In her inaugural address, President Gutmann recommitted herself to one of her highest-profile goals: making a Penn education more accessible. Making this the centerpiece of her agenda is truly laudable, for a University can undertake an endeavor no more just than to open its doors for all who qualify, regardless of personal wealth. Yet, since Gutmann has espoused this belief since first setting foot on campus, we believe it is now time to see some concrete details.
The most fundamental element is, of course, raising the money to increase financial aid. While it will not be easy, we believe that Gutmann1s commitment will go a long way toward realizing that ambition. However, it is not just a matter of the money; Penn must recruit even more ambitiously, targeting students who have never even considered our University, or even college at all. While it is true that the majority of Penn students come from public high schools, there are a significant number of wealthy public high schools in this country. To truly succeed, Penn must reach people from every corner of the country -- indeed, every corner of the world, students who might not even know that this school exists.
Marketing Penn to students who, having heard of us, may assume that a Penn education is out of reach for them is a second important aspect. In some cases, Penn can make itself more affordable to students than their state school. While the Admissions Office is already working on this, it is a critical element of the long-term plan. The importance of making this fact well-publicized cannot be overstated; for this endeavor to succeed, Penn must be synonymous with a truly affordable education.
While considered controversial by some, a successful example of just that kind of endeavor is the Mayor1s Scholarship program. It is an opportunity for students from the Philadelphia area who qualify, once they are admitted to Penn, to receive some of the most lucrative financial aid packages Penn has to offer. This is Penn1s commitment to the local area. In time, our local area should become the world.
We believe wholeheartedly in the importance of this effort. If successful, it will define Penn for the next decade. It is exactly for this reason that we want to hear more specifics about the plan, and are determined to see it succeed.
A New Vision: A Look at President Gutmann's Agenda Part 1 of 3 Today: Increasing Accessibility Tomorrow: Integrating Knowledge Wednesday: Engaging Locally and Globally
