Overview

Rare and unusual situations may occur in which a faculty member will be the victim or survivor of an unforeseen, catastrophic event - personal or professional. Per the faculty handbook:

  • Personal Event - An adverse and extraordinary personal event or condition persisting for a substantial period of time for which the extension is sought, including
    • bereavement (due to the death of a spouse, child, or parent)
    • loss of primary residence due to, for example, fire, flood or natural disaster
    • survivorship of a crime of violence, including domestic violence and sexual assault.
  • Professional Event -  The destruction, loss, or unavailability of, or interference with access to, materials, data or research opportunities necessary for completion of a research project, such that the research project is unable to proceed or is disrupted for at least sixty days; or unforeseen interruptions in the availability of building facilities or suspension of laboratory operations that deprive the faculty member or appropriate members of the research team of access to a laboratory or the availability of other essential supports for at least sixty days. It is understood that a “catastrophic event” has a serious impact on the faculty member’s ability to pursue their area of scholarly focus or activity in a customary and timely fashion and occurs through no fault of the faculty member.

Process & Requirements

Events should be reported, and the extension requested as soon as feasible, but no later than one year after the catastrophic event occurs or commences.

All Extension Request Forms require signed approval from the Department Chair.

Signed Forms along with the additionally required materials are submitted by the department’s Faculty Coordinator (FC) to the Office of Academic Affairs via email to jwaltman@upenn.edu

A.4.ii – Professional Catastrophic Event

Required for submission:
  • Extension Request Form – Including signatures from faculty member and Department Chair
  • Report written by affected faculty member describing the event and impact on research activity and career trajectory. Report is written to the attention of their Department Chair or Division Chief. Report must include:
    • a timeline of event(s)
    • any additional supporting materials (such as insurance claims, statements from collaborators, witnesses, and University reports etc.)
  • Statement of support (brief) from the Department Chair or Division Chief.
  • FEDS CV and Grants (current)
Procedure:
  • Department Faculty Coordinator assembles all required documentation and submits via email to jwaltman@upenn.edu in the Office of Academic Affairs.
  • Request is reviewed by committee charged by the EVD and Dean.
  • If supported, request is submitted to the Provost Office for approval.

A.4.i – Personal Catastrophic Event

Required for submission:
  • Extension Request Form – Including signatures from faculty member and Department Chair
  • Attestation Statement with signature from Department Chair or Division Chief
    • Statement must indicate that they have met with the faculty member to discuss or have read a confidential communication from the faculty member identifying the circumstances of the personal catastrophe and that they support the request.
Procedure:
  • Department Faculty Coordinator assembles required documentation and submits via email to jwaltman@upenn.edu in the Office of Academic Affairs.
  • Request is submitted to the Provost Office