| SENATE From the Senate Office |
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April 24, 2007, Volume 53, No. 31
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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, April 18, 2007
Chair’s Report. Faculty Senate Chair Vincent Price announced that the Temporary Exclusion revision has been postponed until the May SEC meeting and he urged SEC members to take time and read the report carefully when it is sent with the materials for the May SEC meeting. Dr. Price reminded SEC members that there is a University Council meeting next Wednesday in Bodek Lounge, Houston Hall at 4 p.m. The next SEC meeting is May 16 at the University Club. SEC Members can expect to hear Senate committee reports and there will be a reception following the meeting.
Past Chair’s Report. Faculty Senate Past Chair Neville Strumpf reported that Vice Provost for Research Steven Fluharty gave an excellent presentation to the Academic Budget and Planning committee on indirect cost recovery.
Updates on the University. President Amy Gutmann updated SEC on the University of Pennsylvania’s development and accomplishments in the area west of the campus. In the area of education Penn spends $10 million a year on public education in West Philadelphia: on the Penn Alexander School, The Teachers Institute, creation of a new international-studies magnet high school in West Philadelphia, and the wonderful work with the new dean of GSE providing professional development and managerial assistance at several West Philadelphia elementary schools. President Gutmann outlined building projects such as: The Raymond and Ruth Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, and market-rate housing and ground-floor retail at 40th and Chestnut Street, 3900 Walnut Street, and 34th and Chestnut Streets. President Gutmann announced that the PIK program is flourishing; Penn has named five PIK appointments to date with more in the pipeline and any ideas for diverse and wonderful candidates are always welcome.
Provost Ron Daniels updated SEC on faculty retirement at the University of Pennsylvania. Provost Ron Daniels has been engaged in conversations with the Penn Association of Senior and Emeritus Faculty (PASEF). Retired faculty want to stay connected to the University and wish to have support for their professional growth. Phased retirement and retirement incentives at other universities were discussed. Finally the President and the Provost are in agreement that retirement decisions are very individualized and it is important to have conversations with each faculty member.
Proposed Revision to the Reduction in Duties Policy (Handbook II.E.2). Professor Claire Finkelstein, chair of the Senate Committee on Faculty and the Administration (SCOA) presented the committee’s revision to the Faculty Handbook Section II.E.2. recommending the revision in the Reduction in Duties Policy to be more flexible in the structure of possible reduction in duties. Dr. Alan G. Wasserstein, vice dean for medical faculty affairs, School of Medicine and Dr. David P. Balamuth, associate dean for SAS, professor of physics, discussed the proposal with SEC explaining the need for flexibility for junior faculty wanting to take less time than currently mandated. After much discussion, SEC voted unanimously to approve the proposal.
Committee on Committees Ballot. All Faculty Senate members voted from a ballot of names for specific 2007-2008 committees, as proposed by the 2007 Committee on Committees. |
