The University's annual report -- which offered a comprehensive overview of Penn's academic and financial position -- was formally issued last night at the second University Council meeting of the year.
The report included descriptions of important projects that have been undertaken and completed, as well as future initiatives and recommendations that are set to be either considered or put in motion in upcoming years.
Among the issues brought forth was the need for increased study space on the western side of campus, as well as the importance of continuing political activism and debate on campus now that the presidential election has come to an end.
"For weeks, our campus has been abuzz with political dialogue ... and this can be a turning point," University President Amy Gutmann said, noting the importance of continuing programs both inside and outside of the classroom.
"Let this election open a new era of civic engagement, not only at the ballot box, but also in our daily lives," she added, encouraging student groups to "run with the progress that we have made this week."
The report also included the financial status of the University, including the growth of Penn's endowment to over $4 billion and an increase in student financial aid for both undergraduate and graduate students by 8.8 percent.
"We are a better university today than we were a year ago, and we were not too bad a year ago," Gutmann said.
The outlook of Penn's finances is "challenging but manageable," said University Executive Vice President Craig Carnaroli, who cited among other difficulties the competitive pressures Penn faces in maintaining outstanding students and faculty members.
"We must continue to make major strides in our investments and fundraisers," said Gutmann, who will undertake a capital campaign to raise more funds for Penn.
Gutmann reiterated the need to work to increase the accessibility of a Penn education to all students, in addition to the University's need to continue to integrate knowledge and increase its engagement with both local and global communities.
Gutmann said she wanted "to lead Penn from excellence to eminence in all [its] core endeavors."
"I plan to build on local and global engagement ... [and] encourage more global engagement that speaks to our core educational mission," she said.
"Over time, such engagement will make us a model of an American university with an international perspective and global research," she added.
Gutmann described the work of Penn's School of Medicine in Botswana, where doctors work on a six-week rotating schedule with local people to care for the sick population, half of which is infected with HIV or AIDS.
Vice Provost and Director of Libraries Carton Rogers talked about the continuing importance of Penn's libraries to the community, despite the growth of technology that has replaced a variety of traditional learning resources.
Though the council did not undertake any substantial steps, University Council Steering Representative Rachel Fersh said "the main work of the University Council is done in committees," each of which "analyzes charges set to [them] by the University Council Steering Board."
The issues discussed at yesterday's meeting "are probably broader issues than normal, because it is the overall State of the University address," she added.
