Faculty Senate Grievance Commission— Annual Report 2010-2011 |
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September 11, 2012,
Volume 59, No. 03 |
The Faculty Senate Grievance Commission of the University of Pennsylvania is an independent committee consisting of three faculty members appointed by the Faculty Senate Executive Committee. This Commission is available to members of the Penn faculty and academic support staff who allege they have been subject to action that is contrary to University procedures, policies, and/or regulations; discriminatory; or arbitrary. During the Academic Year 2010-2011, the Commission was composed of Vivian Seltzer (Social Policy and Practice, Past Chair), David Brownlee (History of Art, Chair), and David Asch (Medicine, Chair-Elect).
During the year, the Commission was approached by ten members of the faculty from six schools whose questions and concerns required more than a brief exchange of information. One hearing was held.
Six cases involved denial of promotion to Associate Professor with tenure, three at the school level and three at the level of the Provost’s Staff Conference (PSC). One of the cases at the PSC level resulted in a hearing, after which the hearing panel recommended reconsideration by the PSC. This was done, and again the PSC did not approve promotion. In two of the cases of denial at the school level, the dean of the school agreed, after discussion with the Grievance Commission, that the cases should be reconsidered with some procedural changes. Those two assistant professors were subsequently promoted to tenure. In the other cases of tenure denial, the faculty members were apprised of their rights to file formal grievances, but they chose not to do so.
Two of the cases involved decisions not to reappoint members of the Associated Faculty. In one case, a grievance was filed, and, after investigation, the Commission judged that the complaint did not merit a hearing. In the second case, it was found that the limit on years of service had been reached and no reappointment was possible. However, procedural concerns were discussed with the appropriate dean.
One faculty member was directed to the “just cause” procedure.
One case involved a member of the Adjunct Faculty whose appointment to a tenured position was denied at the school level. No grievance was filed.
During the year the Commission also discussed the need to revise certain components of the grievance process and to improve the presentation of the process in the Faculty Handbook. Discussion began with the Vice Provost for Faculty, with the intention to continue next year.
—David Brownlee, Grievance Commission Chair, 2010-2011
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