SENATE From the Senate Office


The following statement is published in accordance with the Senate Rules. Among other purposes, the publication of SEC actions is intended to stimulate discussion among the constituencies and their representatives. Please communicate your comments to Senate Chair Peter Kuriloff or Executive Assistant Carolyn Burdon, Box 12 College Hall/6303, 898-6943 or burdon@pobox.upenn.edu.

Actions Taken by the Senate Executive Committee

Wednesday, April 2, 1997

  1. Academic Planning and Budget Committee and Capital Council. Since the last meeting of the Senate Executive Committee there have been three meetings of the Academic Planning and Budget Committee. The committee completed the final review of benefits as published in Almanac March 25.The next session was devoted to enrollments and funding of Ph.D. candidates, economic pressures resulting from loss of Commonwealth support, a decrease in the overhead rate and decline in interest on cash flow. There is resultant pressure on the Provost's subvention pool. This is a major problem for the School of Arts and Sciences to provide tuition and stipends.

    At the March 31 meeting the capital plans of the respective schools were reviewed for the first year with discussion of longer term implications.

    Capital Council has not met since the last SEC meeting, although two votes were solicited for the architectural planning for the Gateway Building for the School of Dental Medicine and renovations in the School of Medicine for a newly recruited Professor of Biostatistics.

    Concern was expressed by a SEC member over the relationship between faculty and administration and the level at which faculty input is provided in the decision-making process. Particular interest was expressed in the ability of SEC to review the Campus Master Plan as well as to be consulted on its ongoing development.

  2. Proposed Procedural Principles for School Academic Freedom and Responsibility Committees (Almanac February 25, 1997). SCAFR Chair Professor Larry Gross summarized the proposal, noting that he had received two responses, both from Past Chairs of the Faculty Senate. The draft was reviewed by available former SCAFR chairs. He also met with several school committees on academic freedom and responsibility regarding the principles. It was proposed that: the principles developed by SCAFR be sent annually to each school committee on academic freedom and responsibility and that an annual meeting be held of SCAFR and all school CAFRs. SEC suggested a model of procedures be prepared by next year's SCAFR. The proposals were endorsed unanimously.

  3. Economic Status Committee Report. The 1996-97 report (to be published) was outlined by committee chair Professor Robert Hornik. A SEC member suggested that the committee break with the practice of excluding the Medical School and include the basic science faculty. It was noted that the information can be located and that in recent years each Medical School department has been provided average faculty salaries for their own department, minus the chair's salary, along with average salaries for the national departments.

  4. Informal Discussion with the Provost. A lively discussion centered around responsibility center budgeting and whether it affects salary pool differentials or hinders intra-school and cross-school programs for undergraduate students.

  5. Just Cause Revision. Professor Charles Mooney outlined further very minor revisions to the draft amendments. SEC unanimously approved the proposal to forward the document to the faculty for a vote by mail ballot including an explanatory letter from the Faculty Senate Chair.

  6. Other New Business. Concern was raised, on behalf of the local AAUP Chapter, over the disposition of a task force report on copyright policy and apparent duplication of effort now underway in the schools. Serious concerns were raised that a faculty group has already submitted a draft proposal. The Faculty Senate Chair was charged with investigating the status of this matter and reporting back to SEC. A special meeting was authorized to consider this issue as well as two other pressing matters.

  7. Special SEC. It was agreed to hold an additional SEC meeting on Wednesday, April 16, 1997. The agenda will include: continued discussion on the draft exit questionnaire; progress report of the Senate Committee on the Faculty; copyright and intellectual property policy; and diversity on Locust Walk.


Almanac

Volume 43 Number 29
April 8, 1997


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