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

Senate Executive Committee Agenda

Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Chair’s Report.  Faculty Senate Chair Santosh Venkatesh provided SEC members with an update on the Teach-In, which will be held at sites across campus from March 18-22.  A full schedule and registration information are now available at www.pennteachin.org  Events are free and open to public participation and address a wide range of topics, including vaccine denial, firearm violence, the data sciences, artificial intelligence, biomedical ethics and the role of higher education in the modern era, among others.  SEC members were encouraged to share the website and Teach-In information with their colleagues, students and friends and family in the region.

2018 Senate Committee on Committees.  SEC members adopted a membership slate for the 2018 Senate Committee on Committees.

Update from the Office of the President.  President Amy Gutmann delivered a progress report on continuing support for faculty and student initiatives.  She spoke of the importance of higher education at Penn as an engine for inclusion and innovation.  A new website, www.wellnessatpenn.com, has been launched as a central repository for wellness resources for students.  Faculty initiatives include the fostering of efforts surrounding multidisciplinary collaboration in teaching and research.

Update from the Office of the General Counsel. Senior Vice President and General Counsel Wendy White and Vice Provost for Education Beth Winkelstein informed SEC members of the status and activities of the graduate student unionization effort being undertaken on campus. An election is tentatively planned for later in the current spring semester, which will determine whether “Graduate Employees Together University of Pennsylvania” will become the exclusive bargaining representative for all graduate students who are eligible to vote in the election.  A page responding to “frequently asked questions” on this topic can be found at the website of the Vice Provost for Education, https://provost.upenn.edu/education/graduate/faq