encouraged faculty members to attend the open meeting of the Consultative Committee on the Selection of a Provost, which will be held on January 30 at noon in the Claudia Cohen Hall Terrace Room. SEC members then discussed a number of other issues with President Gutmann, including: Penn’s status as a sanctuary campus for undocumented students, the future of online learning at Penn, student mental health and wellness and the Sachs Program for Arts Innovation.

Discussion and Votes on Proposed Amendments to Faculty Tracks in SP2 and Annenberg.  The Senate Committee on Faculty and the Academic Mission (SCOF) reviewed and unanimously approved two proposals from the School of Social Policy and Practice (SP2). The first proposal is to adopt the Senior Lecturer track and the second proposal is to adopt the Practice Professor track in the school.  Following discussion, SEC members voted to approve the first proposal by a vote of 24 in favor, 2 opposed, and 5 abstentions, and they voted to approve the second proposal by a vote of 26 in favor, none opposed, and 5 abstentions. Following SCOF’s meeting but prior to the SEC meeting, the Senate Tri-Chairs received a proposal from the Annenberg School for Communication to adopt the Practice Professor track in that school, requesting that the proposal’s review be expedited by SEC due to exigent circumstances. Upon motion made and seconded, and following discussion, SEC members voted to approve this proposal by a vote of 24 in favor, none opposed, and 7 abstentions.

Discussion on the Role and Representation of the “Non-Standing Faculty” at Penn.  SCOF Chair Amy Sepinwall (Wharton) led a discussion of SEC members designed to inform SCOF as it addresses its charge to “Initiate a review of teaching by Academic Support Staff and Associated Faculty in the undergraduate schools.” SEC members broke into smaller groups for the discussion.  Upon reconvening in plenary session, SEC members suggested that the Senate consider the feasibility of including the non-Standing Faculty more substantially in shared governance at Penn. They also noted the great variation in the experiences and responsibilities of this group and the implications of this variation for efforts to codify shared governance roles.

Report of the Senate Ad Hoc Committee to Review the Academic Calendar. SEC member Ron Donagi (SAS/Mathematics), chair of the Ad Hoc Committee, presented a proposal for restructuring the academic calendar. Following a discussion, the proposal was referred to the Senate Committee on Students and Educational Policy (SCSEP) for further review. Faculty may voice concerns pertaining to the academic calendar by emailing the Senate office.