Trustees confirm new provost

The Executive Committee of the University Board of Trustees unanimously voted to confirm Stanley Chodorow as the University's next provost Friday. Chodorow, who is currently associate vice chancellor for academic planning and dean of the arts and humanities at the University of California at San Diego, will take office July 1. While the vote was unanimous, there were few nervous moments for Chodorow when Interim President Claire Fagin almost forgot to make the resolution for confirmation of his appointment. "I thought I was forgetting a major resolution," Fagin said just as she was about to tell Interim Provost Marvin Lazerson to make his report to the Trustees. Fagin then read the resolution and Chodorow was appointed provost without incident. Fagin wished Chodorow well on his move "from the sunbelt to the culture belt." The Executive Committee also approved approximately $1.9 million for exterior renovations to the School of Dental Medicine's Evans Building, $1.3 million for repair of the Franklin Field's South Lower Grandstand and $320,000 for renovations to the School of Medicine's John Morgan Building. Executive Vice President Janet Hale told the Trustees that the renovations to Franklin Field, estimated to cost $6.8 million in total, are running "slightly" over budget. The Executive Committee also approved the purchase of a new computerized voice processing system -- which handles the University's voice mail and Penn Automated Registration and Information System -- for $496,000. The Committee also voted to establish a trust fund for post-retirement benefits, other than pensions, for faculty and staff. In her report to the Trustees, Fagin praised the Commission on Strengthening the Community for finishing its monumental report on time. "No one should underestimate the debt we owe Gloria Chisum and the other Commission members," Fagin said. Chisum, the Commission's chairperson, is also vice chairperson of the Trustees and a member of the Trustees' Executive Committee. Fagin said her office has drafted a list of those Commission recommendations which will be implemented and in what order they will be implemented. She also briefed the Executive Committee on the progress of the Student Judicial Reform Committee, which has prepared a draft of a new Code of Student Conduct, Code of Academic Integrity and Judicial Charter. Fagin told the Trustees that the proposals are being deliberated and will soon be finished. And Fagin said the University is still awaiting "final action" in Harrisburg on the University's state funding, but expects to hear soon from the legislature. She also said the outlook for the University's continued development campaign is optimistic. Lazerson told the Trustees of the resignation of Deputy Provost Walter Wales, who will return to teaching in the Physics Department by next December, and Director of the African American Resource Center Allen Green, who is leaving the University to become dean of the College at Wesleyan University. Hale reported that the University is expected to break even this year after $2 million was found to cover loans to the School of Veterinary Medicine. Medical Center Director William Kelley told the Executive Committee of a new relationship the Center has forged with Germantown Hospital. And Chairperson of the Trustees Investment Committee John Neff told the Executive Committee that despite difficult financial markets and rising interest rates, the University's portfolio continues to perform well.

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