Council


Council: First Fall Meeting;

Summary of Steering '94-95;

Actions Taken '94-95;

Reports on Bookstore, Library,

International Programs, Research


First Fall Meeting: Issues and Questions

Provost Stanley Chodorow carried much of the discussion at the University Council's first fall meeting September 20, summarizing the steps taken and projected since the spring's Phase One report on the 21st Century Project, and fielding a host of questions and comments on the new draft Student Disciplinary Charter (Almanac, September 19).

Undergraduate Education: Since the dissolution of the special committee structure associated with the Phase One report published in Almanac May 25, the revamping of undergraduate education is now led by the Council Undergraduate Deans, with the addition of Dr. Robert F. Lucid, who co-chaired Phase One. The Deans' group, chaired by the Provost, is following through on some 11 items from the report, grouped under such headings as curriculum, advising, international education, research, service/learning, and new collegiate models.Fuller coverage of this topic is projected.

Disclipinary Charter: The new draft of the charter drew recommendations from students and faculty. Rather than debating each at the meeting, the Provost said he would evaluate them carefully as he brings the document to its final form. He reminded that comment is due by October 6. (A summary of Wednesday's discussion is in preparation for Almanac October 3.)

Committee Reports: Four of Council's standing Committees issued their year-end reports (see pages 11-14 of this issue), and members of Council suggested some questions for the Bookstore, International Programs, and Research committees in the coming year.

Upcoming Issues: In the opening reports section of the meeting, A-3 Assembly Representative Karen E. Wheeler of Community Partnerships said the Assembly will present the year's agenda soon, but noted that on it will be (1) follow-up on the items in section G of the Report of the the Commission on Strengthening the Community; and (2) the status of a recommendation for portable staff scholarships that put on hold pending a broader review of benefits.

For the PPSA (A-1) Assembly, Ira Winston of SEAS Computing said a number of staff members have expressed concern about restructuring--not only with respect to job security, but out of pride in their service and their "continued ability to provide this service after administrative restructuring is complete. The Penn Professional Staff Assembly Executive Committee feels that the staff is not well enough informed or involved in the administrative restructuring process," he continued, "and asks that more status updates be provided and that the staff be more involved in the process."

President Judith Rodin responded that while some of the restructuring committees are not yet under way, the administration does expect to report regularly via Almanac, The Compass and Penn Web, and will be open to staff input.

UTV: Wednesday's meeting inaugurated an experiment in videotaping Council discussions by UTV for closed-circuit telecasts to the dorms.


Annual Report of the Steering Committee for University Council

This is the 17th annual report of the Steering Committee of University Council, prepared in accordance with a requirement in the Council bylaws that the Steering Committee shall publish an annual report to the University community that reviews the previous year's Council deliberations and highlights "both significant discussions and the formal votes taken on matters of substance."

September Meeting

Council discussed and did not approve a proposed amendment to the bylaws which would have allocated one of the 15 Undergraduate Assembly seats to the chair of the United Minorities Council.

Council discussed the agenda for the year and its focus on aspects of university life including safety and security, dining services, residences, community relations, the staff scholarship benefit, facilities including the Revlon Center, faculty-staff relations, and the new judicial charter.

Various members of the University community reported on aspects of campus safety and security, and the president stated that she will develop a master plan for University safety and security.

Council endorsed the Final Report of the Committee to Review ROTC Arrangements at Penn with the amendment that option e, to "terminate any relationship with ROTC," be removed from the Report.

October Meeting

Council discussed at length current staff scholarship benefits, the history and problems with Escort Service, and the state of community relations. Penn Faculty and Staff for Neighborhood Issues (PFSNI) members recommended several actions to improve Penn's relationship with the West Philadelphia community.

November Meeting

Council conducted a preliminary discussion of the proposed revised Code of Academic Integrity and Judicial Charter.

Council held its first "Open Forum" which included presentations and discussions of recreational facilities, the Andres Serrano exhibit at the ICA, minority permanence, the new Penn Watch program, and safety and security.

December Meeting

Council heard extended reports from the president and provost on the state of the University. The president highlighted the University's major initiatives including substantial revision of the Penn undergraduate experience. Several vice-presidents reported on the Penn Health Care System, the Campaign for Penn, administrative restructuring, and Penn's media visibility. The provost reported on behalf of his vice provosts on the topics of minority permanence and faculty development, research funding, graduate education, and undergraduate admissions; the Vice Provost for University Life outlined recent collaborative initiatives to improve the delivery of student services.

January Meeting

The Council Steering Chair announced that the new Council bylaws were ratified by a mail ballot.

The Committee on Pluralism Chair presented an extended update to Council regarding the implementation of the recommendations of the Report of the Commission on Strengthening the Community.

Council discussed the most recent version of the proposed judicial charter.

February Meeting

Council discussed a revised version of the judicial charter. Council approved an amended substitute motion to remand the proposed judicial charter to the committee for detailed elaboration with consideration of the discussions by Council and provision for the respondent's right to defend him/herself.

The Personnel Benefits Committee reported on extending benefits to part-time professional staff members. A brief discussion by Council followed.

The president and provost presented the initial conceptual plans for the new campus center, the Perelman Quadrangle.

March Meeting

The provost presented an extended report on the budget and plans for the next academic year.

Council heard reports on and discussed the state of graduate education at Penn.

Council approved the following resolution proposed by the Committee on Communications: "The University Council would like to establish a general principle that access to communication and information services be provided to all members of the University community. As the first step towards this goal, the Council urges the expeditious completion of the ResNet project by September 1996."

April Meeting

Council considered a Personnel Benefits Committee report recommending the increased "portability" of the staff tuition benefit.

Council engaged in an extensive discussion of UTV's request to televise University Council. A straw vote was taken which resulted in support for UTV to televise Council meetings on a trial basis next year. Steering will consider the issue and make a final decision.

In accordance with the new bylaws, Council held a preliminary discussion of possible 1995-96 focus issues.

--Constance C. Goodman, Secretary to University Council


Summary of 1994-95 Resolutions and Recommendations and
Administrative Actions Taken on Them

"Resolved, that at the first fall meeting of the Council, the Secretary shall distribute to the Council the actions of Council passed during the previous academic year, including a list of all recommendations and resolutions, the implementation of which would require administrative action. The president or the provost shall indicate what action they have taken or plan to take with respect to each recommendation and resolution."

(University Council: May 8, 1974)

I. Resolutions from the 1994-95 Academic Year

1. Council endorsed the Final Report of the Committee to Review ROTC Arrangements at Penn with the amendment that option e, to "terminate any relationship with ROTC," be removed from the Report. (September 28, 1994)

Action: The Offices of the President and Provost are discussing the ROTC issue at the federal level.

2. Council approved an amended substitute motion to remand the proposed judicial charter to the committee for detailed elaboration with consideration of the discussions by Council and provision for the respondent's right to defend him/herself. (February 8, 1995)

Action: The draft judicial charter is being developed with the assistance of the Office of the General Counsel. The draft will be published for comment in an early Fall 1995 issue of the Almanac/Compass.

3. Council approved the following resolution proposed by the Committee on Communications: "The University Council would like to establish a general principle that access to communication and information services be provided to all members of the University community. As the first step towards this goal, the Council urges the expeditious completion of the ResNet project by September 1996." (March 15, 1995)

Action: The ResNet project is continuing toward achieving this goal.

4. Professor Gerald Porter proposed a resolution for Council to thank the University Council committees and their chairs for their hard work during the past year. (April 26, 1995)

Action: Members of University Council unanimously approved the resolution.

II. Amendments to Bylaws

1. Council unanimously agreed to delete "one member of the Librarians Assembly" from the required constituency of the Library Committee as stated in the bylaws. (November 9, 1994)

Action: The revised bylaws were ratified by a mail ballot to Council members.

2. Council unanimously agreed to specify that the undergraduate student holding a seat on the Committee on Committees will be a member of the Undergraduate Assembly Nominations and Elections Committee. (November 9, 1994)

Action: The revised bylaws were ratified by a mail ballot to Council members.

-- Constance C. Goodman, Secretary to University Council



Year-end Reports of Four Council Committees, 1994-95


Bookstore Committee Year-end Report, 1994- 95

The Bookstore Committee was formed in September 1994 to serve two primary purposes. First, the representatives on the committee would convey to the Bookstore's management the concerns, suggestions, and positive and negative feedback of the University community. Second, the Bookstore would be able to communicate its plans and goals to the representatives, who could then collaborate and assist with these plans. The members of the committee included: David O'Connor, Chair; Mike Knezic, Director of the Bookstore; Carl Aronson; Sandra Bates; William Brennan; Deborah Greene, the student representative; Maureen Qulligan; David Reibstein; Illene Rubin; Herbert Smith; Daniel Updegrove; and Patricia Wallace. Meetings were held on a monthly basis throughout the academic year. Velda Bentley Williams recorded the minutes.

Several renovations an alterations of the Bookstore were planned and implemented during the committee's tenure. One such change was the addition of the coffee shop. The committee devoted a significant amount of time to discussing the benefits of this addition, notably the potential of attracting new customers, primarily during evening hours. It also considered possible difficulties raised by the coffee shop, particularly in the area of security.

An issue of considerable importance to the committee was the need to increase the marketing potential of the Bookstore, especially in light of competition from nearby shops not affiliated with the University. As a solution to the problem, the committee looked extensively into the viability of electronic ordering and World Wide Web, and concluded that the latter would be very beneficial for the Bookstore's marketing potential. Concern was expressed that many students were not aware of the accessibility of the Bookstore via PennInfo, and the committee addressed ways to correct this situation. Among the solutions put forth by the committee was a series of seminars to be established by Daniel Updegrove to instruct interested people in the use of both PennInfo and other electronic information systems.

Several issues relating specifically to the sale of textbooks were identified and addressed. These included the problem of faculty ordering from vendors other than the Bookstore, faculty members ordering books late, and the need to improve the current system of ordering books.

A subcommittee was established to deal with the needs and concerns of the Computer Connection. Mike Knezic of the Bookstore and Jackie Smith of the Computer Connection both expressed a strong need to hear the concerns and ideas of the wider University community, and the committee devoted part or all of several meetings to complying with this request, and to establishing a means by which the Computer Connection could better identify its role on campus, and improve both profitability and customer satisfaction. The subcommittee was designed to include a range of individuals, both members of the Bookstore Committee and others, including students, staff, faculty, and hospital personnel. Approval for the subcommittee was received in April 1995, and among the final acts of the Bookstore committee for this year were plans to advertise more extensively for volunteers to form this subcommittee.

While a considerable amount has been accomplished and decided by the committee during the 1994-1995 academic year, much remains to be completed, in particular with regards to the further development of electronic marketing and ordering systems, improvements in communication between the Bookstore and faculty and students regarding electronic systems, and the continuation of the Computer Connection subcommittee.

-- David O'Connor, Chair


Library Committee Year-end Report, 1994- 95

The Committee on the Library of the University Council took as its central charge the recommendation that it work with the Vice Provost for Libraries to develop specific solutions to current and long-range library space needs and funding strategies.

The members of the Committee learned with great satisfaction of the provost's plan to separate library funding from the pool of allocated costs and to increase support for the libraries in FY96 by 9%. These developments clearly represent an extraordinarily salutary attempt at redressing

decades of budgetary neglect from which our libraries have suffered immeasurably. The Committee wishes to commend the provost for his vision and the bold steps that followed in its wake.

At the same time, the Committee wishes to stress that the magnitude of the libraries' budgetary crisis requires ongoing repair, of a sort that can be effective only if it is administered on a sustained basis. The Committee calls, therefore, for the implementation of the Director of Libraries' Eight-Year Plan. This long-range plan has two essential components. The first aims to bring the libraries' share of overall University budgetary resources, at the very least, into line with the levels of support reflected in the national average (i.e., 3.3% of overall University operating expenditures). The second calls for the eventual achievement of parity in acquisitions with the libraries of our closest academic peers.

Beyond the critical matter of rectifying budgetary neglect lurks an even more pressing issue: the acute space crisis that will descend upon the library at the end of the present year when its stacks will effectively be filled. This impending crisis should never have been ignored for decades, as it was, despite constant and timely warnings by the Library Administration over the years. The Committee calls (as did the Faculty petition circulated by the Committee last year) for the immediate resolution of the short-term space crisis with the acquisition of an adequate remote storage facility. (Such opportunities for the acquisition of this type of facility as were permitted to slip through the University's fingers in recent years cannot be permitted to escape us yet again.) Whatever short-term solution is found for the space crisis, however, it is essential that it not depend at all upon the proposed 9% increase, which the Committee perceives to be

designated exclusively for materials and services, as opposed to capital expenses.

It is imperative, finally, that the Central Administration take a long view of the aforementioned "short-term" solution. That is, remote storage buys a solution to the space crisis, but it is a finite solution temporally: the remote storage facility will itself be filled within fifteen or twenty years.

Moreover, because it is based upon the principle of dividing the collections, remote storage is laden with the potential to destroy the capacity of the Library to serve the needs of the many users who depend on their research upon a viable proximate collection. The Committee calls, therefore, for the immediate initiation of a feasibility study to determine means of expanding proximate storage, either with the framework of possible additions to the present structure of the Van Pelt Library, or in a major new facility.

Lawrence F. Bernstein (Music), Chair

Paul Edlestein (Pathology)

Peter Fader (Marketing)

Jerry Kazdan (Mathematics)

Robert Kraft (Religious Studies)

Sanguthevar Rajasekaren (CIS)

Amos Smith (Chemistry)

Anne Marie Inglis (Bio/Med '99)

Jeremy Johnson (Col '97)

Peter Kang (Med '96)

Jared Danzinger (Col '97)


Committee on International Programs Year-end Report, 1994-95

Academic Year 1994-95

The charge to the International Programs Committee was "to review and monitor issues related to the international programs and other international activities of the University. The International Programs Committee shall advise and make policy recommendations in such areas as services for international students and scholars, foreign fellowships and studies abroad, faculty, staff and student exchange programs and cooperative undertakings with foreign universities."

The committee's active membership was composed of six standing faculty members (including the chair), two members of the administrative staff and four students, two of whom were undergraduate seniors and two graduate students who will be completing their graduate work this May. The director of international programs was the ex-officio member. The committee met in full session seven times, approximately once a month at which time it received reports from two subcommittees who were charged with discrete responsibilities. The recommendations which follow in this report are from the full committee.

The subcommittee on the Foundation for International Exchange continued work commenced in AY 1993-94 while the subcommittee on Improvement of International Student Life was newly formed this year. The rationale for the subcommittee on the Foundation for International Exchange was expressed in the committee report of AY 1993-94 which advised that while individual schools and/or departments may have their own means to encourage international collaborations, at present there does not exist a centralized unit with this designated responsibility to which any faculty member from any school could apply. The committee was charged to investigate further the need for establishment of this new entity within the University to which existing standing Penn faculty would apply for financial support to bring in foreign faculty to further international collaboration. The guiding principle was that "the establishment of this foundation would further the international mission of the University by 1) raising the awareness of the international scholarly community to the presence and international dedication of the University of Pennsylvania, and by 2) promoting the internationalization process of the University by creating opportunities for on-site visits by international faculty. Visits may be from scholars of established international reputation and/or grass roots entry level professors whose collaboration would enhance the work of standing faculty at all professional levels" (Almanac, April 7, 1994). The intention of the proposal is not for bilateral exchange, but for movement in one direction only. In this regard, it is important that the University community takes note that we currently have about 1,000 visiting scholars at Penn at any one time.

The structure of the Foundation for International Exchange (FIE) continues to be seen as similar to that of the University Research Foundation administered at the university level rather than by departments or schools. A full-time standing Penn faculty member would submit to the FIE an application to invite the foreign faculty with signed approval by his/her department chair and/or dean. International faculty would not apply to the Foundations for International Exchange directly. The selection process would follow the model currently utilized by the Research Foundation. (See 1993-94 report which details the four (4) page proposal whose structure would resemble that of the Type A Research Foundation proposal). Proposals would be reviewed once a year in early fall for stipends beginning the following academic year. The Office of International Programs (OIP) may be the appropriate office to house and administer the new foundation.

This year the subcommittee addressed the question of support, both in principle and/or willingness to commit financial support. This information was necessary before issues of where housing and operational strategies for the foundation could be addressed. Cover letters and a short questionnaire were sent to the Deans of the twelve schools asking for 1) information as to the existence of programs within the school, and 2) interest in and/or willingness to support this proposal in principle and/or financially. Eleven deans responded, but not to all questions. Eight of ten responded that their schools already have programs to increase presence of international scholars. One of these dean also responded they have projected a plan for a similar program. Six of ten responding expressed interest in creation of a program following the model the committee presented. No dean would commit to financially support such a program, although one dean said "possibly." With the exception of a "not necessarily" from the same dean to the question of greater willingness to support such a program if it did not include a financial burden on the school six of the remaining eight replied yes.

In summary, this very preliminary type of data revealed general support for the foundation with little commitment to financial participation. In part, this is due to schools which already have a rather sophisticated program in place sufficient to meet their international commitments. Nevertheless, since the findings did disclose support in principle for such a foundation, the full committee has charged the subcommittee to continue its work in AY 1995-96. It is charged to further assess university community interest as well as the feasibility of central location within the University. To this end, the subcommittee is further charged to obtain information from the other Ivy League schools as well as other internationally active colleges and universities as to the nature and structure of opportunities for their faculty to collaborate with international colleagues and the location as well as the operation of these offices within their colleges and universities.

The second subcommittee on Improving International Student Life addressed various aspects of life at Penn for international students and considered strategies to encourage current programs and/or implement new programs to enhance the overall quality of life for international students. They administered a survey to international students which revealed two key difficulties for international student life: 1) the isolation they often experience, and 2) in the lack of adequate support for their academic endeavors, given their different backgrounds and academic preparations. The subcommittee together with the full committee identified several critical areas which focused the work of the subcommittee over the academic year: 1) increase interaction of American students, faculty and staff with international students and scholars, and thereby, 2) alleviate difficulties and enhance the quality of university life for both students and faculty.

Recommendations of the full committee are:

I. Establishment of a Language/Country Data Bank

Rationale:

The University needs a comprehensive and up-to-date data bank of the languages and countries of origin of all international students, scholars, staff, and faculty. The presence of so many diverse representatives of language groups and countries is a great resource and strength for this university. Currently, not all this information on this population is collected; if it is collected, access to it and maintenance of the accuracy of the information is problematic. While International Programs Office processes the immigration papers of international students and scholars, and keeps a country list, the task of keeping up to date is very time-consuming. Thus, currently this list is not available to the academic community at large. Furthermore, country of origin does not necessarily indicate native language.

Information about native language(s) and countries of origin would be useful for a variety of functions. To mention a few:

1) it would help those who wish to investigate whether to study a particular language, find a partner for language practice, find a teacher (a current need for the Penn Language Center) or find an interpreter in an emergency situation. Individuals of the particular country could contact compatriots to ease their transition into American academic life;

2) Personal contact with international students and/or scholars could encourage study abroad among American undergraduates. They could contact people from the county they are interested in order to find out more before they make their choice;

3) Members of the university community who want to do research about certain countries or languages could access first hand data through contacts established through the data base;

4) Students who need to pass language proficiency exams in languages

currently not offered at Penn could locate appropriate professors and/or students to evaluate them; and 5) A data bank would help various administrative offices and others in obtaining help in translating documents or papers.

Recommendation

Establishment of a language/country data bank accessible electronically as well as through print. Units such as the Office of International Programs and the Penn Language Center might not be the best place since they do not have the personnel to set up the database and input the data. Other units which already do this might be more appropriate.

Privacy Issues

The right to privacy will be respected. As is currently the case for information collected, such as the Penn phone book, any student, staff, or faculty member could ask not to be included in this data bank. However, since it would be accessible only to the university community, we could expect and hope that most members would be glad to be included.

Future Steps Necessary

Although the committee would like to see a data bank up and running for the fall semester 1995, it is more realistic to hope that it would be in place for the spring 1996. Additional time is needed to set up the fields to contain the new information. We also need to coincide with current cycles of information collection. Once a print copy is available the committee understands that it could be housed at the reference desk in Van Pelt Library as well as in the International Programs Office. The 'Who is' data base may provide a proper vehicle for electronic access of this information.

The subcommittee on Student International Life is charged with continuing to focus on this issue in AY 1995-96.

II. Academic Writing Course for
Non-native English Speaking Graduate Students

Rationale:

The University admits international graduate students every year. While diversity and international breadth is added to our programs, certain problems are presented for many students admitted and for professors. The last survey of graduate student concerns conducted by the Office of International Programs found 48% of students surveyed felt that writing poses some or even great difficulty for them. Most international graduate students receive their undergraduate education outside the United States and thus, their writing skills may not conform to the standards expected at the graduate level at a large research oriented university such as Penn. The language proficiency tests (the Test of English as a Foreign Language and Test of Spoken English) do not measure a student's ability to write in English. Lack of proficiency in writing may cause the student to take longer to complete degree requirements and places additional burdens on the professors/advisors. Drop out is also a possible outcome.

The University does address the development of writing skills for undergraduates and offers special sections to deal with problems of non- native writers. To date, however, the University has failed to provide a credit-bearing, writing course for non-native English speaking graduate students. Other resources which offer help with writing skills such as the Writing Center or Penn Learning Resource Center are either not geared to provide the extensive instruction provided by a course or do not have personnel who are trained to teach writing to a number of non- native speakers.

Recommendation

The committee recommends inauguration of an academic writing course for non-native English speaking students. In its current preliminary status the committee is proposing the course for graduate students would carry one (1) credit unit. This would enable students on teaching assistantships or other financial aid to take the course. This credit unit would not count towards a degree. Contact with experts in this field led to the following specifications: the course would 1) teach the students to analyze the English of samples of writing from within their fields, 2) identify areas of difference between the students' own writing and the samples, and 3) provide information on and practice in English structure, word usage, writing conventions, and conventions of American academic discourse. Ideally, students would work on papers for courses they are currently taking. The course would be optional and open to students from any school within the University. Class size should be limited.

Steps Taken

The idea of such a course has been informally and positively received by representatives of GAPSA, Janice Madden, Vice Provost for Graduate Education, and Walter Licht, Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Science.

Next Steps

Where such a course would be housed needs additional study and consultation as does its precise structure and content. Dr. Licht advises he will investigate the financial ramifications of offering this course through GSAS. The committee looks forward to an early preliminary response.

III. Peer Mentors for International Students: pilot with Global Immersion students or students who have completed study abroad programs.

Rationale

Many international students express feeling very lonely and alienated from the University community notwithstanding the existence and the success of the already existing CHAMP program. This initiative would be another effort in reducing this "loneliness". Secondarily, the Office of International Programs would benefit through access to an additional pool of students with overseas experience and interests to provide practical assistance to international students from the countries they have briefly, but intensely studied in and visited.

Steps Taken

The committee has begun a first stage investigation of the feasibility of establishing a liaison relationship between the Office of the Global Immersion Program at the Wharton School and the University's Office of International Programs with the intent of culling potential student mentors and/or "buddies" for international students from the ranks of Wharton graduate students who have participated in the Global Immersion Program.

The Wharton School's Global Immersion Program enables Wharton graduate students to intensively experience one of a number of nations in South America, East Asia, Western Europe and the former Soviet Union. Nations currently visited include Brazil, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Germany and Russia. Students who participate in these visits have clearly demonstrated an interest in the area studied, both in the personal and future professional sense, and are highly likely to maintain their interest in the region upon their return for the second year of the Wharton MBA program. After a full year of study at the University, these second-year students also represent a resource pool about daily life at the University and in the City of Philadelphia. These two factors combine to make these students a valuable resource pool upon which the Office of International Programs can fruitfully draw in its attempt to provide practical assistance to international students.

An announcement to be circulated to Global Immersion Programs participants would offer them the opportunity to mentor foreign students at the University from the regions they visited. Forms signaling their willingness would be returned to their home office, the Office of the Global Immersion Program at Wharton for forwarding to the Office of International Programs. The Office of International Programs should draw upon these volunteers as a resource base in offering foreign students help, assistance and a student's perspective.

Parker Snowe, coordinator of the Global Immersion Program, has provided a list of participating students to the Office of International Programs and these students have already been contacted by the Office of International Programs.

Future Steps

During AY 1995-96, the committee plans to present the plan to the Wharton School and the Office of International Programs for feedback, elaboration and implementation recommendations. This effort should be completed by AY 1995-96.

Summary of Committee Effort in AY 1994-95

Once again the committee reports an intensive creative working collaboration. We have moved ahead on the work commenced last year and have structured final phases for work of this committee in AY 1995-96. The agenda for next year concentrates on making progress in implementing the recommendations contained in this report. We consider that the work of the committee has spoken to the charge from the Steering Committee as well as to the Goals 6,7,8,9 of the Three-Year Plan to Implement the University's International Mission 1993-96 (providing more opportunities for faculty exchange; developing more opportunities for graduate and professional students to be involved in international programs; enhancing the integration of international students, scholars, and visitors at Penn; providing more and better services to Penn's international community), and in spirit to goals 1-4.

We have acted upon our resolve at the end of AY 1993-94 to bring the project initiated in that year closer to fruition and have as well initiated new recommendations towards easing life for the international student and establishing paths for closer integration of the host population and the international population in our university community. This year we were particularly gratified by the active cooperation between faculty, administration, and students. Each constituency participated equally and enthusiastically in the individual subcommittees as well as in the work of the full committee.

--Vivian C. Seltzer, Chair

(Human Development and Behavior/Social Work)

Subcommittee on the Foundation for International Exchange

Jacques Barber, Subcommittee Co-Chair (Psychology/Psychiatry)

David Luzzi (Materials Science)

Roberto Mariano (Economics)

Eva Redei, Subcommittee Co-Chair (Biochemistry/Psychology)

Subcommittee on International Students

Gene Haldeman (Data Control)

Syed Manir Khasru (Wharton Grad '95)

Clara Kyim (Wharton Grad '95)

Roberto Mariano (Economics)

Donald Smith (Political Science)

Daniel Sonenshine (Col '95)

Cassandra Tryon (Col '95)

Gay Washburn, Subcommittee Chair (English Language Program)

Joyce Randolph (Director, OIP, ex officio)


Committee on Research

The Committee addressed three issues during the 1994-95 academic year.

1. Conflict of Interest Policy

The University's current Conflict of Interest Policy for Faculty was modified to conform to new regulations proposed by the NSF and NIH concerning disclosure of personal financial interests by principal investigators and others engaged in a project proposal submitted to these agencies. A Financial Disclosure Policy for Sponsored Projects was developed in consultation with all appropriate parties and was finalized.

2. Patent Participation Agreement

The agreement was reviewed and the committee concluded that all new faculty should be required to sign the agreement before employment and all present faculty should be required to sign the agreement before grants would be submitted by the University. [See Almanac Of Record September 12, 1995.]

3. Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Postdoctoral Fellows Policy

Many meetings were spent by the ad hoc subcommittee (chaired by Dr. John J. Cebra and including seven postdoctoral fellows) to listen to all concerns. The policy developed was published in Almanac For Comment on July 18, 1995. -- John A. Quinn, Jr., Chair

Membership of the Committee:

Ruzena Bajcsy
Dorothy Brooten
Julie Carlton
John Cebra
Tatyana Koropeckyj-Cox
Roselyn Eisenberg
Martha Farah
Nabil Farhat
Eugene Huang
Kenneth Lande
Daniel Malamud
Edward Morlok
Mark Rosenzweig
Babi Sinha
Steven Sondheimer

Ex-officio: Barry Cooperman, Anthony Merritt