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, February 15, 2023

Report from the Senate Tri-Chairs. Faculty Senate Past Chair Bill Braham reported that Scott Bok, chair of the Penn Board of Trustees, would join SEC at its March 2023 meeting. He also reported that the Vice Provost for Education will be issuing a survey to all University instructors asking for their feedback on the Policy on Class Meeting Times in use since September 2021 and on the availability and state of classroom space on campus. The survey is expected to take approximately five minutes, will include an opportunity to provide open-ended feedback, and will be accepting responses during the first half of March 2023.

Faculty Senate chair Vivian Gadsden reported on the upcoming roundtable event “Taking a Stand for Local Engagement: Public Education, Public Schools, and the Role of Universities in Supporting Them,” which will be held at the Kleinman Center Energy Forum of the Fisher Fine Arts Library on Tuesday, February 28, 2023, from 4-6 p.m. Featured guests will be Tony Watlington, superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia, and Pam Grossman, dean of the Penn Graduate School of Education. All faculty are invited to attend, and the event will be simulcast on YouTube. SEC members were offered a list of potential discussion questions for the panelists and asked to offer additional questions.

Update from the Office of the President. President Liz Magill discussed recently concluded and ongoing searches for leadership positions at Penn, including the role of Provost (which John L. Jackson, Jr. will assume on June 1 following ratification from the Board of Trustees), Deans of the Annenberg School for Communication, the Penn Carey Law School, and the Graduate School of Education, all of which are ongoing, and the Vice Provost for University Life and Vice President for University Communications. President Magill also expressed her deep gratitude and appreciation for Beth Winkelstein’s leadership and service as Interim Provost. Interim Provost Winkelstein will return to the role of Deputy Provost on June 1. President Magill discussed her experiences as part of the ongoing Penn Forward tour and the progress being made on the Tomorrow, Together initiative. The remainder of the time was used to discuss the impact of ChatGPT on higher education, both present and future.

Proposal from School of Nursing to Increase Size of Practice Faculty. Faculty Senate past chair Bill Braham introduced a motion on behalf of the Senate Committee on Faculty and the Academic Mission (“SCOF”) to approve a proposal from the School of Nursing that would increase the cap on the size of practice faculty in that school from 20% of the standing faculty to 30% of the standing faculty. SCOF members had unanimously voted to approve the proposal at its most recent meeting after a brief discussion on the size of practice faculty tracks in other schools. SEC members discussed the proposal, following a second, about the potential impact the increase would have on the standing faculty. SEC members who were present at the meeting and who are faculty in the School of Nursing replied to the concerns, stating that the increase in practice faculty size would aid the school’s growing teaching mission. SEC members then voted unanimously to approve the proposal as presented.

ChatGPT and Its Implications for Your Teaching. Executive director of the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) Bruce Lenthall led a discussion about ChatGPT, continuing the conversation from the previous hour with President Magill. CTL has developed extensive guidance for use by instructors at Penn and offered that CTL staff are willing to meet with instructors to discuss specific issues and also with departments or programs directly.