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, November 10, 2021

Report from the Senate Tri-Chairs. Faculty Senate Chair William Braham informed SEC members that the Vice Provost for Faculty is currently conducting an all-faculty survey and asked that all faculty complete it. Individualized survey links were sent to each faculty member. Questions or assistance should be directed to provost-fac@upenn.edu. He also reported on other matters:

• Standing faculty volunteers are still sought for the Fraternity/Sorority Advisory Board, the Almanac Advisory Board, and for the Closed Circuit Television Monitoring Committee. Interested standing faculty members should write to senate@pobox.upenn.edu.
• Nominations are being sought for standing faculty members to serve on the spring 2022 Senate Nominating Committee.
• Details of a forthcoming Faculty Senate seminar on issues of Academic Freedom and Open Expression will soon be announced.

Discussion and Vote on Resolution from CIRCE: The Faculty Senate Select Committee on the Institutional Response to the Climate Emergency. The resolution was further revised by CIRCE and was again shared with SEC. Upon motion and second made, the resolution was approved as amended and without dissent. The finalized resolution is published in the November 16, 2021, issue of Almanac.

Proposal to amend the Faculty Handbook to remove gender binary language. A proposal was received from the LGBTQ+ Faculty Diversity Working Group and was presented to SEC for its consideration. Following a motion and second, a discussion ensued. No vote was taken. The concerns raised during the discussion will be forwarded to the proposers for comment, and SEC will continue its consideration of the proposal at a future meeting.

All-faculty Seminar in collaboration with the Center for Teaching and Learning:  “Changing Practices of Teaching and Learning”. At 4 p.m., a Faculty Senate Seminar was held virtually and open to all Penn faculty. Archived resources from that session will soon be available on the Faculty Senate Seminar Series website.