Divide among fields no longer black and white

When administrators say the future of academic departments is full of blurs, it's not because their crystal balls are foggy.

The blurring, they say, is the result of a budding trend among universities to bridge traditionally divided fields by creating interdisciplinary programs.

One way Penn has broadcast its commitment to interdisciplinary study is through the recent Penn Integrates Knowledge hiring initiative, in which professors receive full appointments in more than one of Penn's schools, providing them the means to pursue their studies from multiple angles.

So far, PIK officials have tapped almost one-third of the 18 professors they plan to hire, including Philippe Bourgois, whose appointment was announced last week.

School of Arts and Sciences Dean Rebecca Bushnell pointed out that some of the most interesting and pressing questions in academia dwell between the lines of conventional fields.

But Bushnell, and Penn itself, are not the only ones pursuing multi-field goals.

Earlier this month, Harvard University pledged $50 million toward the formation of a school-wide committee that will oversee interdisciplinary efforts in science.

And when Duke University unveiled its new strategic plan in September, improving interdisciplinary studies was named as one factor that would help to propel the university to greater distinction.

Other schools, like Dartmouth College, have similar interdisciplinary efforts in place.

Penn has "an excellent program, but they're not alone," Dorothy Porter, University of California-San Francisco School of Medicine chairman.

And with universities simultaneously looking to achieve the same goal, they often end up competing over a limited number of academic superstars.

Penn officials realize that competition is out there and hope that the allure of a full professorship is enough to sway prospects, said University Provost Ronald Daniels, who, along with Gutmann, holds the final approval for all PIK appointments.

"We're looking for people who are at the very pinnacle of their disciplines," Daniels said.

Though secondary appointments for these professors are common at other universities, at Penn, a PIK appointment is more than just a complimentary title, he added.

But despite this increased focus on interdisciplinary scholarship, some are unsure just how undergraduate students will benefit.

Michael London, the president of College Coach, an admission-counseling service, said that when applying to college, most applicants are unequipped to judge the quality of the faculty.

"On average, students care about the quality of the institution," London said.

In the meantime, Gutmann added that the University is currently working on the next PIK professor, but would not disclose any additional information.

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