As Chair of the Faculty Senate, I have the distinct pleasure and privilege of welcoming you, our distinguished and diverse faculty, our excellent and supportive staff members and our outstanding and eager students, back to our eminent University and to our great and growing campus.

The Faculty Senate comprises all members of the standing faculty (tenured, tenure-track and clinician educator) across all 12 schools of the University. These (approximately) 2,600 members have elected a Senate Executive Committee (SEC) that is headed by the Tri-Chairs: Chair-Elect Laura Perna, Past Chair Claire Finkelstein and me. I note with pride that Penn is one of only three among our Ivy peers to have a Senate that represents the entire standing faculty. The SEC oversees nine committees that will be working assiduously over the coming academic year on a series of charges given by last year’s committees and SEC, but it will also stand ready to respond to any new challenges that emerge. In the spirit of shared governance that permeates all our endeavors, the Tri-Chairs meet regularly with the President and Provost, invite them and other senior administrative officers to SEC meetings, and work with them to coordinate the University Council and its own seven committees. We all rise to the challenge of achieving the goals of the Penn Compact 2020.

In the dynamic landscape of the academy, numerous issues confront the faculty and the University this academic year. Among them are: the evolution and evaluation of open learning initiatives (for example, massive open online courses (MOOCs) have morphed into small private online courses (SPOCs) at some institutions); the establishment of a program to improve faculty awareness of and responses to mental health concerns among students; consideration of a Faculty Advocate for confidential counsel when our colleagues have professional and career worries; our response to and accommodations for the persistent constriction in governmental and other funding sources for research; and clarification and harmonization of University conflict of interest policies. In helping to set our agenda and lead our efforts, I am reminded of a proverb often attributed to Charles Darwin:  It is not the strongest or most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.

For those of our colleagues who are participating in SEC and its committees currently or who have done so in the past, we appreciate your service. For those who see such service as an opportunity to create a brighter future for us all, please contact Laura, Claire or me at the Office of the Faculty Senate (senate@pobox.upenn.edu) and express interest in participating. And while not formally represented by SEC, I also encourage our more than 2,000 colleagues on the non-standing faculty (e.g., academic clinician, research track, adjunct, emeritus faculty) to voice your suggestions and concerns to the Tri-Chairs.

This summer we welcomed our new Executive Assistant to the Senate, Patrick Walsh; he invites you to contact him with your issues or questions (walshjam@upenn.edu; (215) 898-6943). Andreana Thomas served admirably in an interim role, and we wish her well as she moves to new responsibilities within the University. I also acknowledge Dwight Jaggard, who was Past-Chair last year, from whose wisdom and perspectives I have benefited tremendously. Finally, never hesitate to contact me with your insights, questions, suggestions or good humor (reed.pyeritz@uphs.upenn.edu).