University of Pennsylvania Forms Faculty Working Group
The 12-member group aims to create a new teaching faculty track for full-time lecturers at the institution.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Higher Education
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Provost John Jackson Jr. and Vice Provost Laura Perna have launched a 12-member working group to establish a dedicated teaching faculty track for full-time lecturers. Currently, these instructors are classified as academic support staff and limited to three-year appointment cycles.
Why it matters
The Faculty Senate has raised persistent concerns regarding the professional advancement and evaluation processes for full-time lecturers. Officials argue the current appointment structure fails to align with the school's long-term needs for retaining teaching staff.
Full-time lecturers are currently restricted to a maximum of three consecutive years of appointments under the existing Faculty Handbook. The newly formed working group includes members from diverse schools including the Perelman School of Medicine.
The players
John Jackson Jr.
He serves as the Provost at the University of Pennsylvania and is responsible for overseeing the institution's academic strategy.
Laura Perna
She is the Vice Provost at the University of Pennsylvania who co-announced the creation of the lecturer working group.
Aswin Punathambekar
He was tapped in August 2026 to lead the university's response to the Faculty Senate resolutions regarding faculty status.
The details
The working group will draft necessary language for the Faculty Handbook and propose a formal process for current lecturers to transition into the new track. This effort follows a series of Faculty Senate resolutions passed throughout 2026 advocating for improved representation and status for non-standing faculty.
Timeline
May 2026: The Faculty Senate endorsed a resolution calling for a new teaching faculty track.
June 2026: A key committee report regarding faculty status was published.
August 2026: Aswin Punathambekar was appointed to lead the institutional response.
October 2026: The Senate Executive Committee passed a resolution to expand non-standing faculty representation.
2027-28 academic year: This represents the target date for the full implementation of the new track.
Culture Shift
This move represents a departure from traditional university structures that categorize long-term lecturers as temporary support staff. It aligns with a broader push in higher education to formalize the roles of non-tenure-track instructors within shared governance systems.
Full-time lecturers at the University of Pennsylvania may see significant changes to their job security and career progression paths as the working group finalizes its recommendations. These policy shifts could redefine professional expectations for teaching staff across the campus by the 2027-28 academic year.
The takeaway
The formation of this working group signals a structural change in how research universities value full-time teaching personnel. Staff and faculty members should monitor upcoming handbook revisions for shifts in appointment eligibility and long-term hiring policies.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in Higher Education at the University of Pennsylvania.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Former Penn President Liz Magill earned $4.46 million the year following her resignation - The Daily Pennsylvanian.
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