SENATE From the Senate Office: |
|
January 27, 2015, Volume 61, No. 20 |
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, January 21, 2015
Chair’s Report. Faculty Senate Chair Claire Finkelstein gave a brief update on the actions of the Faculty Senate committees. She announced that the report of the Economic Status of the Faculty will be presented to SEC at the March 18 meeting. She also reported that the new Student Disciplinary Protocol for Sexual Assault, Sexual Violence, Relationship Violence and Stalking will be published in Almanac. [Ed. Note: see Supplement in this issue]
Past Chair’s Report. Faculty Senate Past Chair Dwight Jaggard noted that the Academic Planning and Budget committee and Capital Council have been meeting. He asked any faculty members with interest in or recommendations for the Vice Provost for Education position to contact him.
Vote on the 2015 Senate Committee on Committees Ballots. SEC members voted for members of the 2015 Senate Committee on Committees.
Update from the Provost. Provost Vincent Price gave updates on several areas under his purview. In advance of the report from the Task Force on Student Psychological Health and Welfare, the University has already implemented some of its preliminary recommendations. A new HELP line for students was launched, and Counseling and Psychological Services has added staff and moved to its new location at 3624 Market Street, First Floor. The Provost reported that the two dean searches in progress—the Law School and the School of Engineering & Applied Sciences—are going well and are proceeding on schedule. The searches for a Director of Student Health Services and a Sexual Violence Investigative Officer have now concluded and will be announced soon. The Penn Wharton China Center in Beijing will open on March 9-10, with a gala dedication ceremony in September, and Perry World House is scheduled to open in Spring 2016. The latest data on faculty diversity show that the number of underrepresented minority faculty continues to increase, and that the number of women faculty has also increased. Despite a decrease in federal funding, Penn’s sponsored research portfolio increased by 9% last year, but the Provost believes it unlikely that growth on the same scale will continue. The most recent call for Open Learning proposals expanded the scope of projects to include digital content for use in on-campus courses.
SEC members and the Provost then discussed: student life issues and student activism on campus; the Penn Police; retention of underrepresented minority faculty; international faculty; and funding available for faculty recruitment and retention.
Proposed Revisions to the Patent and Tangible Research Property Policies and Procedures. Vice Provost for Research Dawn Bonnell discussed two initiatives in her office: a single-portal initiative to reduce the regulatory burden on faculty conducting research, and the establishment of the Penn Center for Innovation. SEC members and Vice Provost Bonnell then discussed: goals for the Penn Center for Innovation; the Office of Research Services; post-award processing of grants; and the Institutional Review Board (IRB).
Vice Provost Bonnell then summarized the proposed revisions to the Patent and Tangible Research Property Policies and Procedures and explained that the proposed changes to the distribution would reduce the University’s share in favor of faculty, as well as make distributions more consistent.
Discussion and Vote on the Revisions to the Patent and Tangible Research Property Policies and Procedures. The Senate Executive Committee discussed the proposed revisions and voted to approve them.
Discussion and Vote on the Academic Clinician Track Change Proposal. The Senate Executive Committee discussed the joint proposal from the Perelman School of Medicine, the School of Dental Medicine and the School of Veterinary Medicine to revise the Academic Clinician faculty track. The committee voted to approve the proposal. |