WELCOME BACK FROM
THE SENATE CHAIR
Participation,
Communication
and Representation
I
want to take
this opportunity,
on behalf of
the Faculty
Senate, to welcome
you back to
Penn for the
beginning of
a new academic
year. For
those of you
who are new
to the University,
the Faculty
Senate is the
deliberative
body and the
voice of the
Penn faculty.
The Senate functions
primarily through
the Senate Executive
Committee (SEC),
a group of faculty
members elected
from the various
constituencies
of the University
to represent
the interests
and concerns
of that constituency.
SEC meets monthly.
The Senate also
establishes
and has oversight
of a number
of committees
which investigate
matters of concern
to the faculty
(faculty benefits,
teaching evaluations,
conduct of research
to name just
a few). SEC's
agenda and actions
are published
here in Almanac in
order to keep
you informed
of what is going
on and to give
you the opportunity
to provide us
with your feedback.
SEC
also gives advice
on current issues
and problems
facing the University
through frequent
consultations
between the
Senate leadership
(the Chair Elect,
Charles Mooney;
the Past Chair:
Mitchell Marcus;
and myself)
and the President
and Provost.
So that this
process of consultation
may be a real
dialogue, it
is most important
that you keep
SEC and its
leadership informed
of your own
concerns and
views; you can
contact either
your SEC constituency
representative
(consult either
the Senate web
page or Kristine
Kelly in the
Faculty Senate
Office) or the
Senate leadership
directly by
phone or e-mail.
I can be contacted
at (215) 898-6970
or by e-mail
at ldevans@sas.upenn.edu.
The
most important
task facing
the Senate and
its leadership
this fall is
the selection
of a new President
of the University.
The procedures
for the election
of a President
are set out
in the Faculty
Handbook and
can be summed
up as follows:
the Executive
Committee of
the Board of
Trustees convenes
a Consultative
Committee, composed
of trustees,
faculty and
students, to
identify and
recommend candidates
for review by
the Executive
Committee. The
Consultative
Committee is
advisory to
the Executive
Committee, is
chaired by a
trustee, and
is composed
of an equal
number of trustees,
faculty and
half that number
of students.
The Consultative
Committee endeavors
to carry out
a broad search
and solicits
suggestions
from the entire
University community,
alumni, and
friends of the
University.
It is the responsibility
of SEC to select
the faculty
component of
the Consultative
Committee. Since
President Judith
Rodin has announced
her decision
to step down
at the end of
academic year
2003-2004, it
is of the utmost
importance that
we move as quickly
as possible
so that a new
President can
be in place
by July 1, 2004,
thus avoiding
an interregnum
which risks
braking the
momentum the
University has
acquired during
President Rodin's
term of office.
The
Faculty Senate
Committee on
Committees is
already at work
establishing
a slate of candidates
for the faculty
component of
the Consultative
Committee. It
is required
by the regulations
in the Handbook
to present a
slate of at
least one and
a half times
the number of
places available
to faculty on
the Consultative
Committee. The
exact size of
the committee
has not yet
been finally
established
but the number
of faculty positions
will most likely
be of the order
of 7 or 8. This
slate will be
presented at
a special meeting
of SEC to be
held on Wednesday, September
3, when
a vote will
be taken. The
names of the
faculty selected
will be published
in the next Almanac.
This
is obviously
an extremely
important year
for the University
as a whole and
in particular
for its faculty.
The Trustees
have asked us
to solicit the
opinions of
the faculty
as to the desired
qualities and
qualifications
of a new President
and we will
be asking your
advice on this
matter in the
near future.
I do ask that
you already
begin to give
this important
matter some
thought. We
will be setting
up meetings
to this end,
but you can
certainly let
us know your
ideas by e-mail.
SEC
has other ongoing
and new projects
in the coming
year. One of
the most important
is the establishment
of an ad hoc
Committee on
Faculty Development
which will investigate
the mentoring
process at the
University and
see how it can
be improved,
particularly
with respect
to women and
minority faculty.
While some departments
do an excellent
job of mentoring
their faculty,
in others it
is haphazard
or even non-existent.
SEC believes
that it is of
the utmost importance
that a university-wide
system be established
if we are to
attract and
retain talented
faculty.
SEC
will also be
looking at gender
and minority
equity in the
course of the
coming year,
undergraduate
research, and
a new faculty
track in the
School of Medicine.
It will also
work on the
implementation
of a program
to be known
as the Penn
Fellows, which
aims to broaden
faculty and
senior administrative
staff members
understanding
of the University
by addressing
and discussing
issues related
to governance,
institutional
priorities,
and relations
with internal
and external
constituencies.
We will also
be looking at
ways to improve
the workings
of SEC to encourage
greater participation
of faculty in
Senate activities.
There are still
constituencies
which have failed
to nominate
a representative
to SEC and we
want to investigate
the reasons
for faculty
apathy and indifference
with regard
to the Faculty
Senate and how
this situation
can be ameliorated.
Your input on
this matter
is also welcomed.
The
coming year
promises to
be a particularly
interesting
and exciting
time for us
all and I would
urge you all
to be participants
and not just
spectators.
If faculty are
to play a central
role in the
university community,
they must be
willing to devote
time and effort
to serve on
committees that
are dealing
with areas of
vital interest
to them and
to the university
community as
a whole. I encourage
your active
participation
and look forward
to working with
you during the
coming year.
As always, I
will keep you
informed about
Senate activities
through Almanac. I
wish you all
a very productive
and successful
year. |