U. Trustees hear about Penn's use of technology in teaching

The University Trustees got a taste of college life in the 21st century yesterday as they talked with Penn administrators, faculty and students about the impact technology is having on campus. The Trustees, who hold three full group sessions each year, will continue their discussion about Penn's strategic use of technology when they reconvene today at the Inn at Penn for the second and final day of committee meetings. "We have made a lot of progress and are doing a lot of innovative things," said Trustees Chairman James Riepe, who has made technology a focus of his term. "This will position us to have even grander plans as to how to apply technology to move forward." While no major resolutions were passed, yesterday's meetings served as learning sessions for the Trustees, as officials from nearly every division of the University lectured about how technology makes things faster, better and easier -- their Powerpoint presentations serving as handy examples. At the Academic Policy meeting, Wharton School administrators showed the Trustees how its "e-talk" message boards and Web CafZ chatrooms allow prospective and current business school students to connect outside Steinberg-Dietrich Hall. The committee also learned how technology -- such as a World Wide Web site on Shakespeare and special mathematics software -- enhanced classroom learning. University Trustee Marjorie Rendell, a judge on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals and wife of former Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell, said she was impressed with how technology was increasing student-teacher interaction. "You think of it as a distant process, but it actually causes students and teachers to get closer together," she said. Four Trustee committees met yesterday to discuss a range of issues pertaining to the University. Taking a break from the technology theme, Provost Robert Barchi briefed the Facilities Committee on preliminary plans for a new Life Sciences building that will house the Psychology and Biology departments, and possibly a Genomics program as well. "You cannot be a player in a [top] research university without one," Barchi said, noting that nearly every one of Penn's peer institutions is improving its facilities and expanding programs in cognitive neuroscience and genomics. The committee was also updated on the numerous construction projects taking place on campus -- from Huntsman Hall to Perelman Quadrangle -- as well as a nearly $22 million proposal to install new sprinkling and public address systems in all of the University's college houses. The committee also discussed the University's plans to spend $15 million to purchase and renovate a number of West Philadelphia rental properties that do not currently health and safety standards. In the Student Life Committee, the Trustees saw how Penn performing arts groups use virtual reality software to create lighting plans for campus productions. They also got a chance to sign up for Penn classes, as University officials unveiled the recently updated Penn InTouch 2000 online registration system.