To University Council members:
Below you will find a message from Professor Vivian Seltzer, Council Steering Chair and
Chair of Faculty Senate, informing you of a change in place, date and time for the special Council
meeting next week.
Yesterday I sent a notice to University Council members announcing that a special Council
meeting would be held on Tuesday, November 4. The date and time were chosen in response to the
urgency of the request for a special meeting from 25% of Council membership, and to ensure that the
meeting would take place before the beginning of University Trustee meetings.
Over the past day, however, a number of Council members have informed me that they have
scheduling conflicts on Tuesday afternoon. In order to accommodate those concerns and to satisfy
the original request, the special Council meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 5, 1997,
from 4-6 p.m. in Bodek Lounge, Houston Hall.
--Constance C. Goodman
Associate Secretary of the University
Executive Director, Office of the Secretary
CALL TO MEETING
October 31, 1997, 11:11 a.m.
(source: Faculty Senate Office)
More than 25% of the members of University Council have submitted a duly constituted petition calling for a special meeting of University Council. The sole agenda item of the University Council meeting will be a resolution (below) proposed by the Graduate-Professional Student Assem bly. This meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 5, 1997 between 4-6 p.m. I have been informed that GAPSA has reserved Bodek Lounge, Houston Hall.
This meeting time required a shortening of the meeting of the University Council Steering committee. Notice of the proposed change was sent to members of Steering October 30, 1997 asking if any members who had an objection to adjourning Steering at 3:50 p.m. to notify the Steering Chair by 10 a.m. today, October 31, 1997. No objections having been received by the deadline Steering will adjourn by 3:50 p.m. on Wednesday, November 5 so that the special meeting of Council can convene at 4 p.m.
Sincerely,
Vivian C. Seltzer
Chair, Council Steering Committee
ATTACHMENT [to Steering Memo]
Agenda for Special Meeting of University Council Meeting Wednesday, November 5, 1997, 4-6:00 p.m. Bodek Lounge, Houston Hall
Resolution for debate and vote:
Whereas Statutes of the Trustees have established University Council, and have empowered this body to "consider the activities of the University broadly in all of its phases[and] recommend general policies and otherwise advise the President, the Provost, and other officers of the University", and
Whereas the Undergraduate Assembly (UA),and the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly (GAPSA) have been established by the Statutes of the Trustees to "discuss and express their views upon any manner they deem to be of general University interest, and to make resolutions and pass resolutions with respect theretodirectly to the President, the Provost and the Trustees"; and
Whereas GAPSA has passed resolutions recommending that the Trammell Crow contract not be approved, and a special committee be appointed by the Trustees to examine the consultative and decision making process at the University; and the UA is considering similar resolutions; and
Whereas both the employee organizations (Penn Professional Staff Assembly (PPSA), and the A-3 Assembly) recognized by Council as the legitimate voices of thousands of University employees, have issued statement strongly critical of the Trammel Crow contract, and the Black Student League (BSL) and the African American Association of Faculty, Staff and Administrators (AAA) have also objected to this deal; and
Whereas University Council itself was not consulted on the decision to outsource facilities management, nor was provided sufficient time in which to independently assess the implications of this arrangement on the University "in all of its phases"; and
Whereas in December 1996, University Council requested that the administration report back to Council on many issues raised by the Trammell Crow contract; and to date the administration has not done so;
Therefore:
University Council strongly recommends that the Trustees act in a manner wholly consistent with the resolutions Graduate and Professional Student Assembly, and the expressed views of the PPSA, A-3 Assembly, the BSL, and AAA.