EDITORIAL: Agenda on its way to excellence

At its midway point, the five-year strategic plan governing campus development seems to be making good progress. The plan aims to make the University a high-tech, globally-oriented, academic and research powerhouse. Among accomplishments thus far are a multitude of new interdepartmental and interschool degree programs, increased research opportunities, ties to universities abroad and expanded minority faculty recruitment. There are, however, several areas which still require attention. The Political Science Department is struggling with half the faculty base of peer institutions. The Graduate School of Fine Arts and the Psychology, Music and English departments are working out of inadequate facilities. And the University's endowment is still tiny in comparison to other Ivy League schools, making it difficult for Penn to keep up with the wave of more attractive financial aid packages. These problems must be prioritized over the next 2 1/2 years if Penn is to remain at the forefront of higher education. Several of the Agenda initiatives are unlikely to meet their 2001 deadline. But continued steady progress in accordance with the comprehensive plan will ensure that Penn heads in the right direction as it enters the new millennium.