May 1, 2018 Volume 64 Issue 33

President Amy Gutmann made the 2018 list of “The World’s 50 Greatest Leaders,” recently published by Fortune magazine. This year’s list revolves around the theme of unbundling: making an enterprise greater by disaggregating, delegating control and de-centralizing power, and with leadership that arises from inspiration rather than authority.

The magazine states: “A first-generation college-goer herself, Gutmann has steadily increased their ranks on Penn’s campus. When she took office in 2004, one in 20 students were first-generation and low-income, today it’s one in eight, and she’s also a vocal backer of international students and immigrants on campus. Her fundraising has been blockbuster too, enabling Penn to offer the largest all-grant financial aid program in the country. Her reforms have helped secure her a contract extension through 2022, which would make her the longest-serving president in the university’s history.”

The recipients of these annual awards are selected directly by Penn Engineering students.

The S. Reid Warren, Jr., Award

Santosh Venkatesh, professor in electrical and systems engineering, has been awarded the S. Reid Warren, Jr., Award, which is presented annually by the undergraduate student body and the Engineering Alumni Society in recognition of outstanding service in stimulating and guiding the intellectual and professional development of undergraduate students.

One student remarked, “His classes were the best educational experiences I had in my academic career. Without sacrificing any rigor, he taps into his vast historical, literary and mathematical knowledge, bringing probability to life through rich examples and anecdotes that stimulate not only the mathematician and engineer in each of his students, but also the poet, the artist, the political scientist.”

Ford Motor Company Award for Faculty Advising

Lee Bassett, assistant professor in electrical and systems engineering, has been awarded the Ford Motor Company Award for Faculty Advising, which recognizes dedication to helping students realize their educational, career and personal goals.

Dr. Bassett received his BS in physics from Pennsylvania State University in 2004. He then went on to earn MASt and PhD degrees in mathematics and physics, respectively, from the University of Cambridge.

“Having [Dr. Bassett] as both my faculty advisor and as a professor, I can say that he genuinely cares about how much his students are faring at school,” one advisee said. “He is both extremely proactive in advising his students and very generous with his time.”

Hatfield Award for Excellence in Teaching in the Lecturer and Practice Professor Track

Arvind Bhusnurmath, lecturer in computer and information science, has been awarded the Hatfield Award for Excellence in Teaching in the Lecturer and Practice Professor Track. The award recognizes outstanding teaching ability, dedication to innovative undergraduate instruction and exemplary service to the School in consistently inspiring students in the engineering and scientific profession. Dr. Bhusnurmath received his MTech in mathematics and computing in 2002 from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, and earned his PhD in computer science from Penn.

“During a time when I felt completely inadequate to be in [Dr. Bhusnurmath’s] class, he helped me in such a way where I felt no judgement whatsoever,” one of his students said. “He is committed to helping his students understand the class material.”

From the President, Provost and VPUL

This year, we have seen a vibrantly energized culture of wellness at Penn. In October, we held a Campus Conversation to discuss how we can best take care of ourselves and others. In November, we followed this Conversation by launching a Campaign for Wellness and announcing increased staffing and an operational review at Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). Since that time, we have continued to advance wellness at Penn through such initiatives as a new Wellness at Penn website, a second Campus Conversation about wellness and a huge increase in participation in our invaluable Take Your Professor to Lunch program. 

We are writing to update you on our next steps to advance the wellness of the Penn community. First, we have established a new position of Chief Wellness Officer. This campus leader will be responsible for furthering all aspects of wellness at Penn, including the combined oversight of CAPS, the Student Health Service and the Office of Alcohol and Other Drug Program Initiatives, which will together be called Student Wellness Services. The search for the person to fill this new position will be separate from the search for a new Executive Director of CAPS, and we expect to complete both searches during the fall semester.

Second, as a result of the CAPS operational review, we will introduce an integrated set of improvements to student wellness services, including the services offered by CAPS. The overall goal of these measures will be to create faster access to care, for more students, across a wider range of options. We will aim to increase capacity at CAPS; decrease the time between a first CAPS consultation and a first counseling appointment; better distinguish short-term care, long-term care and other kinds of wellness care; expand the use of phone, video and app-based technologies that can be accessed anywhere, at any time; and expand the availability of texting to find additional means of support for students in crisis.

Provost Wendell Pritchett will oversee implementation of these improvements, in collaboration with Vice Provost Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum and other partners across the University, to ensure a unified and comprehensive approach to wellness at Penn.

We are grateful to the distinguished campus leaders who conducted this review of CAPS: Dr. Jody Foster, chair, department of psychiatry, Pennsylvania Hospital; Thomas Gakis, chief operating officer, department of medicine; Monica Heuer, director of Change Management, Penn Medicine; Beth Johnston, executive director, Clinical Practices; Dr. Caryn Lerman, vice dean of PSOM and John H. Glick professor of psychiatry; Roy Rosin, chief innovation officer, Penn Medicine; and Maureen Rush, vice president for Public Safety. We are equally indebted to the exemplary service of CAPS Executive Director Bill Alexander, who has dedicated himself for almost two decades to providing outstanding care for our Penn students and their families.

We thank everyone in our community for helping us to sustain the most healthy and supportive campus environment, one in which every member of our community can thrive. We look forward to updating you again in the fall about our continuing efforts to advance wellness at Penn. 

–Amy Gutmann, President

–Wendell Pritchett, Provost

–Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum, Vice Provost for University Life

Mia Bay joined Penn this semester as the Roy F. and Jeannette P. Nichols Professor of American History. A well-recognized scholar of late-modern American intellectual and cultural history with a focus on African-American history, Dr. Bay came to Penn from Rutgers University, where she served as professor of history and director of the Rutgers Center for Race and Ethnicity. She has published two highly acclaimed books, The White Image in the Black Mind: African-American Ideas About White People 1830-1925 and To Tell the Truth Freely: The Life of Ida B. Wells. Dr. Bay is the recipient of numerous honors, awards and grants, including a Mellon Sawyer Seminar Grant, an Alphonse Fletcher Sr. Fellowship, a National Humanities Center Fellowship and an American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) Fellowship.

The Roy F. and Jeannette P. Nichols Chair of American History is one of three chairs created by the Board of Trustees from the lifetime gifts and estates of Roy F. and Jeannette P. Nichols, longtime members of the history faculty. In addition, Dr. Roy Nichols served as Dean of Graduate Studies in Penn Arts and Sciences and as Vice Provost of the University, while Dr. Jeanette Nichols served as chair of the graduate group in economic history (Almanac October 25, 1983).

Penn’s Commencement is a wonderful opportunity to gather together in recognition of the impressive accomplishments of our students.  On behalf of the Trustees, Officers and Deans and their faculties, we would like to invite all members of the Penn community to attend the University’s 262nd Commencement on Monday, May 14, 2018.

The Academic Procession steps forth from the Annenberg Center at 9 a.m., then pauses for approximately 45 minutes in front of College Hall to applaud the graduating students as they pass through our ranks.  The procession then proceeds to Franklin Field, where the ceremony begins at 10:15 a.m.

 If you would like to attend, please seek advance approval from your supervisor to assure that the business needs of your department will continue to be met.  Whether you wish to join the festivities around Locust Walk and College Green or come to the ceremony itself (tickets are not necessary), we very much hope that you will join us in this University-wide celebration of the academic year.

—Amy Gutmann, President

—Wendell Pritchett, Provost

—Leslie Laird Kruhly, Vice President and University Secretary

This is related to the 262nd Commencement: University of Pennsylvania Commencement Events 2018 article.

Call for Nominations: Deadline June 29

Nominations are now being accepted for Penn’s Green Purchasing Awards. The program, now in its fourth year, is held in conjunction with the Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee (ESAC) Purchasing Subcommittee and Penn Sustainability. This award recognizes the leading actions of any individual and/or team that advances the development of sustainable purchasing practices at Penn. This award program is a chance to spotlight those who are championing sustainability across campus, as well as to celebrate projects that are contributing to a more sustainable future. View the past recipients of the award at https://cms.business-services.upenn.edu/purchasing/sustainable-purchasing/green-purchasing-awards/past-winners.html—some of these achievements may inspire you to submit your colleagues’ work for consideration.

Visit the Green Purchasing Award web page at https://cms.business-services.upenn.edu/purchasing/sustainable-purchasing/green-purchasing-awards.html to review the nomination guidelines and information about the submittal process. Nominations will remain open until Friday, June 29.  Award recipients will be honored at the Penn Purchasing Supplier Show in September.

Penn Benefits Open Enrollment will end this Friday, May 4. If you haven’t reviewed your medical, prescription, dental, vision and life insurance benefits elections for the 2018-2019 plan year, now is the time.

For detailed information about your benefits options, visit the Human Resources website at www.hr.upenn.edu/openenrollment. Review the changes for the coming plan year so you can make the right choices for you and your family.

Changes made during Open Enrollment will be effective as of July 1, 2018. If you don’t make changes during Open Enrollment, you’ll receive the same coverage you had last year. New rates for all plans will be reflected in your July 2018 paychecks.

You can update your benefits coverage online at Penn’s secure Benefits Enrollment website at www.pennbenefits.upenn.edu. If you don’t have internet access or are having problems enrolling online, contact the Penn Benefits Center at 1-888-PENNBEN (1-888-736-6236) Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time).

If you have questions, please contact the Penn Benefits Center at 1-888-PENNBEN (1-888-736-6236).

Following is the progress to-date on the 2014 University-wide Climate Action Plan 2.0 environmental goals (see Almanac April 24, 2018):

Carbon emissions, academic course selection and the amount of waste sent to landfills are areas of significant achievement against the goals of the University of Pennsylvania’s Climate Action Plan, according to the University’s Sustainability Office.

The Sustainability Office has released the FY17 Sustainability Annual Report, based on data and metrics from fiscal year 2017 gathered from across many academic and administrative units at Penn. The Annual Report documents Penn’s progress towards the goals of the 2014 Climate Action Plan 2.0, tracking metrics in Academics, Utilities & Operations, Physical Environment, Purchasing Practices, Waste Minimization & Recycling, Transportation, and Outreach and Engagement.

“In an effort to track progress on our Climate Action Plan 2.0 goals, and to join our peer institutions in public, transparent reporting of our sustainability initiatives, we have produced this Annual Report,” explained Anne Papageorge, vice president of Penn’s Division of Facilities & Real Estate Services.

This report is intended to be the first annual, comprehensive, graphic and concise presentation of progress in key metrics.

Some highlights include:

Carbon Emissions

CAP 2.0 Goal: 

Achieve the following reductions in carbon emissions from campus buildings (absolute):

• 7% reduction by 2019 in comparison to the FY14 baseline
• 18% reduction by 2042 in comparison to the FY14 baseline

2017 Annual Report Progress:

Carbon emissions from campus buildings decreased by over 13% since the 2014 baseline.

Academic Course Selection

CAP 2.0 Goal: 

Expand opportunities for teaching, learning and researching sustainability among students, staff and faculty.

2017 Annual Report Progress:

The Penn Sustainable Course Inventory has expanded from 124 to 298 courses, a 140% increase. Sustainability-related research continues to flourish, as exemplified by the multi-million dollar Mellon Foundation grant to the Penn Program in Environmental Humanities and the Kleinman Center’s expanded research on energy policy, fuel economy, utility resilience and the sustainability of the urban traffic sector.

Landfill Waste

CAP 2.0 Goal: 

Improve Penn’s environmental performance by minimizing solid waste through community education, strategic purchasing, appropriate infrastructure and proper disposal, strengthened by relevant and accurate metrics.

2017 Annual Report Progress:

Waste sent to the landfill has decreased by nearly 5% since the 2014 baseline.

Download a PDF of the FY17 Sustainability Annual Report at www.facilities.upenn.edu/sites/default/files/pdfs/2017_sustainability_report_final_28feb2018.pdf

Penn Sustainability is a University-wide initiative to advance environmental sustainability at the University of Pennsylvania and coordinate programs to develop a more sustainable campus. 

Jarod Finlay, an assistant professor of radiation oncology in the Perelman School of Medicine, died on April 11 from cancer. He was 43.

Dr. Finlay, a native of Bryn Mawr, earned his undergraduate degree in math and physics from Alfred University in 1997 and his master’s and PhD degrees in physics from the University of Rochester in 1999 and 2004, respectively.

Dr. Finlay joined Penn’s department of radiation oncology in 2003. Among his other roles, Dr. Finlay served as the director of the Master of Medical Physics Program. His field of research was photodynamic therapy, a discipline to which he contributed, as author or co-author, more than 120 publications. Dr. Finlay’s promotion to associate professor had been recently approved and was to have taken effect in July.

Dr. Finlay is survived by his wife, Leah; daughters, Mikaela and Anya; parents, Bill and Beth; brothers, Liam and Conor; niece, Fiona; and nephews, Rowan and McCoy.

In lieu of flowers or similar gifts, please consider making a contribution to www.gofundme.com/Finlay-Girls-Education-Fund

Duncan Whelen Van Dusen, emeritus associate secretary of the University of Pennsylvania, died on April 21 from genetically related blood cancer. He was 81.

Mr. Van Dusen graduated cum laude from Princeton University in 1958 and earned his master’s of public health from Columbia University in 1961. He was an officer in the U.S. Army, including three years spent as adjutant at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He received an Army Commendation Medal and a Department of the Army Certificate of Achievement for his service.

In 1969, Mr. Van Dusen joined the staff at the University of Pennsylvania as the assistant to the vice president for medical affairs. In 1972 he was named assistant to the dean of medicine, and in 1977 he became administrative vice chairman of the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation. He also served as coordinator of medical education for Philadelphia General Hospital, which later closed.

In 1989, he joined the Office of the University Secretary, where he served as secretary to the University Council. He served as a Commencement Marshal and was on the Penn’s Way campaign advisory committee. He managed the 25-Year Club, for which he served as secretary for many years, and also spearheaded the annual event. He was recognized at the 2013 dinner for “enhancing the University’s sense of community.” Although he retired in 2009, he remained active in the Penn community until his death. At his retirement, he was given emeritus status in recognition of his contributions.

Mr. Van Dusen was also very active outside of Penn. He volunteered for over 60 years interviewing candidates for admission to Princeton University, and he received the Princeton Alumni Council Award for Service in 2008. He was also a career service volunteer, P-Rade marshal, a mainstay of the Princeton Club of Philadelphia and a class secretary and solicitor. Outside the world of higher education, he served as president of the Bryn Mawr Civic Association and of the Federation of Lower Merion Civic Associations; a member of the Township of Lower Merion Civic Associations; on the board of Harriton House; and on the Board of Managers of Ralston Center. He was a member of Our Mother of Good Counsel Parish and the Church of the Redeemer, and in 1996 was given the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania Service Award.

Mr. Van Dusen is survived by his wife, Elizabeth (Libby); sons Edwin, Duncan and Nicholas; brother, Michael, and sister, Sally Van Dusen Johnson; and three grandsons and three granddaughters. There will be a memorial mass at Our Mother of Good Counsel at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Van Dusen Family Needs-Based Scholarship Fund at Princeton University, PO Box 5357, Princeton, NJ 08544-5357.

The following agenda is published in accordance with the Faculty Senate Rules. Any member of the standing faculty may attend SEC meetings and observe. Questions may be directed 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 Agenda

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

3-5 p.m.

Glandt Forum – 3rd Floor, Singh Nanotechnology Center

1. Approval of the Minutes from the SEC Meeting of April 4, 2018 (1 minute)

2. Chair’s Report (5 minutes)

3. Past-Chair’s Report (4 minutes)

4. Ballot:  2018-2019 University Council Steering Committee Members (5 minutes)

5. Senate Committee Reports (85 minutes)

     a. Senate Committee on the Economic Status of the Faculty (SCESF)

     b. Senate Committee on Students and Educational Policy (SCSEP)

     c. Senate Committee on Faculty and the Academic Mission (SCOF)

     d. Senate Committee on Faculty Development, Diversity, and Equity (SCFDDE)

     e. Senate Committee on Faculty and the Administration (SCOA)

      f. Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Engagement with the Academic Mission

6. Discussion and recommendations for SEC’s agenda for 2018-2019 (15 minutes)

7. Passing of the Torch and Concluding Remarks (5 minutes)

A meeting of the Budget & Finance Committee and the Executive Committee/Stated Meeting of the University of Pennsylvania Trustees will be held on Thursday, May 10. Both meetings will take place in the Class of 1949 Auditorium, Houston Hall. The following meetings are open to the public:

• 9:30-11 a.m.: Budget & Finance Committee
• 1:20-1:30 p.m.: Meeting of the Executive Committee

Please contact the Office of the University Secretary at (215) 898-7005 to indicate your attendance plans. 

The Provost’s Office periodically issues guidelines for addressing academic issues of students with disabilities. These are intended to remind the University community of our obligation and commitment to provide reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities and to describe relevant resources and procedures. The Guidelines that follow were updated by the VPUL Office of Student Disabilities Services (SDS).

The Guidelines have been reviewed and approved by the Council of Undergraduate Deans, the Council of Graduate Deans and the Council of Professional Master’s Program Deans.

—Wendell Pritchett, Provost

Policy Statement

The University of Pennsylvania is committed to providing access and equal educational opportunities to all students, including students with disabilities. Penn does not discriminate against students with disabilities. The University provides reasonable accommodation to a student’s known disability in order to afford that student an equal opportunity to participate in all University-sponsored academic and extracurricular programs, activities and services.

Reason for Policy Guidance

This guidance, known as the Provost’s Memorandum, serves two purposes:

• To provide guidance to faculty and staff so that they may reasonably accommodate and support students with disabilities without compromising academic standards and requirements;
• To assure students with disabilities that the University will provide access to all University-sponsored programs, benefits and activities through reasonable accommodation and program accessibility as required under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended (“ADA”).

Protection from Discrimination

The Rehabilitation Act and the ADA prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities by institutions like Penn that receive or benefit from federal financial assistance. These and other laws require that reasonable accommodations be provided to otherwise qualified individuals with a disability.

Some Key Definitions

Disability–A person with a disability is defined as an individual who (1) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, (2) has a record of such an impairment, or (3) is regarded as having such an impairment. Examples of recognized disabilities include, but are not limited to, blindness, deafness, paralysis, diabetes, epilepsy, lupus, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, HIV/AIDS, specific learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Reasonable Accommodation–A reasonable accommodation is a modification or adjustment that enables an otherwise qualified individual with a disability full access to participation in University-sponsored programs. These modifications should not fundamentally alter the purpose or requirements of the course or program. Reasonable accommodations are determined on an individual basis and take into account the functional limitations of the impairment. Accommodations may vary from class to class depending upon course content and format. They are intended to be effective and reasonable; they may not be exactly what the student wishes or requests.

Appropriate Documentation–Appropriate documentation is a written evaluation or report provided by a clinician in a specific profession or area of expertise who is considered qualified to make the diagnosis. The documentation must be current and comprehensive and may include clinical and social histories from parents, counselors and specialists. A diagnosis must be included. Documentation must identify the student’s specific functional limitations within the academic setting and must show substantial limitation compared to most people. The documentation should conform to well-established practices in the specific area(s)/field(s). For more information, see Documentation Guidelines on the Student Disabilities Services website at the following link: http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/lrc/sds/ps_documentation_guidelines.php

Responsible University Office

Students with disabilities and temporary conditions are served by the Office of Student Disabilities Services (SDS). The office is located in the Weingarten Learning Resources Center (WLRC), a department under the Office of the Vice Provost of University Life. SDS is responsible for assessing all student requests for accommodations and determining reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities.

The Office of Student Disabilities Services is available to assist faculty and professional staff with the provision of academic accommodations and for consultation regarding students with disabilities.

Phone:  (215) 573-9235    

Fax:      (215) 746-6326    

E-mail: vpul-sdsmail@pobox.upenn.edu

Accommodation Procedures

Responsibilities of Students

Students with disabilities who seek accommodation at Penn are responsible for self-identifying with SDS. Identification may take place upon admission or at any time during the student’s course of study.

Students requesting accommodations are responsible for providing documentation, at their own expense, according to the guidelines published on the SDS website: https://www.vpul.upenn.edu/secure/lrc/form/selfid/

SDS may request additional information if the documentation provided does not support the existence of a disability or the need for the accommodations requested.

The SDS Documentation Review Committee thoroughly reviews the documentation, and accommodations are determined through an interactive process with input from the student. Consultation with faculty may be important in determining how to best accommodate a student in a specific course. A determination from the Committee may take four to six weeks, or longer if additional information is needed. For examples of reasonable accommodations, please see the SDS website: http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/lrc/sds/academic_accommodations

Students who are approved for accommodations must authorize SDS to inform professors about their approved accommodations. They must also make online requests to SDS for individual exam accommodations each semester. Students are encouraged to introduce themselves to professors to initiate a dialogue about their particular needs.

Responsibilities of Faculty and Staff

Faculty and staff are responsible for ensuring equity and access in their programs and classrooms. The SDS-approved accommodations should not fundamentally alter the academic requirements essential to a course or program of study or to licensing prerequisites. It is also important to recognize that students with disabilities must reach the same performance standards to fulfill degree requirements as their non-disabled peers. Accommodations provide students with disabilities equal access, not an unfair advantage.

Instructors are required to accommodate students only after receiving an email from SDS indicating the accommodations that have been approved.

A statement about services for students with disabilities should be included in the syllabus for each course. Below is a sample syllabus statement:

Sample Syllabus Statement

The University of Pennsylvania provides reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities who have self-identified and received  approval from the Office of Student Disabilities Services (SDS). If SDS has approved your request for accommodations, please make an appointment to meet with me as soon as possible in order to discuss the arrangements for your accommodations.

If you have not yet contacted Student Disabilities Services and would like to request accommodations or have questions, you can make an appointment by calling (215) 573-9235. The office is located in the Weingarten Learning Resources Center at Stouffer Commons, 3702 Spruce Street, Suite 300. Please visit the SDS website at http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/lrc/sds/index.php

SDS services are free and confidential.

Accommodated Exams

In order to effectively manage the logistics of exam accommodations, instructors are expected to respond promptly to SDS emails requesting information about exam accommodations. Although the exam may not be written until shortly before the exam date, other details are needed by the SDS accommodations staff as early as possible in order to arrange for exam administration and inform students of the arrangements. Professors are encouraged to provide SDS with exams as early as possible prior to the exam to allow SDS time to prepare exam materials. Exams are locked in a secure location until the exams are being administered.

In the event that questions arise during the administration of the exam at SDS, it is important that SDS has contact information for the instructor or TA (phone, text and/or email).

The Standards for Accommodating Exams for Students with Disabilities is available on the SDS website: http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/lrc/sds/StandardsforAccommodatingExams.php. This document provides guidelines for accommodated exams that are administered by faculty or their designees.

Note-taking Announcements

Faculty may be asked to assist SDS by identifying note-takers through an announcement or email to the class and referring interested note-takers to SDS. A template for the email will be included when SDS contacts faculty regarding note-taker accommodations.

Accessibility of Information and Course Materials

Faculty should collaborate with their department offices and SDS to ensure that their course materials, presentations, audio-visual materials and exams are available in an accessible format for students with sensory and print disabilities.

Confidentiality

All disability documentation provided by the student is confidential and remains in the Office of Student Disabilities Services for the purpose of determining reasonable accommodations. Students who have not been approved by SDS may not request accommodations from faculty. If documentation is provided to the instructor, it should be returned to the student and the student should be referred to SDS.

Faculty should refrain from discussing a student’s disabilities and accommodations in front of the class, in the presence of other students or to faculty or staff not directly involved in the accommodation process.

Reconsideration Process

Students may request reconsideration of the SDS accommodation determination through the SDS Reconsideration Process found on the website at: https://www.vpul.upenn.edu/lrc/sds/reconsiderationprocess.php

Concerns and Complaints

The Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Programs is responsible for overseeing the University’s implementation of its equal opportunity and nondiscrimination obligations arising under Federal, Commonwealth and local laws. Any concerns or complaints should be addressed to the Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Programs, 3451 Walnut Street, Franklin Building, Room 421 Philadelphia, PA 19104 or (215) 898-6993 (voice) or (215) 746-7088 (fax) or http://www.upenn.edu/affirm-action/discrimination.html

Additional Information

Related policies and procedures are available on the SDS website (http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/lrc/sds/) in the section for Faculty and Staff.

This Memorandum is available in alternate format upon request.

Student Disabilities Services, Weingarten Learning Resources Center, (215) 573-9235

3702 Spruce Street, Suite 300, Stouffer Commons, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6027

Three Penn faculty members have been elected to the Class of 2018 of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences: Ezekiel J. Emanuel, Steven Feierman and Richard V. Kadison.

Dr. Emanuel is the Diane v.S. Levy and Robert M. Levy University Professor, vice provost for global initiatives, professor of health care management, professor and chair of medical ethics and health policy. He is a Penn Integrates Knowledge professor with appointments in Wharton and the Perelman School of Medicine.

He was the founding chair of the department of bioethics at the National Institutes of Health and held that position until August 2011. He recently served as a special advisor on health policy to the director of the Office of Management and Budget and National Economic Council. He is also a breast oncologist. Dr. Emanuel has published widely on health-care reform, research ethics and end-of-life care. Dr. Emanuel also serves as a contributor for the New York Times and Fox News.

He began teaching online with a massive open online course (MOOC) on Coursera in 2013 and has since shaped his experiences and research into brief video lectures on medical ethics and health policy issues for continuing education, professional development and academic learners.

Dr. Feierman, professor of history emeritus, spent many years living and working in East Africa. He teaches African history, comparative medicine, and medicine and development in the School of Arts and Sciences.

He is the author of Peasant Intellectuals: Anthropology and History in Tanzania and The Shambaa Kingdom: A History; co-author of African History: From Earliest Times to Independence; co-editor of The Social Basis of Health and Healing in Africa; and author of many articles about memory, religion and healing in Africa. Prior to coming to Penn, he was at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Florida.

Dr. Kadison is the Gustave C. Kuemmerle Professor of Mathematics in Penn Arts and Sciences. He is best known for his contributions to the study of operator algebras and mathematical physics.

Dr. Kadison is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and a foreign member of the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters and the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters. He was a 1969 Guggenheim Fellow. In 1999 he was awarded the Leroy P. Steele Prize for Lifetime Achievement by the American Mathematical Society and in 2012 he became a fellow of the American Mathematical Society.

Peter Holquist, Ronald S. Lauder Endowed Term Associate Professor of History at Penn (Almanac December 5, 2017), is a 2018-2019 recipient of the Berlin Prize from The American Academy in Berlin.

During his fellowship in spring 2019, Dr. Holquist will explore the emergence and consolidation of the international law of war in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, focusing on the key role played by Imperial Russia.

The Berlin Prize is awarded annually to scholars, writers, composers and artists from the United States who represent the highest standards of excellence in their fields. Fellows receive a monthly stipend, partial board and accommodations at the Academy’s lakeside Hans Arnhold Center in Berlin-Wannsee. The Prize provides recipients with the time and resources to step back from their daily obligations to work on academic and artistic projects they might not otherwise pursue.

Carl June, Richard W. Vague Professor in Immunotherapy in PSOM’s department of pathology and laboratory medicine and director of both the Center for Cellular Immunotherapies in the Abramson Cancer Center and the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, was recently named to Time magazine’s list of 100 most influential people. The list recognizes the activism, innovation and achievement of the world’s most influential individuals and is honoring Dr. June for his pioneering work in developing CAR T therapy, which was recently approved for a second indication by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of patients with certain forms of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. That follows the initial FDA approval for treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in certain pediatric and young adult patients last year.

Dr. June has received numerous honors and awards. He was most recently named a 2017 Fellow of the American Association for Cancer Research Academy (Almanac April 18, 2017), and he was given the David A. Karnofsky Memorial Award from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (Almanac August 29, 2017).

Joan C. Hendricks, the Gilbert S. Kahn Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine, is the recipient of the Trustees’ Council of Penn Women (TCPW) Provost Award for exceptional contributions to the lives of women at the University of Pennsylvania and the wider academic community.

Dr. Hendricks has been a faculty member at Penn Vet for more than 30 years and is also an alumna (V’79). She rose to chief of critical care in the department of clinical studies and founded the School’s Veterinary Clinical Investigations Center. In 2001, she became the first woman to hold an endowed professorship at the School—the Henry and Corinne R. Bower Professor of Small Animal Medicine. In 2006, Dr. Hendricks was named the Gilbert S. Kahn Dean of Veterinary Medicine (Almanac November 1, 2005). She became the third woman dean of a veterinary school in the nation and the first at Penn Vet. On July 31, 2018, she will be stepping down from her post as dean (Almanac March 13, 2018).

Dr. Hendricks joins a select group of faculty who have received the TCPW award, including Susan Davidson, Penn Engineering; Afaf Meleis, Penn Nursing Science; and Stephanie Abbuhl, Penn Medicine.

The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) recently announced its 2018 Fellows. Among the 78 awardees, there were several Penn faculty members: Beth Linker, associate professor of history and sociology of science in SAS, for her book Slouch: The Forgotten History of America’s Poor Posture Epidemic; Catriona MacLeod, Edmund J. and Louise W. Kahn Term Professor of German and department chair of Germanic languages and literatures in SAS, for Romantic Scraps: Cutouts, Collages, and Inkblots; and Barbie Zelizer, Raymond Williams Professor of Communication and director of the Scholars Program in Culture and Communication at Annenberg, for How the Cold War Drives the News. As previously published, Glenda Goodman also received a fellowship (Almanac April 24, 2018).

Roy Ingraffia (MSHP’04), a PennDesign lecturer in historic preservation, was recognized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in the new initiative “40 Under 40: People Saving Places” for “expanding opportunities for young adults to enter into the masonry preservation trades through partnerships with allied organizations and historic sites.” Mr. Ingraffia is also director of Industry Development and Technical Services with the International Masonry Institute (IMI) in Philadelphia.

Daniel Q. Gillion, the Julie Beren Platt and Marc E. Platt Presidential Associate Professor of Political Science, and Beth Simmons, a Penn Integrates Knowledge Professor and the Andrea Mitchell University Professor of Law, Political Science and Business Ethics, have been named 2018 Andrew Carnegie Fellows. The fellowship provides a $200,000 stipend, allowing recipients to devote up to two years to research and writing.

Dr. Gillion will examine “The Loud Minority: Why Protests Matter in American Democracy.” He will investigate how activism influences elections and voter turnout, whether protests allow marginalized groups to have a greater voice, and the ways protests act as an avenue of communication between activists and non-activists. He will also look at whether gerrymandering endangers democracy and heightens racial inequality.

Dr. Simmons will focus on “Structures and Sentiment: Understanding Anxieties About International Borders in the Modern World.” She studies international political borders during an age of globalization and hypothesizes that many states have intensified physical structures on their international borders. Her work includes exploring why this is happening and examining some of the consequences of intensified state authority at international borders and border crossings. She will develop two databases: a global satellite-generated database of major border crossings and documentation of public sentiments that view international borders as spaces of opportunity versus threat.

Penn graduate students Laura Colagrande, GAR’18 and a student in the Integrated Product Design Program (IPD), Haley Russell, WG’18, and Amanda Robison, WG’18, recently won both categories at the third annual iDesign Prize competition for their sustainable pet food concept, Chipper. They were awarded $5,000 in the “people’s choice” category, and the professional jury awarded them the grand prize of $50,000.

Pet owners are increasingly choosing foods that are human grade, high in protein and free of byproducts, noted the team. Yet, there are few good options for products that do less harm to the environment. Chipper, which has been tested on more than 100 pets, contains 2.5 times more protein than other meat-based pet foods while using just a fraction of the land and water resources. The key: dried, powdered, protein-rich crickets. Chipper can bring in millions in revenue if it can capture 1 to 2 percent of the specialty pet food market, the team said. The iDesign funds will go directly toward bringing their product to market this fall, noted to the team.

The iDesign Prize gives Penn student teams the chance to launch an innovative product design venture after graduation. It is awarded for innovative physical products that solve a real problem in the world and are supported by holistic design, engineering and business planning.

For the fifth year, Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania has been awarded the highest level of accreditation, Level IV, from ArbNet. Only 19 arboreta worldwide achieved this rank.

To achieve Level IV accreditation, an arboretum must have: a scientific and/or conservation staff and capability to collaborate in scientific or conservation activities with other arboreta or organizations related to trees; institutional capacity, stability, and commitment to hold and safeguard plants of collections or conservation value on behalf of the collective interests of the profession; specific participation in collaborative scientific or conservation activities related to trees, such as the North American Plant Collections Consortium or the Global Trees Campaign; and specific consideration of a conservation role linked to the Global Trees Campaign (globaltrees.org).

Baccalaureate Ceremony
Sunday, May 13
Irvine Auditorium

1:30-2:30 p.m.—Ceremony for students whose last names begin with A-K
3-4 p.m.—Ceremony for students whose last names begin with L-Z
Speaker: Andy Crouch, partner for theology and culture at Praxis, which works as a creative engine for redemptive entrepreneurship

Commencement
Monday, May 14
Franklin Field, 9 a.m.

Speaker: Andrea Mitchell, CW’67, chief foreign affairs correspondent, NBC News; host of “Andrea Mitchell Reports,” MSNBC

Honorary Degree Recipients

Sylvia Earle, marine biologist, oceanographer and author; founder of Mission Blue and the Sylvia Earle Alliance
Doctor of Sciences

Freeman A. Hrabowski III, scholar of education and president, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Doctor of Humane Letters

Elihu Katz, Distinguished Trustee Professor Emeritus of Communication, Annenberg School for Communication, Penn
Doctor of Sciences

Andrea Mitchell, CW’67, chief foreign affairs correspondent, NBC News; host of “Andrea Mitchell Reports,” MSNBC
Doctor of Humane Letters and 2018 Commencement Speaker

Yannick Nézet-Séguin, music director, Walter and Leonore Annenberg Chair, Philadelphia Orchestra; Music Director Designate, Metropolitan Opera, New York
Doctor of Music

Peggy Noonan, author, political and cultural commentator; The Wall Street Journal columnist
Doctor of Humane Letters

Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, scholar of American history and the history of women; 300th Anniversary University Professor, Harvard University
Doctor of Humane Letters

Hamdi Ulukaya, entrepreneur and philanthropist; founder, chair, CEO, Chobani
Doctor of Humane Letters

School Ceremonies and Speakers

Annenberg School for Communication

Bachelor of Arts Ceremony: Sunday, May 13, 10 a.m., Zellerbach Theatre, Annenberg Center
Speaker: Ashley Parker, C’05, White House reporter, Washington Post and political analyst, MSNBC and NBC
Reception: Agora, Annenberg Public Policy Center, following the ceremony
PhD Ceremony: Monday, May 14, 1:30 p.m., Room 110, Annenberg School
Reception: Agora, Annenberg Public Policy Center, noon–1:30 p.m.

School of Arts & Sciences

College of Arts & Sciences:
Ceremony: Sunday, May 13, 6:30 p.m., Franklin Field
Class of 2018 Speaker: Helena von Nagy, C’18
Speaker: Angela Duckworth, Christopher H. Browne Distinguished Professor of Psychology, Penn

Graduate Division, School of Arts & Sciences:
Ceremony: Saturday, May 12, 1 p.m., Irvine Auditorium
Speaker: Reto Gieré, professor and chair, earth and environmental science, Penn

College of Liberal and Professional Studies:
Ceremony: Sunday, May 13, 4 p.m., Zellerbach Theatre, Annenberg Center
Speaker: Camille Zubrinsky Charles, the Walter H. and Leonore C. Annenberg Professor in the Social Sciences in Sociology, Africana Studies and Education, Penn

Fels Institute of Government:
Ceremony: Sunday, May 13, 10 a.m., National Constitution Center
Speaker: Helen Gym, Philadelphia councilwoman at-large

School of Dental Medicine

Ceremony: Monday, May 14, 1 p.m., Irvine Auditorium
Speaker: Richard W. Valachovic, president and CEO of ADEA and president, ADEAGies Foundation
Reception: Immediately following the ceremony, Robert Schattner Center

School of Design

Ceremony: Sunday, May 13, 6 p.m., Irvine Auditorium
Reception: Immediately following the ceremony, Meyerson Hall
Speaker: David W. Orr, Paul Sears Distinguished Professor of Environmental Studies & Politics Emeritus and Senior Advisor to the President, Oberlin College

Graduate School of Education

Ceremony: Saturday, May 12, 9 a.m., Palestra
Speaker: Freeman A. Hrabowski III, President, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Reception: Immediately following the ceremony, Penn Commons

School of Engineering & Applied Science

Undergraduate Ceremony: Saturday, May 12, 2-4 p.m., Palestra
Luncheon: noon-1:30 p.m., Towne Building
Speaker: Vanessa Z. Chan, professor of practice, innovation & entrepreneurship, materials science and engineering, Penn

Master’s Ceremony: Friday, May 11, 3:30-5:30 p.m., Palestra
Speaker: Robin Ren, vice president, Tesla Motors
Reception: 1:30-3 p.m., Towne Building

Doctoral Ceremony: Thursday, May 10, 3:30-4:30 p.m., Irvine Auditorium
Speaker: Jerry Kaplan, expert on Artificial Intelligence, author, entrepreneur and futurist
Reception: Hall of Flags, Houston Hall, immediately following the ceremony    

Law School

Ceremony: Monday, May 14, 3 p.m.,Academy of Music
Speaker: Preet Bharara, former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York
Reception: Sunday, May 13, 2-4 p.m., Law School

Perelman School of Medicine

Ceremony: Sunday, May 13, 9 a.m., Kimmel Center
Speaker: Gail Morrison, William Maul Measey President’s Distinguished Professor in Medical Education; Special Advisor to the EVP/Dean; Executive Director, Innovation Center for Online Medical Education, Penn
Reception: Kimmel Center, immediately following the ceremony

Biomedical Graduate Studies:
Ceremony: Monday, May 14, 1:30-2:30 p.m., Rubenstein Auditorium, Smilow Center

School of Nursing

Ceremony: Sunday, May 13, 4 p.m., Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center
Speaker: Rear Admiral (RADM) Sylvia Trent-Adams, Deputy Surgeon General
Reception: Monday, May 14, noon, Carol Ware Lobby, Claire M. Fagin Hall

School of Social Policy & Practice

Ceremony: Monday, May 14, 6:30 p.m., Irvine Auditorium
Speaker: Tarana Burke, Social Justice Advocate and “Me Too” Movement founder
Reception: Houston Hall, immediately following the ceremony

School of Veterinary Medicine

Ceremony: Monday, May 14, 2:30 p.m., Zellerbach Theatre, Annenberg Center
Speaker: Andrew T. Maccabe, executive director, Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges
Reception: Annenberg Plaza, immediately following the ceremony

Wharton School

San Francisco MBA for Executives:
Ceremony: Saturday, May 5, 3 p.m., Herbst Theatre, San Francisco, California
Speaker: Safra Catz, W’83, L’86, CEO, Oracle Corporation

Doctoral Division:
Ceremony: Friday, May 11, 9:30 a.m., Zellerbach Theatre, Annenberg Center

Philadelphia MBA for Executives:
Ceremony: Saturday, May 12, 3 p.m., Zellerbach Theatre, Annenberg Center
Speaker: F. William McNabb III, WG’83, Chairman, Vanguard

Undergraduate Division:
Ceremony: Sunday, May 13, 9 a.m., Palestra
Speaker: Jeff Weiner, W’92, CEO, LinkedIn

MBA Division:
Ceremony: Sunday, May 13, 1 p.m., Palestra
Speaker: Hamdi Ulukaya, founder, chair, CEO, Chobani

This is related to the Commencement Invitation to the Penn Community article.

The Penn Forum for Women Faculty presents the Annual Leboy Lecture: A Conversation with Risa Lavizzo-Mourey on Tuesday, May 8, 4-6 p.m. in Bodek Lounge, Houston Hall.

To register for the  conversation with Penn Integrates Knowledge Professor, Dr. Lavizzo-Mourey, visit: https://provost.upenn.edu/faculty/pfwf

A world-renowned expert in health policy and geriatric medicine, Dr. Lavizzo-Mourey had served since 2003 as president and chief executive officer of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and, for 15 years before that, as a distinguished professor and administrator at Penn. She is the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Population Health and Health Equity Professor with joint faculty appointments in the department of medical ethics and health policy in the Perelman School of Medicine, the department of health care management in the Wharton School and the department of family and community health in the School of Nursing.

The Phoebe S. Leboy Lecture is awarded annually to an outstanding scholar who catalyzes opportunities for women in academia. 

Penn Forum for Women Faculty was created by women faculty for women faculty. Its mission is to build a community of women scholars that enrich the University of Pennsylvania through advocacy, professional development, networking and community connections. Contact the Forum (forum@pobox.upenn.edu) with ideas for initiatives, training and advocacy.

Meetings

8 University Club Annual Meeting; 12:30 p.m.

Readings and Signings

Penn Book Center

3 Moral Combat: How Sex Divided American Christians and Fractured American Politics; R. Marie Griffith, Washington University in St. Louis; 6 p.m.

5 High Fashion and High Finance; Joan DeJean, Department of English; 4 p.m.

AT PENN Deadlines

The May AT PENN calendar is online. The deadline for the Summer AT PENN calendar is May 15.

The Burrison Gallery of the University Club at Penn is holding its Fifth Annual Penn Alumni Exhibit May 11-25.

This show highlights the creativity of 17 alumni artists, the majority of whom will be celebrating major reunions this year, including two who are members of the Class of 1968.

The public is invited to a reception on Friday, May 11, 5-7 p.m. The Gallery is located on the second floor of the Inn at Penn.

The University of Pennsylvania Police Department Community Crime Report

Below are the Crimes Against Persons, Crimes Against Society and Crimes Against Property from the campus report for April 16-22, 2018. View prior weeks' reports. —Ed.

This summary is prepared by the Division of Ave and Public Safety and includes all criminal incidents reported and made known to the University Police Department between the dates of April 16-22, 2018. The University Police actively patrol from Market St to Baltimore from the Schuylkill River to 43rd St in conjunction with the Philadelphia Police. In this effort to provide you with a thorough and accurate report on public safety concerns, we hope that your increased awareness will lessen the opportunity for crime. For any concerns or suggestions regarding this report, please call the Division of Public Safety at (215) 898-4482.

04/17/18         7:05 AM          3900 Filbert St            Tool and sunglasses taken from vehicle

04/17/18         10:19 AM        3535 Market St           Harassing text messages received

04/17/18         3:27 PM           100 S 43rd St             Driver side door damaged

04/17/18         6:37 PM           3900 Walnut St           Vehicle taken

04/17/18         7:36 PM           3400 Spruce St          Jackets (2) and keys taken

04/18/18         12:00 AM        3730 Walnut St            Currency taken

04/18/18         1:06 AM          3417 Spruce St            Sign to building spray painted

04/18/18         2:05 AM          3813 Chestnut St         Male wanted on warrant/Arrest

04/18/18         7:54 PM           51 N 39th St                Money taken from register by known person

04/18/18         10:05 AM        3501 Sansom St          Musical instruments and equipment taken

04/18/18         10:17 AM        3701 Market St            Prescription pads taken

04/18/18         2:29 PM           4217 Chestnut St        Unsecured bike taken

04/18/18         6:19 PM           4058 Chestnut St        Disturbance between landlord and tenant

04/19/18         12:40 AM        201 S 34th St               Secured bike taken from bike rack

04/19/18         12:21 PM         3701 Walnut St           Property taken from secured locker

04/19/18         2:38 PM           3800 Locust Walk       Backpack and contents taken

04/20/18         10:05 PM         1 S 39th St                  Intoxicated male cited for driving under influence

04/20/18         11:27 PM         3400 Spruce St           Bag taken from room

04/21/18         9:47 AM          4258 Chestnut St         Locks broken on doors-nothing taken

04/21/18         1:03 PM           3619 Locust Walk       Unsecured wallet taken

04/22/18         7:43 AM          3900 Filbert St             Windows broken on two parked vehicles

04/22/18         1:32 PM           3701 Walnut St            Items taken from unsecured locker

18th District

Below are the Crimes Against Persons from the 18th District: 2 incidents (1 domestic assault and 1 purse snatch) were reported between April 16-22, 2018 by the 18th District covering the Schuylkill River to 49th Street & Market Street to Woodland Avenue.

04/18/18         5:04 AM          4735 Sansom St          Domestic Assault

04/19/18         9:15 AM          4511 Baltimore Ave     Purse snatch

Another tip in a series provided by the Offices of Information Systems & Computing and Audit, Compliance & Privacy

Personally Identifiable Information (PII) refers to information used to distinguish, trace or link to an individual’s identity. PII may include sensitive and non-sensitive data.

Examples of sensitive PII include a person’s Social Security Number, driver’s license and passport numbers, biometric records, and medical, financial, and certain types of educational and employment information. It may also include photographic images, logs of geographical locations, usernames and passwords.

Examples of information not considered to be sensitive PII include a person’s name, address, publicly posted photographic images, email address and publicly shared information such as Public View directory information or news.

As a Penn employee, you may handle sensitive PII data of individuals working or studying at the University. If so, it is your responsibility to protect this data and by extension the identity of individuals it belongs to. You should work diligently to:

• Understand the sensitivity of the data you handle by reviewing Penn’s Data Risk Classification guidance.
• Discuss with your supervisor and IT support staff the best location and mechanism to store digital or physical PII data.
• Secure approval from your supervisor or data owner before you access or remove data from a digital or physical location.
• Adhere to Protecting Penn Data guidance.
• Follow the “Need to Know” rule before you share PII data with any individual or entity. Check with your supervisor and/or IT support staff when you are unsure who should have access to the PII data you manage.
• Ensure the computing device you use to access PII data is secure. Review the Desktop Security 101 tips (below) to maintain a secure computer.

Resources:

• Penn Data Risk Classification: https://www.isc.upenn.edu/security/data-classification
• Protecting Penn Data: http://www.upenn.edu/oacp/privacy/penndata/
• Desktop Security 101: https://www.isc.upenn.edu/security/aware/desktop

For additional tips, see the One Step Ahead link on the Information Security website: www.upenn.edu/computing/security/

There will be an issue on May 8 but no issue on May 15 due to Commencement. There are two more issues after that, on May 22 and May 29. Almanac will then have one mid-summer issue on July 17.