Trustees talk OCR, Penn Park

The University's most-powerful decision-makers gathered at the Inn at Penn last week to discuss new issues affecting the school.

The 55-member Board of Trustees, led by chairman James Riepe and responsible for overall oversight of the school, met Thursday and Friday for its winter meeting, one of three annual conferences.

Six of the board's 11 committees, as well as Penn President Amy Gutmann and several other top administrators, convened to approve financial and faculty decisions and to weigh in on new projects and initiatives.

The Budget and Finance Committee, along with Gutmann and Executive Vice President Craig Carnaroli, gave updates on the school's financial conditions, focusing on a decrease in return on investment assets and overall endowment in the second half of 2008, the lowest tuition increase in 41 years and an increase in the financial aid budget to support its no-loans aid policy.

Revenues and expenses for the year were also up, though Penn is working to curtail expenses in anticipation of lower revenues.

The committee also resolved to authorize numerous classroom renovations and technology upgrades to various campus buildings, including Huntsman Hall and David Rittenhouse Labs.

The Development Committee announced that gifts to Penn were slowing due to the economy but that cash receipts are still strong.

Academically, former Provost Ron Daniels highlighted the launch of an international internship program to expand students' career opportunities, and the Academic Policy Committee spoke about increasing the hiring, promotion and retention of female faculty members.

Potential undisclosed conflicts of interest in grants received from the National Institutes of Health were also discussed by the Audit and Compliance Committee.

The Campus and Facilities Planning Committee unveiled plans for Penn Park, a $40-million, 24-acre project that will integrate athletic fields in a park-like setting.

The Student Life Committee discussed the need to re-examine Career Services in light of the economy, especially in relation to nontraditional career fields. Career Services also gave an update of salaries and employment numbers for the Class of 2008 and encouraged trustees to become involved in alumni outreach programs.

The External Affairs Committee described the school's efforts to spread information through "new media" sources like iTunes and YouTube.

Penn's efforts toward sustainability and its recent A-minus sustainability grade, as well as plans for Hub 3939 near campus, were discussed at the Neighborhood Initiatives Committee.

The board also marked appreciation for Daniels, who starts his tenure as president of Johns Hopkins University today, and the reappointment Afaf Meleis as Dean of the School of Nursing, among numerous other faculty appointments, leaves and promotions.

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