Senate Committee on Faculty and the Administration SCOA
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The Senate Committee on Faculty and the Administration ("SCOA") oversees and advises the Executive Committee on matters relating to the faculty's interface with the University's administration, including policies and procedures (e.g., the Patent Policy, Conflict of Interest policies) relating to the University's structure, the conditions of faculty employment (such as personnel benefits), and information. In general the Committee deals with the matters covered by the following sections of the University's Handbook for Faculty and Academic Administrators: I.A.-D., G.-H.1., I.-K., II.E. III., V., VI.
Specific Charges, 2022-2023
- (Overarching charge) Address systemic racism and other forms of inequity by assessing and evaluating ways to change University structures, practices, and biases at the University, school, departmental, and individual levels. Examples include eligibility for leadership roles; differential standards for faculty evaluation and compensation based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, department-level voting privileges; biases implicit in quantitative methods for evaluating faculty; and evaluation of effectiveness of campus mental health and wellness programs.
- Examine the effects of the U.S. Department of Justice’s China Initiative on Penn researchers and the role of University policies and practices in supporting and protecting the faculty.
- Identify faculty issues of concern regarding intellectual property and ownership of teaching, research, and scholarship, and recommend steps for addressing them.
- Review University and school policies and best practices regarding online teaching and identify operating principles for their use.
- In consultation with SCFDDE, Examine the conditions of faculty employment (including personnel benefits) of teaching faculty by school (across all faculty tracks) and their opportunities for career advancement at Penn, and articulate and make recommendations that are guided by principles of equity.
- Continue to explore existing and alternative models for providing public safety and services to the campus community.
SCOA 2022-2023 Membership
- Ryan Baker (GSE), Chair
- Chenoa Flippen (SAS/Sociology)
- Randall Mason (Weitzman Design)
- Steven Messe (PSOM/Neurology)
- Erica Reineke (Vet Medicine)
- Shu Yang (SEAS/MSE)
- Ex officio:
- A representative of the Senate Tri-Chairs
- Peter Kuriloff (GSE), PASEF non-voting member
