Over the summer, Penn administrators will be busy with search committees, transitions and long-term construction projects.
The focus of much of the administration this summer will be on the transition between University President Judith Rodin and University President-elect Amy Gutmann. Rodin officially steps down as president on June 30, with Gutmann assuming the post on July 1.
In addition, the administration will prepare for the Board of Trustees meetings in June. At the June meetings, budgets for the following year are approved. In addition, a gala will be held to celebrate Rodin's presidency.
"There's a major celebration organized for Thursday, June 17, to celebrate her administration and its tenure," University Secretary Leslie Kruhly said.
Gutmann is also beginning her work for the University, starting a search for the vice president for development and alumni relations, a position which oversees much of the University's fundraising.
Of the post that has been vacant since August 2002, Gutmann said she is "gearing up for a vice president for development search at Penn."
"I was interviewing search firms last week," Gutmann added.
Gutmann will also inherit several ongoing projects. The deans will begin to work to implement their strategic plans, which were developed as part of the second phase of Rodin's second strategic plan which she entitled "Building on Excellence: The Leadership Agenda."
Arguably the largest undertaking Gutmann will face is the development of the postal lands, the 24-acre parcel of land to the east of the University. Penn will acquire the lands in 2007 as part of the deal Rodin completed as one of the last major projects of her presidency.
"We will probably not be doing much this summer in terms of planning, probably we will take the opportunity to be debriefing Dr. Gutmann about it," Vice President of Facilities and Real Estate Omar Blaik said. "We have plenty of time before we initiate a more comprehensive planning effort. For now, what we know for a fact is come '07 we will turn the parking lot south of Walnut [Street] into playing fields, and the big question is really what will happen with existing buildings that we will own" in 2007.
Other construction projects will also affect faculty and administrators this summer. Renovations to Williams Hall will be completed and faculty will move back into the building. Bennett Hall will be vacated to make way for its upcoming renovations. A myriad of other construction projects will dot the campus as residences are improved and academic buildings are constructed.
A faculty search committee will continue to look for a new director of the Penn libraries to replace former director Paul Mosher, who resigned in April 2003 after child pornography was discovered on his office computer. Furthermore, the Minority Equity Committee, led by Sociology professor Tukufu Zuberi, will complete its report about equity among faculty members.
In addition, the deans will discuss the self-study they just completed as a result of the Middle States Accreditation review.
"There will be discussion about the Middle States self-study, which has just concluded," said Nancy Nicely, executive director of external affairs for the Provost's Office. "The deans are in discussion of which aspects of that they want to pursue first."
Finally, the University will continue to plan for Gutmann's inauguration, which will take place in October. The event will coincide with the fall trustees meetings and will take place a week before Homecoming, creating an extended period of festivities.
"We will get a substantial turnout by other universities for our inaugural events," Kruhly said. "So we are planning a University-wide symposium and other activities to coincide with the inaugural."
Gutmann is in the process of choosing a name and specific theme for the symposium.
