In November 1995 -- when University administrators were on the brink of announcing the Agenda for Excellence -- Penn was a much different place than it is today.
The University faced severe financial limitations, a low ranking when compared to its peers and a waning reputation as a research and academic institution. The atmosphere on campus was in need of revitalization.
And on top of rising crime rates, numerous vacancies in off-campus retail spots and mounting tensions between the University and the West Philadelphia community, a turnaround was in order.
Addressing five goals, all of which were oriented toward making immediate and visible improvements upon these areas of concern, the Agenda had a revolutionary impact on the University's academic and financial status, not to mention its appearance.
Now, as University President Judith Rodin, Provost Robert Barchi, Executive Vice President John Fry --not to mention 14 committees composed of students, faculty and staff -- unveil a second plan aimed toward expanding upon the Agenda's legacy, there are many new factors in an effort to steer Penn toward further success.
The new draft highlights specific initiatives that will expand upon the original Agenda's pillars, many of which deal with enhancing the academic environment on campus.
Building and retaining a world-class faculty through increasing the number of endowed professorships and expanding recruitment networks is one of the largest goals outlined under this initiative. Administrators say it will also take into consideration new models for the appointment of future faculty, and a focus on teaching and research in faculty incentives.
Barchi also noted the new plan's focus upon the life sciences through establishing first-rate research facilities and collaborations between departments.
"There's hardly a major institution in the country that doesn't recognize life sciences as being a new frontier," Barchi said. "We are really in a unique position to make this area a tremendous strength by building life sciences programs and pushing them forward."
Other areas of academic improvement that the new plan seeks to address include technology innovation, developing a more global outlook on education and improving upon the arts, humanities and cultural facets at the University.
Beyond academics, however, the business aspects of running the University have been addressed differently in the new draft, as well.
The draft identifies financial initiatives, such as establishing a resource pool to assess venture investment opportunities, supporting entrepreneurial activity among students and faculty and increasing the efficiency of Penn's administration.
Barchi also spoke of the need to improve upon the University's financial aid initiatives in order to increase the diversity on campus.
"We're committed to need-blind financial aid and making it possible for anyone with the qualifications to attend Penn to attend Penn," Barchi said.
Thus far, Penn has lagged behind financial changes in many of its peer institutions -- most notably Princeton, Harvard and Yale -- which made significant changes to their aid systems last year.
Through fundraising and development efforts, the new plan restates the University's goal of providing all students affordable financial aid packages.
Beyond the scope of financial concerns, officials said they seek to improve the relationship between Penn and the city.
Rodin said that Penn's involvement in West Philadelphia would be backed by community-based funding, as well.
"We're going to see a lot more leverage of other dollars coming into the neighborhoods, which will allow some of the initiatives that we took up to 48th Street to now extend," Rodin said. "So you're going to see a lot more extended set of interventions, but not with Penn money."
Rodin said that the University had plans to expand eastward, too.
"The East is for academic development, other kinds of playing fields, perhaps biotech facilities and the like," Rodin added.
Administrators say they hope these refinements to the old Agenda will reinforce the new draft and help distinguish the University from its peer schools.
"We do have a world-class facility and a great array of people and ideas," Rodin said. "We really have achieved so much of our interdisciplinary ambitions, and we're proud of that... this new strategic plan has been very well thought out and will move our ideas forward."
