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 22, 2020 

Chair’s Report. Faculty Senate Chair-Elect Kathleen Hall Jamieson presided over the meeting in the absence of Faculty Senate Chair Steven Kimbrough. Professor Jamieson reported on the work of the Senate’s two recently established ad hoc committees. The Ad Hoc Committee on Scholarly Communication is completing a knowledge-gathering process and is expected to continue its work into the next academic year. The Ad Hoc Committee on the Institutional Response to the Climate Emergency (“CIRCE”) plans to divide into three working subcommittees (Education & Research; Operations of the University; and Community, Internal & External) and is inviting suggestions for topics the committee should investigate. Both committees will report on their work to SEC later this spring. 

Past Chair’s Report. No report was offered. 

Update from the Office of the President. President Amy Gutmann reported on Penn’s innovations in higher education during her term as president. There are now 23 Penn Integrates Knowledge Professors, the faculty has grown measurably more diverse in its inclusion of women and underrepresented minorities, the Sachs Program for Arts Innovation has given nearly 50 grants toward using arts to make positive social impact, faculty and students are working hard on getting people out to vote in elections, the Environmental Innovations Initiative is identifying ways to reduce Penn’s carbon footprint, and the AlgoWatch Team—at Penn Engineering and other Penn schools—is monitoring technological algorithms to ensure that fairness, ethics and privacy are taken into consideration. The Paideia Program, which aims to educate “the whole person,” has launched four courses open to all Penn undergraduates on the topics of citizenship, dialogue across divides, service and learning to thrive as a person in society. President Gutmann then addressed questions posed by SEC members, including discussing models for and obstacles to considering civic engagement by faculty in promotion and tenure review. 

Moderated Discussion. SEC members held a robust discussion about whether and how faculty civic engagement should be considered in promotion and tenure review. The ideas generated will be organized and shared with SEC members for distribution to their constituencies. A standing committee of the Senate may also take up the issue during the next academic year.