Both University President Judith Rodin and Provost Robert Barchi touched on numerous aspects of graduate and undergraduate life in their updates at last night's University Council meeting.
Their combined agendas included Penn's current financial situation, diversity among faculty, the importance of international students and present and future facilities plans.
Rodin began by discussing finances, noting that Penn had an "extraordinary" past fiscal year, proving that the national economy is "starting to turn around."
Plans for a capital campaign are currently in the works, which Rodin called "incredibly ambitious."
Rodin also addressed the issue of the presence of female faculty members, noting that Penn has recently been looking to increase the number of women in the applicant pool for faculty positions.
Rodin said that there have been "more vigorous interventions in the past year" to do so.
Recent data show an increase in the number of women faculty members in the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Engineering and Applied Science, the Wharton School and the School of Medicine.
However, Rodin added that this improvement is by no means the end of addressing the situation.
"This is an ongoing process... not something that can be addressed in a single year," she said. "We want to raise everyone's consciousness and do a better job of retaining and recruiting women faculty members."
Rodin also discussed several facilities projects currently in the works, including the McNeil Center for American Studies, development of the recently purchased postal lands and a WXPN building that is set to include a 350-seat performance venue.
Lastly, Rodin pointed out Penn's success in filling up empty retail venues over the past year, reaching a 95 percent occupancy rate.
In his update, Barchi focused on four topics -- faculty and student honors, the Strategic Plan, attracting international students to the University and the Office of Strategic Initiatives.
Both faculty and students have received numerous awards and prizes in the past year -- including 18 Fulbright student scholars and a Nobel Prize-winning faculty member.
"The outstanding students that we've always had are now starting to get some of the recognition they deserve," he said of the rise in student honors.
Penn has not lost any of its success with international students over the past three years, Barchi said, despite possible aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks.
Barchi said he is pleased with these results, since the presence of international students is "so important to maintaining diversity" on campus.
Barchi also noted that the position of vice provost of research had been filled after a nine-month search, and the new faculty member -- who he could not name because of the person's current position -- is set to begin work on Nov. 3.
The University Council, which is comprised of faculty members, administrators and student representatives, meets monthly in Houston Hall.
