Barchi takes office as the University's 31st provost

Provost Robert Barchi has outlined a 'longitudinal list' of four agenda items for his term as Penn's top academic. Longtime Medical School Professor Robert Barchi will officially take over today as the Penn's newest provost, ending 15 months of flux in the office of the University's chief academic officer. Barchi, 52, has already developed what he calls a "longitudinal list" of academic projects to help realize his vision of education at Penn, encompassing both long- and short-term plans for his tenure as the University's highest ranking academic official. After consulting with all 12 undergraduate and graduate deans as well as University faculty and students throughout the past month, Barchi has devised a list of four wide-ranging goals he plans to focus on and "wants the provost's office to contribute to." "The things that I see as being important have to be worked through with all those constituencies," Barchi explained. And today, as he officially steps into office, Barchi will continue to outline the major needs of the institution and will work toward implementing those goals. Some of Barchi's plans will, he hopes, be implemented within the next six months: the structuring of the college house system throughout the $300 million dorm overhaul project, the series of provost-sponsored events and the development of greater research opportunities for students. Barchi said that he currently is planning on a six-year tenure. "Academic leaders have a curve of productivity," he said. Firstly, the provost said that he wants to create programming and develop initiatives to "enrich the intellectual atmosphere" at the University. His second academic goal includes plans to "foster and encourage innovation in education and research." Third, Barchi will continue to "implement and move forward" the Agenda for Excellence -- a five-year academic and financial plan released by University President Judith Rodin in 1995. And lastly, the new academic head of the University said he wants to "reaffirm the role of the provost's office having a leadership position" and "strengthen the academic infrastructure" within the University. Each of these plans, Barchi explained, leads to one overarching goal: to develop programming and innovations that create the atmosphere of "a community of scholars" at Penn. As part of his first goal, Barchi said he will continue "rolling forward" with the college house system. He also cited the Student Committee on Undergraduate Education's newly released White Paper -- which requests increased student research opportunities and greater student-faculty interaction -- as an example of "things we should be doing." The provost added that the University needs a centrally-located research hub and improved recreational, performing arts and social opportunities on campus for both faculty and students. And starting next semester, students may be able to attend campus-wide cultural events sponsored by the provost. The events could include performing arts, concerts or lectures, Barchi said. Falling under his second goal of encouraging education and research, Barchi noted that interdisciplinary and inter-school programs -- such as dual-degree programs between schools or specialized majors -- are areas he plans to expand. "[One role of the provost's office] is supporting interdisciplinary and inter-school programs and fostering the development of new programs that bridge schools and intellectual disciplines," Barchi said. Another thing Barchi hopes to achieve is the creation of more opportunities and increased funding for student participation in research. "I don't mean just molecular biology or gene therapy," he explained. "I mean research in every sense of the academic word -- whether it's writing creatively or thinking about philosophical concepts." He added that "the capacity of the institution in giving grants hasn't kept up with the success of the faculty as a research engine." Barchi also plans to increase faculty recruitment and to "nurture" desirable faculty members to keep them at Penn. "I want to use the resources of the provost's office for the recruitment and retention of creative and talented teachers and researchers," he explained. Barchi's third goal includes plans to work on the Agenda for Excellence. He said he will work with faculty, deans and the president to develop "the next chapter of the Agenda." And lastly, as Barchi develops academic planning for the future, he wants to "reaffirm" the leadership role of the provost's office within the University -- which has been without a permanent provost since Stanley Chodorow stepped down at the end of 1997. Barchi also stressed that he will work with Executive Vice President John Fry -- who focuses mainly on large-scale business and campus development projects -- and Rodin to "develop mechanisms of strategic academic planning" and pay attention to the relationship between the academic and business developments on campus. In particular, Barchi said the University's expansion must mesh with its academic goals and priorities.