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 Larry Gross or Executive Assistant Carolyn Burdon, Box 12 College Hall/6303, (215) 898-6943 or burdon@pobox.upenn.edu.

Actions Taken by the Senate Executive Committee

Wednesday, February 14, 2001

1. Past Chair's Report on Academic Planning and Budget and Capital Council. Professor Phoebe Leboy reported that both Capital Council and the Academic Planning and Budget Committee have met twice since the last SEC meeting.

Academic Planning and Budget had an extensive discussion of the budget planning process and considered a proposal for a new Masters degree program in Computer and Information Technology.

At the January Capital Council meeting proposals were considered to lease new research space for the Psychiatry Department, renew the lease for Annenberg's Washington program and carry out renovations of student housing. At the next meeting the Council reviewed costs for the proposed new University Avenue parking garage to be shared with Children's Hospital. Also considered were plans to renovate the Veterinary Hospital extensive care facilities, two rooms in Leidy Labs, as well as the Veranda, which will be used by campus religious groups and graduate student groups.

2. Proposed Handbook Revision from the School of Engineering and Applied Science for Practice Professor. The Senate Committee on the Faculty reviewed and recommended approval of the proposal for a Practice Faculty track at the full-time Practice Professor level in the Associated Faculty. It is limited to Full Professors and the number of Practice Professors may not exceed 5% of the Standing Faculty. The Engineering faculty debated establishing this track for two years and has now approved it.

SEC members expressed concern over keeping track of the overall number of non-standing faculty in relationship to the number of standing faculty. Further, it was suggested that the Faculty Senate develop general guidelines on standards for non-Standing Faculty.

A motion was made to approve the proposal. It was adopted with one opposed and two abstentions.

3. Proposed Handbook Revision from the School of Medicine for Changes to Clinical Faculty and Clinical Associate. Professor Gross noted that the proposal has the strong support of President Rodin and Provost Barchi.

SEC member and School of Medicine Professor DuPont Guerry gave a detailed presentation on the background and need for these changes. The proposal came from the faculty of the School of Medicine. It was among many conclusions and recommendations resulting from the School of Medicine two-year self-study, the Faculty 2000 Project. Professor Guerry stated three purposes for the proposal: (1) to relieve the Standing Faculty, particularly the Clinician Educators, of some of the burden of clinical care so that they may better accomplish scholarly work and teaching, and be promoted and retained; (2) to allow those who wish to practice outstanding medicine without standard scholarly output to have their careers here to heal the sick and to mentor students, and (3) to begin to address the problem of the proportion of Clinician Educators in the Standing Faculty of the School whose numbers exceed the 40% cap at 59%.

It was noted that the proposal includes a Faculty Allocation Plan for the School of Medicine. Its purpose is to: (1) assure preservation of the three academic missions of the School of Medicine--research, education and clinical service--without compromising any one component; and (2) delineate a process to ensure an appropriate mix of Tenure, Clinician Educator and Health System Physicians with Clinical Faculty appointments to achieve purpose 1. It also outlines department and overall School of Medicine Allocation Plans, including a review after the first three years of implementation. Modifications of the plan to increase the percentage of Health System Physicians (HSP) (A-1 staff) from 10% to not more than 15% can be made by the dean after consultation with the department chair, a Medical School standing committee and the Medical Faculty Senate Steering Committee. Increases of HSPs over 15% must be approved by the Provost, following approval of the Dean, after consultation with the Medical School standing Committee, the Medical Faculty Senate Steering Committee, and the Faculty Senate Executive Committee. In conclusion Professor Guerry said that the Senate Committee on the Faculty had reviewed the proposal and recommended it to SEC for approval.

SEC discussion included concern over the number of individuals in these categories to the use of the academic title Professor. A SEC member stated that in the School of Medicine teaching is unpaid and it takes time from clinical practice.

A motion was made to endorse the proposed Handbook revisions. The motion was adopted with two opposed and one abstention.


Almanac, Vol. 47, No. 23, February 20, 2001

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