Tilghman On Commission
Former Princeton president and professor emerita of molecular biology and public affairs Shirley M. Tilghman was named co-chair of New Jersey’s Restart and Recovery Commission, Gov. Phil Murphy announced April 28. Tilghman and Merck CEO Kenneth Frazier will lead the 21-person commission, which has been asked to advise on the process of reopening the state’s economy and to “recommend responsible and equitable decisions,” according to a release from the governor’s office. The group also includes Lisa P. Jackson *86, vice president of environment, policy, and social initiatives at Apple and former administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Charles Lowrey ’79, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial; and former Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, an economics professor at the University from 1985 to 2005.
COVID Research at Princeton
Princeton will devote more than $500,000 to seven faculty-led research projects related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the University announced April 10. The projects include quantifying viral transmission and building an understanding of immunity; developing reagents to accelerate drug and vaccine development; electronic contact tracing that respects privacy; and an evaluation of the economic impacts of social distancing.
Tenure Clock Extended
The University faculty voted to approve a one-year extension of the tenure clock for current assistant professors to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 health crisis on the tenure process. Laboratory closures and travel restrictions have disrupted research, making it more difficult for tenure candidates to “demonstrate international leadership and impact in their fields,” according to the extension proposal. The extension is automatic, but assistant professors can choose to continue the tenure process as scheduled.
Turning Down CARES
Princeton did not request and will not accept funds from the CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief program, which supports Pell grant recipients and other students impacted by COVID-19, according to University spokesman Michael Hotchkiss. “Our no-loan financial aid packages and other programs are designed to provide exceptional levels of support to our students, including DACA beneficiaries and international students,” Hotchkiss said. “We remain committed to providing this support. We have also taken steps to meet additional needs resulting from COVID-19, and will continue to look for opportunities to do so throughout this crisis.”