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Committee Descriptions
The Nominations and Elections Committee is accepting applications for 23 different
University-wide committees. The committees are divided into three different categories
depending upon whom they report to and their general place within the University
governance system. The following descriptions provide more detailed information on
these categories—Trustee Liaison Committees and other committees—as well as
specific information on the make-up, authority, and recent actions of the individual
committees. All committees are Academic Year Committees.
I. Trustee Committees
The Board of Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania serves as the University’s ultimate
decision making body. The majority of the work of the Board is done at the committee level and
students currently have representation on six of the Trustee Committees. Though they do not
have official voting powers, students serve as fully participating, vital members of the Trustee
committees and, in fact, are the only students with whom the Trustees have direct, consultative
contact. Student representatives chosen for these committees can then be expected to be the
best of the best and should expect to commit extensive time and energy in preparation for each
meeting. Outside research and contact with appropriate student organizations is an integral
part of the Liaison responsibility. Students who are appointed are expected to have a thorough
knowledge of issues confronting the University. Students may apply for more than one
committee, but will not be selected to serve on more than one. Students may not serve on a
Trustee Committee two years in a row.
Trustee Committee MEETING COMMITMENTS:
Trustee Committees meet 3 times a year, typically in October, February, and June. The
Budget and Finance Committee meets more frequently. Representatives are expected
to attend the two meetings that fall within the academic year. A student may not serve
on a Trustee Committee two years in a row.
Committee on Academic Policy: (1 available position)
This committee shall include but not be limited to selected trustee chairmen of the boards of
overseers and other advisory boards. Within its purview are matters of general policy relating to
the faculty, including academic appointment, tenure, academic freedom, and faculty
classification. The academic planning processes and procedures of the University shall be
subject to review by this committee. Similarly, organization, including the addition or deleting of
degrees and the establishment of schools shall be submitted to this committee for review.
Policy guidance on the University library and on guidelines for research and admissions are also
the responsibility of the committee. Finally, the Committee on Academic Policy acts for the
Trustees in the coordination and review of the board of overseers and other advisory boards.
Committee on Budget and Finance: (1 available position)
This committee is concerned with University finances. It reviews and approves the operating
and capital budgets and budgetary procedures of the University and shall monitor budget
compliance. The Trustees shall delegate to the committee the authority for approval of the
disposition or acquisition of real property involving less than $500,000, provided such action is
consistent with the University’s capital budget. The committee shall be responsible for
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University policies and program review in matters of insurance/risk management and for review
of the monetary impact of human resource policies. The liaison’s role will be to examine the
budget to be approved, and to raise any questions that he/she feels concern the student.
Committee on External Affairs: (1 available position)
This committee is concerned with the public and governmental relations of the University. Public
relations include the interpretation of the University through communications with its many
constituencies, both internal and external, at local, regional, national, and international levels.
Government relations include relations with legislators and executive branches at the local,
state and federal levels.
Committee on Facilities and Campus Planning: (1 available position)
This committee considers all aspects of facilities and campus planning, including real estate
development, capital projects, and maintenance of buildings and ground. The committee
specifically monitors physical planning for the campus and surrounding area, including buildings
and grounds controlled, owned, or used by the University, and the acquisition or sale of real
estate. All capital construction projects and the acquisition or sale of real estate will be reviewed
by this committee for its recommendations prior to action by the Budget and Finance
Committee.
Committee on Neighborhood Initiatives: (1 available position)
The Trustee Committee on Neighborhood Initiatives helps steer the University’s institutional
commitment to the West Philadelphia community. By examining the effectiveness and
desirability of commitments like the Penn Assisted Public School, the Penn Enhanced Mortgage
Program, and the student community service initiatives, the committee engages the University’s
urban resources to build mutually beneficial relationships with the community. A major focus of
the committee over the last several years has been the formation of an Urban Institute at Penn
and efforts to make Penn a focal point for urban research and policy. Students on this
committee should expect lively debate around issues like academically based community
service, public safety, gentrification, and other important issues that surround the growing
relationship between the university and the West Philadelphia community.
II. University Council Committees
The University Council is a highly representative and deliberative forum charged with
considering the actions and policies of the University at all levels. The Council is composed of
representatives from the administration, faculty, staff, and the undergraduate and graduate
student bodies, and it reports and makes recommendations directly to the University President,
Provost, and other officials on a range of issues. The Council is especially important because it
is the body through which many administrative issues are discussed, worked out and resolved
before moving on to the Board of Trustees for final approval. Student representatives serve as
full voting members on the Standing Committees, whose work is most directly relevant to the
University’s educational goals. Each year these committees work in session discussing charges
provided to them by the Council. At the end of the year the committees make a final report to
the Council on their conclusions and recommendations.
Committee on Academic and Related Affairs (1 Representative)
(i) shall have cognizance over matters of recruitment, admissions, and financial aid that
concern the University as a whole and that are not the specific responsibility of individual
faculties, including the authority to carry out studies on existing recruitment and admissions
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procedures and their relationships with existing policies on admissions and financial aid and to
recommend changes in policy to the Council;
(ii) shall consider the purposes of a University bookstore and advise the Council and the
management of the University bookstore on policies, development, and operations;
(iii) shall review and monitor issues related to the international programs and other international
activities of the University, including advice and policy recommendations in such areas as
services for international students and scholars, foreign fellowships and studies abroad, faculty,
staff and student exchange programs, and cooperative undertakings with foreign universities;
(iv) shall advise the vice provost and director of libraries on the policies, development, and
operation of the University libraries;
(v) shall have cognizance over recreation and intramural and intercollegiate athletics and their
integration with the educational program of the University, including the planning and provision
of adequate facilities for various sports and recreational activities; and
(vi) shall have cognizance of all matters of policy relating to research and the general
environment for research at the University, including the assignment and distribution of indirect
costs and the assignment of those research funds distributed by the University, and shall advise
the administration on those proposals for sponsored research referred to it because of potential
conflict with University policy.
Committee on Campus and Community Life (1 Representative)
(i) shall have cognizance over the University's communications and public relations activities in
their various formats and media including electronic, audio (the telephone system), video and
printed copy, and it shall monitor the University's internal communications, the operations of the
University Communications Office, communications to alumni, and the interpretation of the
University to its many constituencies;
(ii) shall advise the Council on the relationship of the University to the surrounding community
and the relevant University policies, work to ensure that the University develops and maintains a
constructive relationship with the community, and monitor pending real estate activities of
concern to the community;
(iii) shall have cognizance of the conditions and rules of undergraduate and graduate student
life on campus, including 1) gathering and analyzing information concerning student life and
student affairs and making recommendations to the Council; and 2) responding as appropriate
to requests from and reporting information and recommendations concerning student life and
student affairs to the vice provost for university life and other appropriate administrative officers;
and
(iv) shall advise the president, the director of public safety, and the administrators or directors
of specific buildings, offices, or projects on all matters concerning safety and security in the
conduct of their operations, including consideration and assessment of means to improve safety
and security on the campus.
Committee on Facilities (1 Representatives)
The Committee on Facilities shall be responsible for keeping under review the planning and
operation by the University of its physical plant and all services associated therewith, including
transportation and parking.
Committee on Diversity and Equity (2 Representatives)
The Committee on Diversity and Equity aids Penn in fostering and taking full advantage of its
diversity as well as in strengthening ties across all boundaries to enrich and enliven the campus
community. The Committee shall advise the offices of the president, provost, and the executive
vice presidents on ways to develop and maintain a supportive atmosphere on campus for the
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inclusion and appreciation of diversity among all members of the University community. The
Committee will review and provide advice regarding the University’s equal opportunity and
affirmative action programs and policies. The areas in which the Committee shall report to the
Council include diversity within the educational and work settings, integration of staff and faculty
into the larger campus community, and ways to foster a campus environment that is inclusive
and supportive of difference. The Committee also will advise the administration on specific
diversity issues that may arise on campus.
University Council Committee on Open Expression (2 representatives)
The Committee on Open Expression has as its major task: monitoring the communication
processes to prevent conflicts that might emerge from failure of communication, recommending
policies and procedures for improvement of all levels of communication, investigating alleged
infringements of the right of open expression of any member or members of the
University community, advising administrative officers where appropriate, and participating in
evaluation and resolution of conflicts that may arise from incidents or disturbances on campus.
University Council Committee on Honorary Degrees (2 representatives)
The Committee on Honorary Degrees solicits nominations from faculty and staff members and
students for honorary degrees to be awarded by the University at Commencement and at
special convocations and submits a slate of nominees for action by the trustees. It may make
recommendations to the president regarding Commencement speakers and the conduct of
special convocations.
III. President’s Committees
Social Responsibility Advisory Committee: (1 available position)
The Social Responsibility Advisory Committee is responsible for evaluating Penn's endowment
to ensure our holdings are consistent with our values as an institution and the best interests of
everyone the University is accountable to. We investigate and design the shareholder
engagement policies and practices by which the University upholds its fiduciary duty and uses
its shareholder power to improve the social and environmental impact of the
firms we invest in. The bulk of the Advisory Committee’s work falls within the spring semester,
and the commitment required of the student representative is large: up to 10 hours a week.
Please only apply if you are able to devote this much time to the committee.
IV. Provost’s Committees
Academic Planning and Budget: (1 available position)
This committee provides the administration with advice on the composition of the annual budget
and on multi-year financial plans for the University; taking into account long-range implications
of current budget issues and alternatives. Further, it provides advice on the evolving educational
mission and needs of the University, and their present and future budgetary implications. Only
current sophomores may apply for this position, and the student selected will have a two-year
commitment to the committee, for his or her junior and senior years.
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V. School of Arts & Sciences Committees
SAS Curriculum: (1 available position)
This committee reviews all proposals for new courses, majors, and undergraduate programs,
and recommends to the faculty the approval or rejection of each proposal. The curriculum
committee is divided equally among the three divisions of the school of Arts and Sciences. Only
students in the College may apply. This year the committee has reviewed the Theater Arts
program, approved a new Ancient History major, and approved over one hundred new courses.
SAS Undergraduate Education: (1 available position)
This committee advises the Dean on all matters broadly affecting the undergraduate educational
mission of the School of Arts and Sciences, including educational policies, proposed new
organizational units, and reviewing of the advising system. This year, the committee has been
working on the new College curriculum. Only students in the College may apply.
SAS Humanities and Social Science Panel (1 available position)
SAS Natural Sciences and Mathematics Panel (1 available position)
The Committee on the Sector Requirements consists of two panels: a Humanities and Social
Sciences Panel overseeing sectors 1 - 4; and a Natural Sciences and Mathematics panel
overseeing sectors 5 – 7. Together the panels evaluate and approve new courses proposed for
the various sectors and conduct periodic reviews of the sectors. Responsibilities include
reviewing and recommending policy for the General Requirement and acting on
recommendations from departments of courses to be listed in the various sectors. Only
students in the College may apply.
SAS Quantitave Data Analysis Requirement Committee: (1 available position)
The Quantitative Data Analysis Committee reviews existing courses for inclusion in the list of
courses that fulfill the quantitative skills requirement. It also encourages appropriate
departments to consider ways of augmenting and modifying their offerings to provide greater
emphasis on quantitative material. The Committee identifies and develops sources of
assistance for faculty and teaching assistants who wish to incorporate analysis of quantitative
data in their courses.
VI. Vice Provost of University Life Committees
Alcohol and Other Drug Task Force: (2 available positions)
This task force advises senior administrators on alcohol issues pertaining to policies, education,
and services. The committee is currently divided into five subcommittees: Policy and Education,
Treatment and Recovery, Teleconference, Data Collection, and Social Planning. This year the
committee has been dealing with issues such as registered parties and mixers, programs for
helping smokers quit, and the possibility of a “sober housing” program.
Fraternity/Sorority Advisory Board: (1 available position)
This committee advises the Director of student life with regard to policies toward fraternities and
sororities. It advises on issues pertaining to the Greek system such as pledge practices, chapter
recognition, and disciplinary procedures and it reviews charges levied against the organizations.
Only students who are not, nor have ever been in a fraternity or sorority here or at any other
university are eligible. The Advisory Board meets 6 times a year, typically in the late
afternoon/early evening.
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Lindback Awards: (1 available position)
This committee solicits nominations form the University community for candidates for the
Lindback and Provost Awards for distinguished teaching. Every year these awards are
presented to faculty members who enhance Penn student’ education through their charismatic
and creative teaching methods. The committee reviews the candidates and submits
recommendations the Provost for final consideration. If you are concerned about not allowing
excellent teaching to go unnoticed, apply for this committee.
VII. Office of Student Life
Student Awards: (1 available position)
This committee selects the recipients of most of the awards presented on Ivy Day. The awards
are primarily presented to seniors, although there are some underclassmen awards. Examples
of awards given are the Fienstone Award, which is given to a sophomore, junior, or senior who
has shown constructive social and educational change, and the Wiess Memorial Award which is
given to a senior with outstanding academic and extracurricular records. Only freshmen and
sophomore students may apply for this committee.
IX. Student Health and Wellness Committees
Student Health Insurance Advisory Committee: (1 position available)
The Student Health Insurance Advisory Committee (SHIAC) advises the Provost and the
President on matters pertaining to the provision of health insurance for the students of the
University and serves as a forum for discussing issues relevant to the provision of the best
possible health insurance plan(s) to meet the needs of the students and the University. SHIAC
reviews the University’s Student Health Insurance Plan and advises on the complex issues and
concerns related to the administration of the Plan.
IX. University Library System
Library Undergraduate Advisory Board: (1 position available)
The Library Undergraduate Advisory Board meets about twice each semester (at the discretion
of all the board participants) to discuss issues regarding the Library system at Penn. Amongst
those in attendance are the Director of Public Services for Penn Libraries, as well as
representatives from Lippincott Library, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Libraries,
Research and Instructional Services, Weigle Information Commons, the UA, and SCUE. The
Advisory Board discusses new initiatives of the Library as well as revisions of current library
policies and services that fall under the jurisdiction of Penn Libraries, such as Blackboard.