Back to Faculty AnnouncementsA Guide for Penn Faculty - Inclusion in the COVID Era
The global pandemic, coupled with civil unrest and public protests incited by police violence, make this an exceedingly difficult time for many Penn faculty and other members of our community.
The pandemic has disrupted every facet of how we live and work. Faculty, staff, students, and postdocs may be using technology in new ways, working in a home that includes children and other extended family members, and facing vulnerabilities and fears relating to their own and loved ones’ health. Penn faculty bear these burdens while striving to support and advise students, advance scholarly work, and collaborate and connect with colleagues. Many in our community have been directly affected by disease and economic loss. Many faculty members have worked without substantial breaks throughout the past year, and faculty with nine-month appointments have used the summer to support students and make changes to their fall courses. At the same time, the events of this summer have called on us to critically reflect on – and address – the racism, discrimination, and inequalities that are embedded within our systems. If we are to achieve our goals for equity, diversity, and inclusion, we need to consider how current practices serve to disadvantage some members of our community and identify the actions we can take to enable all Penn faculty to thrive.
This document is intended to recognize the issues many faculty in our community are facing on both of these fronts and identify strategies to address them. Recommendations are drawn from scholarly research on academic life, including emerging research on the pandemic, and articles in higher education news outlets such as the Chronicle of Higher Education and Inside Higher Ed. We recognize that many members of our community also have relevant expertise, and we welcome feedback, additions, and other recommendations with the goal of identifying ways to best support all members of our community.
We encourage everyone to take advantage of the resources that Penn offers and to engage in self-care. Please reach out to your dean, department chair, the Division of Human Resources, or us, if you need help and support. Laura Perna, Vice Provost for Faculty Lubna Mian, Associate Vice Provost for Faculty September 1, 2020
Please send any questions to provost.upenn.edu