Loading
Print This Issue
Subscribe:
E-Almanac

SENATE From the Senate Office
March 27, 2007, Volume 53, No. 27

The following is published in accordance with the Faculty 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 Sue White, executive assistant to the Senate Office, either by telephone at (215) 898-6943, or by e-mail at senate@pobox.upenn.edu.

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Actions
Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Senate Rule Changes.  In a special meeting of the Senate, open to all members of the Senate, the Proposed Changes to the Rules of the Faculty Senate were approved:  to add one non-voting representative from the Penn Association of Senior and Emeritus Faculty (PASEF), and specify the constitution of the 45 SEC members who will be the members of University Council.

Undergraduate Admissions Update from Dean of Admissions, Willis J. Stetson. The next freshman class will be the strongest class; this is the largest pool to date with 22,600 applicants, the pool is deeper and very diverse, and all students have impressive academic profiles.  This is the first year that Penn used the Common Application with many other schools moving in that direction.  The Early Decision Plan at Penn is the largest in the country and continues to work very well for Penn. Students are choosing Penn at a higher level–Penn has a 66% yield. From the student’s view, Penn offers a wide variety of educational options, and accessibility to an extensive range of programs. The Admissions Office is currently producing a new up-to-date video featuring the academic and non-academic life at Penn. 

Discussion of School of Design Proposal:  to add Senior Lecturer as types of faculty appointments in the School of Design. (Handbook II.B.4)  Professor Gino Segre, Chair of the Senate Committee on Faculty and the Academic Mission (SCOF), presented the committee’s revision to the Faculty Handbook Section II.B.4. recommending the addition of Senior Lecturers in the School of Design. Dr. Gary Hack, dean and Paley Professor, School of Design, and Patricia M. Woldar, associate dean, School of Design, discussed the proposal with SEC explaining the need to retain invaluable designer-teachers on a full-time basis for periods beyond three years. After much discussion and deliberation, SEC voted unanimously to approve the proposal.

Chair’s Report. Faculty Senate Chair Vincent Price announced the Nominating slate for 2007-08 and thanked the Nominating Committee for their hard work. Dr. Price asked each SEC member to forward a name from their constituency for next year’s Nominating Committee to Sue White in the Faculty Senate Office.  Dr. Price reminded SEC that the President and the Provost will be coming to the April 18 meeting. Dr. Price noted that there may be a vote and discussion of the Temporary Exclusion Policy revision at the next meeting and he urged members to attend and tell their colleagues since this is a very important policy.

Past Chair’s Report.  Faculty Senate Past Chair Neville Strumpf had no new business to report except to note that Professor Charles Mooney is on a 3,159 mi. bicycle ride across the southern part of the United States from the Pacific to the Atlantic coast.

Discussion of SEC meeting time change.  Faculty Senate Chair Vincent Price asked SEC members if they are interested in changing the meeting time for the SEC meetings to 3–5 p.m. Currently the 2:30 start time is in the middle of a teaching period and poses difficulty for some members.  SEC members supported this change enthusiastically.

 

Almanac - March 27, 2007, Volume 53, No. 27