SENATE From the Senate Office |
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October 29, 2013, Volume 60, No. 11 |
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 Vicki Hewitt, executive assistant to the Senate Office, either by telephone at (215) 898-6943 or by email at senate@pobox.upenn.edu
Faculty Senate Executive Committee Actions
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Chair’s Report: Faculty Senate Chair Dwight Jaggard reported that the Faculty Senate committees have been meeting. The Senate Committee on Faculty and the Academic Mission (SCOF) has been asked to review four track change proposals from the School of Arts & Sciences, the School of Design, the School of Engineering & Applied Science and the four health schools combined. The proposals from Design and SEAS will be brought to SEC for discussion and a vote at the November meeting. He reminded the committee that the November meeting will also have three guests: Executive Vice President Craig Carnaroli, Vice President for Public Safety Maureen Rush and Associate Ombudsman Marcia Martinez-Helfman. He asked committee members to contribute suggestions for topics for their presentations. Suggestions can also be emailed to senate@pobox.upenn.edu He also reported that a proposal for University divestment from tobacco products will be discussed at the University Council meeting on January 29, 2014.
Past Chair’s Report: Faculty Senate Past Chair Susan Margulies reported that she has been attending Capital Council meetings and reminded the Senate Executive Committee that she is bound by a confidentiality agreement not to discuss the work of Capital Council outside of the committee. She noted that one of the issues that arose in the Academic Planning and Budget committee meetings was increased federal requirements for documenting conflicts of interest in research funding, and the burden these requirements make on faculty time.
Vote on the 2013-2014 Senate Nominating Committee Ballots: SEC members voted for the members of the 2013-2014 Senate Nominating Committee.
Update from the President: President Amy Gutmann updated SEC on the Penn Compact 2020 and its three core values of inclusion, innovation and impact. She reiterated the University’s commitment to inclusion by increasing financial aid at all levels, expanding faculty diversity and excellence and encouraging open learning initiatives. Under the priority of innovation, she noted Penn’s commitment to the Penn Integrates Knowledge (PIK) initiative and other endowed professorships, interschool programs and plans for a new Pennovation Center. As part of impact, she noted the Penn Connects 2.0 plan for Penn’s campus, new knowledge-based public policy initiatives and global initiatives like Perry World House and the Penn Wharton China Center. She explained that the Penn Compact was enabled by: development and alumni engagement; strong endowment performance; collaboration between administrators and staff; communications efforts, including social media and cost containment and revenue enhancement measures. She reviewed the Making History campaign achievements and priorities, and shared her concerns about the anticipated decrease in federal funding for research.
SEC members and the President then discussed the following topics: spending priorities for the Making History campaign funds, research into the effectiveness of online learning and other topics around Open Learning Initiatives, plans for the Pennovation Center and the question of equity for non-tenured, non-standing faculty.
The Middle States Reaccreditation Self-Study Report: Vice Provost for Education Andy Binns informed SEC about the Middle States Commission on Higher Education’s reaccreditation review process that is currently underway at Penn. The six major recommendations of the Self-Study report constitute a plan of action for undergraduate education at Penn for the next few years. These were: to further increase the diversity and excellence of Penn’s applicants through admissions outreach; to increase the endowment income available to fund financial aid; to strengthen coordination of local and national engagement initiatives for undergraduates; to encourage cross-school study for undergraduates; to strengthen research opportunities for undergraduates; and to lead instructional innovation using new methods of active classroom learning and open learning initiatives. Penn will report on its concrete achievements towards meeting these goals in the Periodic Review Report in 2019.
SEC members and the Vice Provost then discussed how global initiatives such as Perry World House and Penn Wharton China Center will contribute to undergraduate education and sub-matriculation programs at Penn.
Related: Faculty Senate Committees, 2013–2014 |