Board of Trustees to discuss facilities, fundraising efforts

The University's Board of Trustees meetings will begin today to discuss the campus master plan, the University budget, safety programs and fundraising and development efforts. Although the majority of Trustees have already been briefed about the campus master plan for facilities development, a general session will address the plan's priorities and potential sources of funding, according to Board of Trustees Chairperson Roy Vagelos. The Trustees will also discuss planning and pre-construction costs for the Sansom Commons project. "We are having successes [in fundraising] -- but never enough, of course, and we clearly can't do everything simultaneously," Vagelos said. The priority list for future programs and development will follow those outlined in the Agenda for Excellence, he said. The major fundraising question facing the Trustees concerns efforts to raise funds to cover the costs of plans described in the Agenda. While some Trustees would like to begin a major fundraising campaign, others fear that beginning another large campaign so soon after 1994's "Campaign for Penn" might alienate potential donors. Vagelos said fundraising may be more successful if it attacks one project at a time, since donors can be targeted to fund individual projects of interest to them. Another question facing the Trustees involves the time frame for raising the $1 billion President Judith Rodin said the Agenda's plans will cost. Rodin said she believes the money could certainly be raised, although she is not sure how long it would take to amass that large a sum. "The needs are enormous, but... the trick is to say in how long," Vagelos said. "It is not so daunting if you put it off. The key is to convince people we would like to get it done in a reasonable time." The Trustees will also be brought up to date on the recent safety improvements. "Safety is critical to the immediate future of the University," Vagelos said. "I don't worry for the long-term future because there are so many things in the mill that will change West Philadelphia, but we have to move the long-term to a closer term." In addition to attending the official board meeting, Trustees will meet with students dining at Hill House, King's Court/English House and the Trainer's Club tomorrow for informal lunch discussions.