Franklin's goals get another look

Student leaders from campus groups met last weekend to help make sure Penn is living up to Ben Franklin's vision for it.

Their ideas for improvement included potentially pushing for an extension to winter break for an "inter-session" period in which students could take short-term courses exploring interests outside of their majors.

The conference -- called BF300: Educating the Youth of Pennsylvania, which took place on Saturday-- included a group of about 60 faculty and students as well as Provost Ron Daniels.

In honor of the city-wide celebration of Franklin's 300th birthday, attendees evaluated their educational experience at Penn.

Their criterion was the Penn Compact, University President Amy Gutmann's three-pronged plan for Penn's future.

The Student Committee on Undergraduate Education, the Center for Community Partnerships and the InterFraternity Council organized the event.

"We used the Penn Compact as a discussion point but we used Franklin as the ideal," Engineering sophomore and SCUE Chairman Gabe Kopin said.

The Penn Compact emphasizes increased financial aid, interdisciplinary work and local and international activism.

Conference attendees debated them all.

Suggestions ranged from changing how course credit is given to finding ways for students to get more involved in local community service activities.

"Try[ing] to encourage more of local students to consider Penn, or at least university education," Kopin said, might help improve Penn's relationship with the West Philadelphia community.

Those discussing interdisciplinary studies focused on how students can go beyond the specialization of their majors and pursue other subjects.

This discussion involved improvement of SCUE's preceptorial program, which offers non-credit courses in untraditional subjects. Several participants said they hoped to see the program expand to a period where normal classes were suspended and all students participated in preceptorial-style activities and trips.

"People were excited about the idea, but they threw out cautions as to whether such a program would actually work at Penn," Kopin said.

Within the next few weeks, participants will compile the ideas and issues discussed for the provost.

Some student participants agreed that creative ideas might make a difference at Penn.

"It was very solution oriented," College sophomore and Performing Arts Council representative Shayne Wagman said. "I think it was a good way to get people talking about issues at Penn."

Kopin said he has already discussed some of the ideas from the conference with members of SCUE at their weekly meeting.

"It was a rare chance for students to have a voice in direction," College sophomore and Civic House Associates Coalition co-Chairman Nick Roosevelt said. He said that it "really encouraged students to brainstorm and pick up practical ways that the University can change to address needs."

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