No. 4 February 1955
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VOL. L NO. 4 FEBRUARY 955 What New Benefits? Fels Grant To Study One of the most widely discussed subjects among Faculty Conditions faculty and staff groups-and certainly the one which was the most provocative subject of the University Senate The University of Pennsylvania has received a grant meeting held in Dietrich Hall on February 24th-is "What of $25,000 from the Fels Fund to study policies and additional faculty benefits will be realized as a result of practices which contribute most effectively to the develop- the tuition increases which will take place next July 1st, ment of the strongest possible faculty working under the and as a result of additional State aid, if such aid is best possible conditions. forthcoming?" The study, looking toward the development of an affirmative for will be made Tuition increases, if enrollment holds up to present policy faculty personnel, by a committee of the of which Dr. David figures, will result in approximately one million dollars University faculty R. Goddard, Professor of will serve as the chair- above last year's funds. About half of this must be applied Botany, man. Others on the committee are Doctors John A. Goff, to the anticipated 1955-56 operating deficit University's Clarence A. Clarence Morris, Glenn R. Morrow, costs including faculty salaries Kulp, representing University and P. The of the which have been assumed prior to the availability of Eugene Pendergrass. responsibility committee will involve both the initiation and conduct of funds to meet them. The remaining funds will be divided its and the recommendation of between faculty benefits, maintenance, and a small amount investigations policies. for initiating the Benjamin Franklin National Scholarships These studies and will be directed toward the (see page 2). policies ultimate attainment of the following four major objectives: How the best insure that The of the balance which will be directed to 1) may University every post portion on its instructional and research staffs is filled the amounts to somewhat less than a of faculty, faculty quarter with the that and funds a million dollars. The the strongest person opportunity major problem confronting What rewards, and conditions and climate administration is to use these funds in the manner which permit? 2) of work will attract and hold able men and maxi- will be of assistance to the of provide greatest majority faculty mum for creative work? 3) How members. it is the of increases encouragement may Basically, question salary the entire become as suffused with vs. so-called benefit" increases. University community "fringe a desire for excellence as the best departments now are? 4) How may plans in such matters be made well in President Harnwell, speaking before the University advance? Senate, stated that in talking to various members of the to determine their on the he faculty disposition subject, During its investigations, to be conducted both on this finds the divided to For the most faculty according ages. campus and at several other universities, the committee the members favor increased salaries, while part, younger will consider such subjects as methods employed in dis- the older ones are more interested in the tax-free benefits covering, appointing and promoting faculty talent, regu- which will them better health and retirement give programs. lations governing tenure, elements of good departmental chairmanship, faculty salaries, and other relevant factors. Some question arises as to how much the faculty desires such benefits when investigation shows that a surprisingly Dr. Joseph H. Willits, director of the current educa- small percentage is now taking advantage of the benefits tional survey being conducted at the University, has com- already available at the University. mented that the new studies will supplement the broader survey by providing a deep and penetrating analysis in 2 Continued on Page an exceptionally significant area of investigation. THE ALMANAC 2 Continued 1 Benefits from Page Franklin Scholarships Established At the time the is in present University engaged pre- The University of Pennsylvania is establishing eighty paring a full picture of its financial inadequacies to be new to be known as to the State undergraduate scholarships Benjamin presented Legislature. Franklin National Scholarships. "I am fully cognizant of the fact that salaries must be The will be awarded to raised to make it to hold on to the fine four-year scholarships secondary possible faculty school graduates of exceptional ability and promise who which we now have and to attract outstanding new men would be unable to at the without re- and women to our Dr. Harnwell said. "The study University campus," ceiving some measure of outside aid to supplement their additional funds being requested from the State for the own resources. The initial awards will be made to fresh- biennium are to cover the increased cost of Uni- coming men entering the University in the academic year of versity operations with particular emphasis upon the need 1955-56. for increasing faculty remuneration." In addition to the cost of tuition in the Therefore, if aid for this is to the covering purpose granted undergraduate schools, many will provide annual stipends University by the State, it might then be possible to oblige to be determined in relation to the needs of the individual all of the some of the tuition segments faculty by directing applicants, but not to exceed $1200. funds to "fringe benefits" as well. In announcing that the Franklin Scholarships will be As chairman of the committee appointed to investigate available not to men and women in this area, but various for additional benefits, Dr. C. A. only possibilities to high school graduates throughout the country, President Kulp has indicated that he and his committee are thinking Harnwell stressed the desire to maintain its the lines of medical examina- University's along (1) prepaid regular national character in the best interest of the student body. tions, (2) insurance for permanent and total disability, and (3) insurance for catastrophic medical costs. Since "To students for constructive service in these are much in an and no equip today's very exploratory stage world", he added, "we must give them every opportunity definite figures are available at this writing, a more com- for democratic in an educational environment and will have to wait until a later issue of living prehensive report with no geographical limitations and none imposed on The Almanac. When figures, facts and ideas are better the basis of race, color or creed." formulated, however, it is quite probable that reactions and suggestions will be solicited from all members of the faculty through a questionnaire. With the information at hand at the completion of such a survey, and through personal conversations and cor- Summer Research Grants Offered respondence to learn faculty preferences and attitudes, the ultimate steps taken by the administration may better The Committee on the Advancement of Research an- reflect the wishes of the faculty on the question: "What nounces that three Special Summer Grants of $1000. will additional faculty benefits will be realized?" be made for the summer of 1955. These awards will follow the plan used for such grants in 1954. All full-time members of the staff, including instructors with the Doc- tor's degree, may apply. No special application form will be distributed, but the material submitted should include a detailed description of the project and a letter from Faculty Bibliography Started the applicant to explain how the work contemplated for 1955 fits into his professional plans and why financial The Committee on the Advancement of Research an- assistance is needed. nounces that forms for entries in the Bibliography of Faculty Publications for 1954 will be available early in These tax free grants are designed to free appointees March. from the need to seek other summer employment such as teaching. They may be used to initiate, continue, or In addition, the committee is undertaking a compilation complete any research project approved by the committee. of current research projects, including those completed in 1954. The forms for reporting research work will be Since earlier announcements from members of the com- distributed with those for the Bibliography and if funds mittee indicated that no Special Summer Grants would are available the list of projects reported will be published. be made in 1955, the widest possible publicity should The committee feels that such a publication would be a be given these awards, and the cooperation of deans, record of productive scholarship and a guide for the use directors, and departmental chairmen is especially sought of its limited funds for promoting research. to encourage a large number of applicants. Instruction sheets will accompany the forms for both Applications should be sent to Dr. W. Wallace Weaver, the Bibliography and the Census of Research. Those who Secretary of the Committee on the Advancement of Re- do not receive this material or who require additional search, Room 104, Bennett Hall. The closing date for copies should call the office of the Graduate School of applications will be April 1. Awards will be announced Arts and Sciences in Bennett Hall. as soon as possible. 3 FEBRUARY 1955 d) In order not to discriminate in favor of taxpayers Tax Reduction Planned in higher brackets, it would provide that 30% of the A bill which would of students student fees would be taken as credit on the tax bill give parents college of the bracket. a reduction in their income tax payments and help more regardless taxpayer's young people get a college education will be introduced e) A ceiling of $450 for each student would be placed in Congress during the current session. on the amount of tax credit.