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(12/11/97 10:00am)
Provost Stanley Chodorow will formally step down from his position as an administrator December 31. Provost Stanley Chodorow isn't exactly sure where he's going -- but he knows where he's been. If things work out for Chodorow, he will step down from his post at the end of the semester and head to the University of Texas at Austin as the school's next president. UT-Austin's Board of Regents will choose one of five candidates for the position next Tuesday. If he does not receive the job, Chodorow will likely remain at Penn as a full-time professor of medieval history. Whatever the outcome, Chodorow said he looks back fondly on his 3 1/2 years as provost, and the successes, frustrations and challenges to which he will bid farewell. In late October, Chodorow announced that he would resign as provost in order to pursue the Texas presidency. His desire to pursue the post came as no surprise. In the past year, Chodorow was a finalist for top posts at the University of Michigan, the University of California at Los Angeles and the University of Arizona -- coming up short each time. Last month, he was named as one of two finalists for the presidency of Tulane University in New Orleans, but he withdrew from the race, explaining that UT-Austin is "a better match." Looking back on his years at Penn, Chodorow said he would have been "more cautious" early in his career at the University, citing a comment he made in October 1994, soon after his arrival at Penn the previous July. "The problem with student representation is that many of them don't have much time," he said about students serving on undergraduate education committees. "It's not as if students are the best-organized people in the world." Then, in February 1995, Chodorow proposed a new University judicial system that contained several controversial provisions -- such as allowing the possibility of defendants never facing their accusers and the prevention of faculty advisers from speaking at hearings for students accused of conduct code violations. Although many students and faculty members objected strenuously to the charter -- eventually leading to those provisions being dropped -- Chodorow said Tuesday he "never understood those students' concerns." "The new system has worked fabulously," he said. "It doesn't rush to judgment and it's in the interests of the community to have a fair system of adjudication." Despite a rocky beginning, Chodorow said he will leave the University with a strong sense of pride about his contributions to the undergraduate experience. He referred specifically to projects such as the recently-released College House residential plan and the Foreign Languages Across the Curriculum and the Speaking Across the University projects that were implemented this year. If he had more time, Chodorow said he would have liked to develop more hubs for focused student groups on campus. Using the Kelly Writers House as a model, he said he would like to see hubs for community service, international programs and visual-arts groups at the University. Although Chodorow said he wishes he could have accomplished more, "you don't have to accomplish everything to accomplish a lot," he noted. During his final days as provost, Chodorow is overseeing a committee investigating officials' handling of star defensive tackle and fifth-year College senior Mitch Marrow's eligibility to play football. Once the four-member committee reports to him tomorrow or Monday, Chodorow will communicate its findings to the NCAA and the Ivy League. Chodorow's executive assistant Nancy Nowicki, who worked closely with him for more than two years, said she considers Chodorow to be "a fundamentally good person." "He has a deep curiosity for the way things work and how to make them better," she said. "The best thing about working for Stan is that he inspires the best in you." If he receives the Texas job, Chodorow will leave Penn in early spring and likely begin serving as president next fall, he said. "Otherwise, I presume I'll teach at least one course in the fall," he said. "I'll spend the spring doing research and starting ideas for courses." If he fails to get the UT-Austin job, will Chodorow pursue presidential appointments at the same time that he revitalizes his teaching career? "I won't seek anything out -- these things come to you," he said. "But if someone's interested, I'd of course consider that. "However, I enjoy my scholarship enough that if that's what I do for the rest of my life, that's fine with me," Chodorow added.
(12/08/97 10:00am)
At least 70 percent of the employees who applied were assured of jobs at Trammel Crow. Two months of anticipation and job insecurity ended for 147 University employees Saturday when they opened overnight packages containing either a job offer or a rejection letter from Trammell Crow Co. An October 8 agreement between Trammell Crow -- which will begin managing most University-owned buildings April 1 -- and the University required that at least 70 percent of the 147 employees who interviewed for positions receive job offers. Penn Executive Vice President John Fry and Trammell Crow officials were unavailable for comment on exactly how many employees received job offers from the real estate services company, the country's largest commercial-property manager. In addition to the employees offered jobs with Trammell Crow, a "small organization" of facilities workers will remain employed by the University, Fry told employees last week. He estimated that between 12 and 15 employees will serve in the division, in addition to two staff assistants and administrative support positions. Letters were sent to employees Friday afternoon via overnight mail from Trammell Crow's Dallas headquarters, according to the company's vice president for human resources, Hazel Lockett. All employees affected by the outsourcing will lose their positions with the University March 31. Employees have until Friday to accept or decline Trammell Crow's offers. Those employees who did not receive positions with Trammell Crow received "standard" letters terminating their jobs effective March 31, according to Lisa Prasad, executive director of the Penn's Office of the Executive Vice President. Those who did not receive a job with Trammell Crow will be offered job counseling and severance packages, Prasad said. University human resources representatives will meet individually with staff members who either did not receive offers or decided not to interview with Trammell Crow in order to offer them job counseling. The company conducted on-campus interviews for current employees from November 10 to November 24. Although employees received their individual notices Saturday, some continue to speculate about the fate of their co-workers. Employees will find out today which of their colleagues received offers from the company -- a scenario that will likely be "very, very awkward" for all employees, Physical Plant Director Lisa Karnincic said. Even assurances of job stability did not completely appease some employees. Receiving an employment offer from Trammell Crow did not make Karnincic's day, she said. When she begins to work for Trammell Crow, she will consider herself working for "just another company." "I was excited to work for Penn -- and I certainly liked the Penn benefits better," she said. "Now it'll just be any other job." Employee benefits under Trammell Crow have been a point of contention throughout the two-month-long debate over the deal. Employees' spouses will lose tuition benefits after next spring. Children's benefits will be extended indefinitely -- past the 2001 cutoff date set when the deal was announced -- at a cost of $4 to $5 million to the University. Also, the University and Trammell Crow will increase hired employees' base salaries to make up for any difference in medical and dental benefits after the transition. Systems Control Superintendent Richard Cipollone was one of the unspecified number of employees not offered a position. Cipollone and several other employees, including Karnincic, filed a lawsuit in late October against Trammell Crow and the University. The suit alleges that the University entered into the deal with Trammell Crow to avoid paying benefits to workers -- a violation of federal law. Cipollone said he probably did not receive a position because of his involvement in the lawsuit, adding that he may sue both the University and Trammell Crow. He would not elaborate on the possible legal action. The entire job application process struck Cipollone as "a joke." "I'm pissed," he said. "I was qualified for a position. Who can be more qualified to do your job than you?" Cipollone said he applied for six positions -- all with titles different from his current one -- because he was not sure which one most closely resembled his current post. The reorganization process required changes in some job descriptions as Trammell Crow combines the University's Division of Facilities Management with University City Associates, Penn's for-profit real estate arm.
(12/05/97 10:00am)
Though the star athlete said Kuklick has long born a grudge against him, it isn't clear whether that plays a role in this crisis. In blaming long-standing animosity between himself and History Professor Bruce Kuklick for the professor's involvement in a controversy over academic eligibility, Penn football star Mitch Marrow revisited his 1996 suspension for plagiarism in Kuklick's class. But it isn't clear to what extent the details of that incident support Marrow's charges this week that anti-Semitism and a bias against athletes motivated Kuklick to push the plagiarism charge and the ineligibility question. A committee of academics is investigating the circumstances of Penn's potential violation of NCAA policy during this year's football season. Marrow, a fifth-year College senior, withdrew from two of his four classes at the beginning of the semester, relegating him to part-time student status and rendering him ineligible to participate in intercollegiate sports. Kuklick, the undergraduate History chairperson, and History Department head Lynn Lees reportedly advised first-year History Professor Beth Wenger not to grant Marrow an independent study that would have put him back at full-time status by the season's end. Marrow, a 6'5'', 285-pound all-Ivy defensive tackle and pro prospect, accused Kuklick of reporting the violation to The Philadelphia Inquirer "because I'm Jewish and a football player," linking the controversy to the plagiarism incident. Kuklick has declined to comment on either case, beyond stating that an Inquirer reporter contacted him first. In fall 1995, Kuklick charged Marrow with plagiarizing portions of a paper Marrow wrote on the Holocaust. Marrow, whose grandfather survived the Holocaust, denied the charge, and this week he said Kuklick had uttered anti-Semitic slurs in a discussion of the incident. But Penn's Judicial Inquiry Office found Marrow guilty of plagiarism, and an appeals panel of professors upheld the verdict. Marrow was suspended from school for the spring semester of 1996 as punishment. On Wednesday, Marrow claimed Kuklick pressed unfounded plagiarism charges against him and lobbied for punishment -- and still bears a grudge now -- because of bias. He also implied that the handling of the plagiarism incident was unusually harsh, due to Kuklick's influence, calling the professor panel a "kangaroo court" and disputing the JIO's findings. When a student is found guilty of plagiarism, though, sanctions are "typically a suspension lasting one or two semesters," according to Michele Goldfarb, director of the Office of Student Conduct, which replaced the JIO as the investigating agency for allegations of misconduct. The panel of professors is standard for cases involving academic integrity. But Kuklick has tried to "lash out and attack me in the papers, which is totally unjust," Marrow said. "I have to deal with a vigilante professor slandering my name and embarrassing my entire family," he said. Marrow said Kuklick was "outraged" at the course of the plagiarism investigation in 1995, and threatened to report the incident to the media unless it was resolved quickly. Kuklick has a history of hard stances on academic infractions, though. In 1990, he charged 10 students in one of his classes with cheating, after they turned in identical answers to take-home exam questions. All but one was found guilty, and the incident led Kuklick to become one of Penn's staunchest guardians of academic integrity. In the aftermath, however, he blasted athletics, fraternities and the Wharton School in an interview with The Daily Pennsylvanian, blaming those influences for creating a climate hostile to learning. Yesterday, Lees and other History faculty disputed Marrow's charges. Kuklick "has been the strongest supporter" of the Jewish history program, according to Wenger, who specializes in that area. "The fact that Marrow is Jewish was never brought up in the conversation" about Marrow's independent study, Wenger said. "The discussion was about the propriety or impropriety of granting such a request," she said. "Anti-Semitism is a baseless charge." In the next week, History professors and other Penn officials who may have played a role in the Marrow case will meet with a four-member committee appointed this week by Provost Stanley Chodorow. Veterinary Anatomy Professor Peter Hand chairs the investigative committee, which also includes Bernard Lentz, director of institutional research and analysis, Material Science Professor Wayne Worrell and Associate General Counsel Debra Fickler, who is an ex-officio member. In response to the media attention and ongoing investigation, football coach Al Bagnoli called a team meeting Tuesday to advise his players about how to approach this situation, according to junior defensive lineman Larry Rascoe. "Bagnoli straightened everything out for us," Rascoe said. "He just said, 'Don't believe everything you read and hear. Our side will come out, so just sit tight and keep a clear head'."
(12/04/97 10:00am)
University Council members bid farewell yesterday to Provost Stanley Chodorow, who delivered a "State of the University Address" at his last Council meeting before his resignation takes effect at the end of the semester. Chodorow told the Council that he will leave the University with "some regrets," but said his experience at Council meetings has been "instructive, uplifting and always interesting." In his address, Chodorow praised the recently announced plan to reorganize campus residences into 12 college houses. "We want to create a diverse, varied and rich living experience," he said. "The residential system will provide greater variety, preserve choice and a framework for physical renovations of all facilities." After Chodorow spoke, Executive Vice President John Fry announced that Trammell Crow Co. will take over management of all on- and off-campus buildings April 1, not March 1 as originally scheduled. Only five of the 160 staff members affected by the outsourcing of the facilities management department did not interview for jobs with Trammell Crow, Fry said. He added that staff members will know by December 6 if they will receive a job offer from Trammell Crow. Fry also updated Council members on the status of the Cornyn Fasano dining services study, explaining that the consulting firm's final recommendations will not be available until next semester. The group, which over the last year has been evaluating the state of dining at Penn, will make recommendations about ways to improve the University's $40 million campus food services and its dining facilities. University President Judith Rodin announced the structure of a committee that will examine the process for decision-making across the University. Creating the committee was recommended at a special Council meeting earlier this semester, after various campus groups complained that administrators failed to adequately consult the University community. The Council Steering constituency groups -- the Undergraduate, Graduate and Professional Student, Penn Professional Staff and A-3 assemblies -- will appoint representatives to the committee. Additionally, two administrators and three faculty members will sit on the committee. Each of these assemblies issued status reports to the Council at yesterday's meeting. And five Council committees -- Library, Student Affairs, Recreation and Intercollegiate Athletics, Communications and Safety and Security -- issued reports concerning their work during the 1996-97 year. Safety and Security Committee Chairperson Sean Kennedy explained that the group will be examining issues of education, crime statistics and bicycle safety. The committee concluded that the University's manner of reporting crime statistics is "reasonably comprehensive," despite federal and state investigations into Penn's definition of what constitutes on-campus crime.
(12/04/97 10:00am)
Provost Stanley Chodorow heads the committee that will examine the handling of the star athlete's status. A four-member committee supervised by Provost Stanley Chodorow began its investigation yesterday of the alleged cover-up of football star Mitch Marrow's academic ineligibility. Within the next 10 days, the committee, chaired by Chodorow and Anatomy Professor Peter Hand, will review the sequence of events surrounding Marrow's violation of NCAA eligibility policies. The committee will submit its findings to University administrators and the NCAA, and may recommend disciplinary action for officials involved. It will also evaluate Penn's broader system for monitoring athletes' eligibility. Other committee members include Bernard Lentz, director of institutional research and analysis, Materials Science Professor Wayne Worrell and Associate General Council Debra Fickler. Hand did not return phone calls yesterday. Fickler and Worrell refused to comment about any aspect of the investigation and Lentz was unavailable for comment. Although the Athletic Department released a statement Sunday that it would conduct its own investigation, Chodorow said Tuesday that he would head the committee, and University spokesperson Ken Wildes added that he is unsure why the Athletic Department ever said that it would oversee the investigation. The Provost's office is better suited to look into this matter of "academic concern," Chodorow said. "We wanted to make the investigation more arms-length from the Athletic Department," he added. While an investigation by ahletic officials is "normal practice in NCAA schools," Chodorow said Penn's Ivy League status makes it more reasonable for academic officials to look into the matter. Every department involved in the investigation ultimately reports to the provost. These include the Athletic Department, the Office of the College of Arts and Sciences and the Wharton and School of Arts and Sciences deans' offices. Chodorow -- who heads the committee, but does not sit on it -- will see the committee's recommendations first. He will be responsible for the decision about whether or not to fire anyone involved in the affair. The University could also voluntarily forfeit all of the five victories in which Marrow took part, dropping its season record from 6-4 to 1-9. Chodorow will then submit the recommendations to the NCAA and "probably" the Ivy League office, Wildes said. Once the NCAA sees the report, it will make its own decisions about whether sanctions should be imposed on the Athletic Department. Even if the University does not voluntarily forfeit its wins, the NCAA could force such a penalty. But Chodorow said earlier this week that such a harsh outcome is unlikely. "The NCAA has a well-established process with these kinds of things," he said. "It might propose a penalty -- but it is rarely as bad as recommending that all games must be forfeited." Wildes said he is unsure if the committee's recommendations will be made public, especially since some information might relate specifically to Marrow, making the release of personal details a violation of federal privacy laws. Earlier this week, Marrow's attorney Arthur Merion accused a University professor involved with the case of violating the Buckley Amendment by disclosing personal information about Marrow, including his grade point average, to the Philadelphia Inquirer, which broke the story.
(12/03/97 10:00am)
A committee will look into the Athletic Dept.'s handling of star Mitch Marrow's ineligibility. Provost Stanley Chodorow, rather than the Athletic Department, will head the committee investigating the circumstances surrounding the academic ineligibility of fifth-year College senior and football player Mitch Marrow. A statement released Sunday by the Athletic Department reported that the department would conduct its own investigation. But University spokesperson Ken Wildes said yesterday that the committee will be comprised of a representative of the general counsel's office and six or seven administrators and faculty members. The names of the committee members have not yet been released. Athletic Director Steve Bilsky and members of the faculty and administration have already met with Chodorow this week, Wildes said. He added that Bilsky is "absolutely comfortable" with this approach to the investigation. The committee -- which should conclude its investigation within seven to 10 days -- will review the sequence of events in the case. It might identify "infractions? recommend changes that should be made and? discipline that should be imposed," Wildes said. If the investigation finds intentional wrongdoing by the Athletic Department, a harsh penalty could force the team to forfeit many of its victories this season, dropping its record from 6-4 to 1-9. Additionally, the committee is charged with investigating the "broader scope of systems in place for monitoring eligibility and eligibility issues," he said. Until the investigation is complete, several questions about the motives behind the attempt to repair Marrow's eligibility so late in the season will remain unanswered and continue to spark campus-wide and national debate. Athletic officials refuse to talk before the investigation's conclusion about why and how they approached professors in two departments about arranging an independent study for Marrow, though some campus discussion has labeled the move an attempt to cover up Marrow's ineligible status. The investigation will also focus on the specific roles of officials including Associate Athletic Director Denis Elton Cochran-Fikes and Athletic Department Academic Coordinator Rob Koonce. The committee could determine that athletic officials tried to get special academic privileges for Marrow, a possibility that has revived a debate about the University's priorities on academics and athletics. The department's attempts to hurriedly arrange the course for Marrow set off warning bells last week about special treatment for athletes and misdirected academic advising. The story first appeared in The Philadelphia Inquirer Thanksgiving Day and was later picked up by The Associated Press, ESPN, CNN and several newspapers. High-ranking professors have criticized the Athletic Department's attempts to first secure an independent study from the History Department and then from the Legal Studies Department in the Wharton School. The request, granted by Legal Studies Professor Kenneth Shropshire, was eventually overturned. Marrow's decision in September to drop one of his three courses lowered him to part-time status, making him ineligible to play football. NCAA rules mandate that all student-athletes, except those in their final term before graduation, must maintain full-time status in order to compete in intercollegiate athletics. This is not the only case where the Athletic Department has overstepped its bounds in academics, History Department Undergraduate Chairperson Bruce Kuklick said. He said professors in his department have received several "inappropriate requests" from Athletic Department officials to make exceptions for student athletes. But several History professors said yesterday they had never been approached by athletic officials, except to check up on athletes' academic progress.
(12/03/97 10:00am)
University Council will convene its final meeting of the semester today, with most of the session focusing on year-end status reports by several of the advisory body's committees. Chairpersons of five University committees will present their 1996 year-end reports for discussion. No votes are on the agenda for the meeting, which is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. in the Quadrangle's McClelland Hall. Provost Stanley Chodorow will deliver his State of the University report in his last Council meeting as provost before he resigns December 31. This meeting will also mark the first full session in which a United Minorities Council representative has held a seat at Council. Last month, Council members voted to give the UMC the 16th undergraduate seat on the advisory body, ending a 3-year-long effort by the organization to gain representation. "There shouldn't be anything controversial that comes out of this meeting," Council Steering Committee and Faculty Senate Chairperson Vivian Seltzer said. Council members will hear the last of the 1996-97 status reports from the committees at tomorrow's meeting. "We wanted to have all the Council committee reports from last year completed before the end of the semester," Seltzer added. The personnel benefits committee will present a summary of its views on benefits redesign, including life insurance and health insurance, part-time benefits, paid time off and graduate tuition. It will also issue its overall report analyzing the benefits package. The NCAA recertification of Penn's intercollegiate athletic program will be in the Recreation and Intercollegiate Athletics Committee's report. The safety and security committee will report on its findings about campus safety over the past year. And the disability board committee will present statistics on University employees' disability plans. Among other items, the Student Affairs committee will discuss its finding from a survey of incoming Penn freshmen. Also on tomorrow's agenda, Executive Vice President John Fry will update Council members. And the chairpersons of the Steering Committee, along with the Graduate and Professional Student, Undergraduate, A-3 and Penn Professional Staff assemblies will deliver status reports to University Council today. Council members -- including administrators, faculty, staff and students -- meet monthly to discuss campus-wide issues in a public forum at Council meetings. They serve as an advisory body to the University's president and provost.
(12/03/97 10:00am)
Assistant to the President Steven Steinberg will serve as interim director of the University's 21st Century Project until the end of the academic year, temporarily filling a post vacated last July, officials announced yesterday. Steinberg will work closely with the as-yet-unnamed interim provost following Provost Stanley Chodorow's departure December 31. While serving as the project's interim director, Steinberg will also continue in his current position as executive director of the Penn National Commission on Society, Culture and Community. "The 21st Century Project is well in motion," Steinberg said. "I expect to continue the progress Chodorow has made and make sure others are coordinated and moving forward." In his post, Steinberg will oversee the project's academic initiatives, such as Foreign Languages Across the Curriculum, as well as the upcoming overhaul of residential life. The search for a permanent coordinator of the project is ongoing and should likely wrap up in the next six months, Chodorow said. Steinberg said he has not considered whether he would continue in the post for a longer time period, adding that he has "every reason to believe" the position will be filled permanently by June. But officials have had difficulty attracting a new coordinator since Susan Albertine left the University last July. In September, Chodorow appointed Julia Aguilar, coordinator of Spanish language instruction, to fill the academic post. But Aguilar declined the position one day later, citing "personal reasons." Steinberg's role as coordinator will differ from Albertine's, Chodorow said. "Albertine was more of a solo player," he said. "She did both coordinating and staffing jobs. [Steinberg] will mostly be the coordinator." Chodorow said Steinberg's involvement with next week's Penn National Commission conference prevented him from taking on the position earlier. "Had I been able to choose him at any time, I would have," Chodorow said. "He has been deeply involved with undergraduate education here and has all the characteristics necessary for someone in this job." The 21st Century Project is the University's broad academic initiative to incorporate research opportunities for undergraduates and to emphasize interdisciplinary study. It is part of the administration's larger Agenda for Excellence. Coordinating the project will bring Steinberg into contact with administrators, faculty and heads of undergraduate academic and residential advisory boards. "My job will be to be in touch with and meet with that whole set of people, making sure things don't fall between the cracks," he said. Steinberg has held administrative and teaching positions at Penn since 1978. He has worked closely with administrators on undergraduate education since 1986, when he coordinated the Council of Undergraduate Deans. Steinberg received a doctorate in philosophy from Penn in 1989 and also holds degrees from Columbia University and the University of Michigan. He specializes in 20th century European philosophy.
(12/02/97 10:00am)
The issue calls into question the balance of academics and athletics. An investigation into the Athletic Department's attempt to maintain a star football player's eligibility has not yet begun, but the controversy is already stirring up strong feelings on both sides of the academics versus athletics debate. Two top History professors have criticized the Athletic Department's efforts to arrange an independent study course for fifth-year College senior Mitch Marrow last week. The request came just before the team's final game of the season against Cornell. Marrow had dropped one of his three original courses in September, lowering him to part-time status. NCAA rules mandate that all student-athletes, except those in their final term before graduation, must maintain full-time status in order to be eligible to compete in intercollegiate athletics. Once Marrow, who is expected to graduate in May, became a part-time students, Athletic Department officials began searching for a way to raise Marrow's course load back up to three. After the History Department refused to grant the request, Athletic Department officials approached Legal Studies Professor Kenneth Shropshire, who agreed to oversee an independent study course for Marrow in his department in the Wharton School. University policy requires late course requests to be approved by the student's home school advising office. And although College advisor Diane Frey approved the request, College Dean Robert Rescorla overturned her decision, stressing the importance of making "decisions based on academic welfare and not on other grounds." History Department Chairperson Lynn Lees praised Rescorla's decision, which she said "sends the message that students on athletic teams cannot get special treatment." Rescorla said that late requests for independent study courses are usually not approved by the College office unless "there is sound academic justification," such as serious health problems or failing to register on time for ongoing independent study work. Neither condition applied to Marrow's situation. Although he was diagnosed with mononucleosis this fall, the illness only sidelined him for two football games. Rescorla stressed that Shropshire had indicated that Marrow had not even begun his course work. Rescorla said that he based his decision purely on academic grounds, although he wasn't sure "how this will play out in terms of our athletic policy." "I think this is being blown out of proportion," he added. Interim School of Arts and Sciences Dean Walter Wales said he "would have been very surprised" if any College department had granted the request under similar circumstances. The situation has raised questions about the Athletic Department overstepping its bounds to "pressure" professors to make "academically unwise" decisions, Lees said. The normal procedure for granting independent study courses is for a student to approach a faculty member and request further study on a topic of interest. In this case, representatives of the Athletic Department approached the academic departments, a "highly suspicious" act, according to Lees. This is not the first time the Athletic Department has become involved in academic affairs, Kuklick said. The Athletic Department has made several "inappropriate requests" to faculty members to make academic exceptions for athletes in the past, he said, adding that the History Department has received such requests "with some regularity." But Lees said she was unaware of specific requests because they would have been directed to individual faculty members. An internal investigation over the next seven to 10 days will examine the sequence of events in this particular case and review the University's policies on monitoring athletes' academic eligibility. Provost Stanley Chodorow said he is concerned that academic and athletic advising offices failed to communicate with each other regarding Marrow's eligibility. "We need a system that provides timely notice about possible violations," Chodorow said. "The breakdown of the system can be a disaster if you're a jock. "I am concerned that the advising system works well for all students and not just for athletes." Athletic Director Steve Bilsky said something positive can result. "If it turns out that we can learn from this to make communications better, then that's a side benefit of [the investigation]," he said. Frey explained that the College office does not usually communicate with the Athletic Department during the semester. As a result, the office would not know if a student had dropped to part-time status until the end of the semester. College Office Assistant Adviser Alice Kelley said her office only knows about a student's drop to part-time status "if the student comes to us." As the office's athletic eligibility officer, Kelley would have spoken with Marrow if he had come into the office after dropping the class.
(11/24/97 10:00am)
Jack Heuer, a long-time veteran of Penn's Human Resources Division, took over as the department's vice president last week, filling a post that has remained vacant since June 1996. Heuer served as its director of staff and labor relations for the past two years. He has worked in the division since 1982, holding positions in personnel and benefits and staff-labor relations. Heuer's familiarity with the division will help him adjust to the job, Executive Vice President John Fry said. "He's already started working and he already knows what to do," Fry said. "He's very skilled and has a lot of respect on this campus." "Human Resources deserves to have someone who's as experienced and credible as he is," he added. In his new position, Heuer will manage the division's 57 employees. He said he intends to focus on improving communication between several of its subdivisions, including training, compensation, employee relations and information management. Although officials considered candidates from both within and outside the University for the post, Fry said Heuer's experience in the department was a critical factor in his selection. "We wanted some stability and felt Jack would be effective because he knows what to expect," Fry said. Heuer -- who describes himself as "hard-working and honest" -- stressed that knowing the way the division interacts with the entire University community gives him an advantage from the outset. "I know the campus, I know the customers -- I don't have to re-invent Human Resources under a new vision," he said. Fry said Heuer's experience with staff and labor relations is also important given widespread "concerns about restructuring." In the past few years, University employees have had concerns about job stability after administrators restructured departments in efforts to cut costs and improve efficiency. These moves included the restructuring of the Purchasing Department last spring and the recent decision to outsource facilities management to Trammell Crow Co. Heuer said he intends to provide the Dallas-based company with "the best possible services" when it assumes the management of all on- and off-campus buildings this spring. Heuer's new post has seen much transition in the past several years. The last vice president, Clint Davidson, resigned in June 1996 to take a job at Duke University. Previously, the position was vacated in the summer of 1994 when William Holland left the University after two years in the office. John Gould held the interim position until Davidson's appointment in August, 1995. Heuer graduated from the University's Organizational Dynamics Program. He received his bachelor's degree in business administration, industrial relations and organizational behavior from Temple University in 1983.
(11/24/97 10:00am)
Stanley Chodorow will focus on earning the presidency at UT-Austin. Provost Stanley Chodorow withdrew his candidacy for the presidency of Tulane University yesterday, following interviews last week at the University of Texas at Austin, where he is also a finalist for the top post. Chodorow's visit to UT-Austin, where he participated in a two-day round of open interviews with the entire campus community, led him to decide that UT-Austin is "just a better match" for him. "I had a good visit to Austin and have withdrawn from the Tulane search," Chodorow said. "I came to the conclusion that my experience at Penn and [University of California at San Diego] is more [appropriate] to the opportunity at Texas than to the one at Tulane." The UT-Austin search will wrap up December 16, when the Board of Regents makes its final selection. One finalist -- Larry Faulkner, the provost at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign -- has yet to visit the campus. Chodorow announced October 31 that he would resign as Penn's provost at the end of the year. That announcement came in conjunction with the news that UT-Austin had selected him as one of five finalists for its top post. He will return to the UT-Austin campus next week for a final round of interviews with the Board of Regents. Unlike the Texas search, where state law requires that the names of candidates be publicly announced, the Tulane search is strictly confidential. Only the final choice of its president will be officially announced, Tulane search committee Chairperson Cathy Pearson said last week. But last week, a member of the Tulane search committee confirmed that Chodorow was one of two finalists for the open position. And Tulane's Board of Administrators planned to make a final decision on the school's next president by the end of this week. In light of Chodorow's withdrawal, Pearson refused to comment about whether the other candidate in the Tulane search will receive the appointment, or on when a final decision would be made. Chodorow's preference for UT-Austin rather than Tulane is reasonable given the relative size and prestige of the two schools, Education Professor Peter Kuriloff said. "Texas is one of the top universities in the whole country," Kuriloff said. "If you're going to be a president, you might as well be a president at one of the top places -- but Tulane ain't bad." Kuriloff added that in a presidential search, a candidate's decision of whether or not to pursue a certain school is based on a "very complicated calculus." "Who gets chosen has to do with a lot of factors and is so much a function of chance," he said. "Once you get into the final five or final three it has so much to do with a whole set of circumstances, including the intention of the candidate." Tulane Student Body President and search committee member Jeremy Shaffer also said he understands Chodorow's decision to withdraw as a finalist. "If he is more interested in UT-Austin than Tulane, it makes more sense for him to pursue things there," he said. Shaffer added that although the Tulane search committee had intended to make a decision by the end of this week, it is not "in any super rush" to make a final selection. "Our acting president isn't leaving until the end of our academic year," he said. "That gives us a lot of flexibility. We're looking for the best possible candidate and will do what it takes to get that person." Shaffer would not comment about the other candidate for the Tulane presidency. In previous presidential searches last year, Chodorow was passed over for positions at the University of Michigan, the University of California at Los Angeles and the University of Arizona.
(11/21/97 10:00am)
It now seems unlikely that a candidate will be found by the beginning of the spring semester. The 14 month-long search for a new dean for the School of Arts and Sciences will continue into at least the spring semester, administrators said this week. The SAS search committee had originally intended to select a new dean by last July, so that the replacement could assume the post at the beginning of this academic year. But search committee chairperson Douglas Massey said it's unlikely a candidate will be chosen even by the beginning of next semester. "It's not a terribly realistic hope to have someone by the beginning of the semester," he said. The committee will continue to forward lists of candidates to University President Judith Rodin "until the best candidate is found," Massey added. Interim Dean and Physics Professor Walter Wales said that if needed, he will continue his term until the end of the school year. But when asked if he would remain in the post beyond the spring if a new dean is not selected, Wales stressed that he hasn't "thought that far ahead." "I am assuming the search will be successful and that a new dean will be here by the beginning of July," he said. "But I would have been happier if the search had finished last year." Wales, who said he is eager to return to teaching full time, will instruct a Physics course next semester. He will also be responsible for selecting a replacement for outgoing College of Arts and Sciences Dean Robert Rescorla, who is stepping down from his administrative position at the end of the semester to return to teaching and research in the Psychology Department. The SAS dean search faced problems from the outset, including a "late start" following former Dean Rosemary Stevens' resignation in September 1996. "It was well along in the academic year before we could start to examine candidacies," Massey said. Originally, Rodin and Provost Stanley Chodorow would have selected the new dean. But Chodorow -- who announced his resignation October 31 -- will formally step down from his post at the end of December, several months before the committee expects to have found a new dean. "We hope the list will be available prior to Stan leaving," Rodin said. "But the interim provost will play a role if we haven't picked someone by then." Rodin added that earlier this fall, one candidate looked extremely promising. But she explained that the candidate was not selected because "he was not able to come as quickly as would make sense." In the meantime, the search committee will continue to "scour both internally and externally" to find promising candidates, Massey said. "We don't want to fill a position just to fill a position," Massey said. "We'll find the right candidate for the job -- if it's later, so be it." Other members of the search committee declined to comment, directing all questions to Massey. Wales began his tenure as interim dean in September 1996. He has served as interim dean twice before, in 1987 and in the summer of 1991. Last spring, Wales and Rescorla pledged to serve beyond their terms, both of which officially ended July 1. "The search will go on until we find the right person," Massey said.
(11/19/97 10:00am)
The provost travels today to the University of Texas at Austin, where he is also a presidential candidate. Provost Stanley Chodorow is one of two finalists for the presidency of Tulane University, in a confidential search expected to wrap up by the end of next week, according to a member of that school's search committee. Chodorow, who was also named one of five finalists for the University of Texas at Austin last month, will travel to Austin this afternoon for two days of open interviews with students, faculty and members of the Board of Regents. Regents will make a final decision early next month. Unlike the Texas search, where state law requires the release of all candidates' names, the Tulane search is "semi-confidential" and only a final decision will be officially announced, according to search committee Chairperson Cathy Pierson, a member of the school's board of administrators. Chodorow announced October 31 that he would resign as Penn's provost at the end of the year in order to pursue the presidency of another university. That announcement came in conjunction with the news that he was a finalist at UT-Austin. Though he indicated that he was also involved in other searches, he didn't say which ones. Last night, though, Tulane Student Body President and search committee member Jeremy Shaffer confirmed that Chodorow was "one of the two" finalists for the New Orleans-based school's top job. The Tulane junior added that Chodorow visited the school November 2-4 for a series of interviews with campus groups. Shaffer refused to comment about the other finalist, except to say that he had also been on campus for similar interviews. Tulane's Board of Administrators will make a final decision on the school's next president by the end of next week, at the latest, Shaffer said. But Chodorow said yesterday he was unsure when a final decision would be made, adding that "they don't give us that much information." "I really don't have any idea what's happening there," he said. "I'm not the last person visiting." The seven-member search committee at Tulane narrowed a list of more than 100 candidates down to two October 25, Shaffer said. The Tulane search began last March, when former Tulane President Eamon Kelly announced his retirement. As for the Texas job, Chodorow will return to Austin once more after this week's interviews, to meet with members of the Board of Regents. Breakfast with community leaders and alumni and a lunch with academic deans are among the meetings on Chodorow's schedule tomorrow. He will meet with groups of students, faculty and staff representatives during the afternoon. And in the evening, Chodorow will attend a dinner with Acting President Peter Flawn, search committee Chairperson and Board of Regents member Lowell Lebermann and UT-Austin Chancellor William Cunningham. Friday's meetings include several interviews with vice presidents and an interview with a reporter from The Daily Texan, the school's student newspaper. Chodorow will leave Austin Saturday afternoon. Although campus groups can make recommendations to the Board of Regents, the final decision is up to the board, Lebermann said this week. And because the search committee did not rank its preferences when it identified the top five finalists -- out of an initial list of more than 100 -- members said it is impossible to identify a front-runner. In previous bids for university presidencies during the past year, Chodorow was passed over for positions at the University of Michigan, the University of California at Los Angeles and the University of Arizona.
(11/17/97 10:00am)
Provost Stanley Chodorow heads to Austin Thursday to interview for the presidential post at the school. As one of the top five contenders for the presidency of the University of Texas at Austin, Provost Stanley Chodorow will travel to the school Thursday for an intense two-day round of open interviews with the campus community. Chodorow resigned from his post at Penn October 31 -- just as he was named as a finalist for the vacant presidential seat at UT-Austin. He will formally step down as provost at the end of December, whether or not he receives the job as president. This UT-Austin visit will mark Chodorow's third trip to the campus. He will meet with student groups, faculty, staff and deans. He will also spend considerable time with the nine members of the university's Board of Regents. The Board is due to select a president by mid-December, according to Regent and search committee chairperson Lowell Lebermann. "All the constituencies on the campus will have a chance to visit with him and he with them," Lebermann said. "These are pretty standard kinds of campus visits." Chodorow will return to the UT-Austin campus the first week of December for a final round of interviews with the Board of Regents. Although various campus groups will make recommendations about the candidates to the Board of Regents, the Board has the final say in the decision, Lebermann said. This stage of the search is being conducted publicly because Texas law requires that the finalists' names be released at least 21 days before the final decision. Two finalists have already completed their open round of campus interviews. Shirley Strum Kenny, president of the State University of New York at Stony Brook and Richard Sisson, Ohio State University's vice president and provost, participated in the interviews last week. University of Wisconsin at Madison Provost John Wiley will be at UT-Austin today and tomorrow and Larry Faulkner, provost at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, will travel to Austin November 23-25. While visiting UT-Austin, Kenny spoke extensively about increasing the campus' diversity. "There is no way that a university can be a great university if students leave not feeling comfortable within a diverse environment," she told students, according to UT-Austin's Daily Texan. Four of the five finalists for the presidency are university provosts. Such a ratio is not unusual because many provosts aspire to be university presidents, according to UT-Austin Chemistry Professor Allen Bard, who serves on the 17-member search committee that chose the five finalists. "There's no guarantee that a good provost will be a good president, but chances are that's the best person to look for," Bard said. In previous bids for top university posts in the past year, Chodorow was passed over for positions at the University of Michigan, the University of California at Los Angeles and the University of Arizona. His inability to secure a position "hasn't helped or hurt his chances at Texas," Bard said. "He is experienced in university administration and he impressed the committee with his knowledge and personality," Bard said. "His proven track record in administration is important to us." UT-Austin English Department Chairperson Tom Staley, who also served on the search committee, said the committee was impressed with Chodorow's depth of experience in higher education. "He obviously has a very perceptive view of the state of higher education today," Staley said. "The committee felt he recognized the dominant issues in higher education, and had exhibited leadership qualities." Because the search committee did not rank their preferences when they identified the top five finalists -- out of a list of more than 100 -- it is impossible to identify a front-runner in the search, Staley said. Chodorow was unavailable for comment yesterday. Previously, he said he would accept the presidency if offered the position.
(11/13/97 10:00am)
After a three-year effort, the United Minorities Council won a seat on University Council. Ending three years of debate, the United Minorities Council finally won its long battle to gain representation on University Council yesterday, as the advisory body voted to give the UMC a 16th undergraduate seat. With 36 Council members in attendance at yesterday's meeting -- the bare minimum necessary to vote on the issue -- the membership voted strongly in favor of adding the UMC's voice to Council discussions. "I am ecstatic and glad the issue is finally resolved," said UMC Chairperson and College senior Tope Koledoye. "This can only be seen as a step towards greater governance." Thirty members voted for the resolution, with two abstaining. The only votes against it came from four Undergraduate Assembly representatives. The UA currently holds the 15 other undergraduate spots on Council. Some UA members said they considered the new UMC seat a sign of the breakdown of student democracy, calling for the UMC to elect members to the UA rather than directly to Council. "I love the democratic system," said UA Chairperson Noah Bilenker, a College junior. "It bothers me that it would fail so much as to have to place another seat on Council." But Communications Professor Larry Gross said the new seat does not reduce Council's effectiveness as a democratic body. Instead, adding a UMC seat would help to pull together "a wide variety and diversity of opinions," he said. UA Vice Chairperson and College junior Samara Barend said she voted against the resolution for a different reason -- concern about the possibility of other student groups requesting Council representation in the future. "I have no problems with the UMC having a seat on Council -- if the Council had set specific procedures for how other groups would be able to get seats," she said. Monday, the Undergraduate Assembly voted against a resolution to support adding a UMC seat to Council. But the vote at Council was split among UA members, with four voting in favor it and four coming out against it. With the approval of another undergraduate seat, other campus groups might begin to petition for a spot on Council -- and many at the meeting said they would be willing to consider further requests. UA member Meredith Hertz, for example, said she would support "any other student group that feels underrepresented." Before spring 1994, the UA unofficially allowed a UMC member to occupy one of its 10 Council seats. But that April, as Council increased the UA representation to 15 students, the body determined that the unofficial seat was a violation of Council bylaws stating that only UA members may fill the UA's seats. Although a vote on a seat for the UMC was on the agenda at last April's meeting, Council failed to meet the quorum necessary for a binding vote. Since then, Council -- which frequently suffers from low attendance -- lowered the minimum amount necessary for quorum from a majority to 40 percent. The amendment has allowed for resolution of several long-standing debates. Heated discussion at yesterday's meeting also focused on ongoing concern about the effect the new Barnes & Noble bookstore will have on independent area booksellers. Council members voted to reject a recommendation by the bookstore committee to require University professors to list their textbooks on-line, which might allow a Barnes & Noble monopoly. Also at the meeting, University President Judith Rodin highlighted progress on the Agenda for Excellence in her annual State of the University address. "We have made a remarkable amount of progress in academics," she said. "Every step we take? supports this academic mission." Referring to slides during her presentation, Rodin praised the accomplishments of this year's freshman class, noting that this year's early decision application pool was the largest in the school's history. Rodin also updated Council members on undergraduate and graduate academic programs and expanding research facilities -- such as the recently unveiled Institute for Advanced Science and Technology building. She also commented on plans to improve student life, ranging from the Perelman Quadrangle project to ResNet wiring. And amidst criticism that administrators did not adequately consult the University community before deciding to outsource facilities management to Trammell Crow Co., Rodin stressed that "we need to wrestle between the right balance of decisiveness and consultation."
(11/12/97 10:00am)
At least 40 percent of Council must attend to make the vote binding. By this afternoon, the long-standing debate over whether the United Minorities Council will finally get a seat on University Council will be over -- that is, if enough Council members show up to vote on the proposal. Adding a UMC representative to Council -- a three-year long effort for the student organization -- is one of the agenda items for today's University Council meeting, scheduled for 4 p.m. in the Quadrangle's McClelland Hall. "I look forward to Council's deliberations tomorrow," University President Judith Rodin said. If approved, the UMC would receive a 16th undergraduate seat on the advisory body. The Undergraduate Assembly currently holds 15 spots. At last April's meeting, Council failed to meet the quorum necessary for a binding vote. But last month, in an effort to make reaching a quorum easier, the advisory body lowered the percentage of University Council members necessary to constitute a quorum for voting. Even if enough members show up at the meeting to vote, it is unclear whether adding a UMC seat will receive the necessary support from Council members. On Monday, the Undergraduate Assembly voted against a resolution to support adding a UMC seat to University Council, although that does not mean that the 15 UA representatives will vote against the UMC seat. And although last year's Council appeared to support adding the seat, Rodin emphasized that this year's Council members will not treat the issue as "an old agenda item." "This year's Steering Committee believes there ought to be a full conversation," she explained. Prior to spring 1994, the UA unofficially allowed a UMC member to occupy one of its 10 Council seats, complete with voting privileges. But that April, as Council increased the UA representation to 15 students, it also decided that the unofficial seat violated Council bylaws, which state that only actual UA members may fill the UA's seats. Although the UMC issue is likely to be the most hotly contested one at today's meeting, the session will also feature Rodin's yearly State of the University Report. Rodin said she will address the issue of administrative consultation of the campus community, following recent charges that officials failed to consult enough members of the University before signing a letter of intent last month outsourcing facilities management to Trammell Crow Co. "There has been great focus on this particular issue and people's concern about the consultative process," Rodin said. "The issue of consultation and its role in the community is one which I take seriously." Additionally, the chairs of the Steering Committee and Graduate and Professional Student, Undergraduate, Penn Professional Staff and A-3 assemblies will give status reports. Other proposed changes to Council bylaws include the addition of faculty to the committee on Open Expression and the addition of A-1 and A-3 assembly staff members to the Disability Board. And Council will vote on a Steering Committee recommendation to abolish the Student Fulbright Awards Committee. The Council's Bookstore and Facilities committees will also issue reports. Council members -- including administrators, faculty, staff and students -- meet monthly to discuss campuswide issues in a public forum. They serve as an advisory body to the University's president and provost.
(11/11/97 10:00am)
University Board of Trustees Chairperson Roy Vagelos donated the money for an undergraduate program in molecular life sciences. University Board of Trustees Chairperson Roy Vagelos and his wife, Diana, once again showed their commitment to Penn yesterday, as they pledged $10 million to create a new undergraduate program in molecular life sciences. The announcement came in conjunction with the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Vagelos Laboratories for the Institute for Advanced Science and Technology -- made possible by another $10 million contribution from the Vageloses in 1995. Beginning next year, the program will allow College of Arts and Sciences students to participate in an interdisciplinary program combining chemistry and physics with biology, biochemistry, genetics, neuroscience and other subjects. "This is a magnificent affirmation of Roy's belief in the value of a cross-disciplinary educational program in the life sciences, which will enable Penn to attract the very best undergraduate science students," University President Judith Rodin said. Course study will provide students with the "nuts and bolts of what's necessary to understand biology," Vagelos said. Next fall, 10 students will be designated as Vagelos Scholars. The scholars will have an opportunity to work in laboratories in the School of Arts and Sciences as well as the University's Medical, Veterinary and Dental schools in order to receive "integrated research experiences," Rodin said. The Vagelos Scholars Program will provide the students with financial aid, as well as stipends for support of summer research projects. "Students who participate in this program will not only have an advanced science curriculum, they will also participate in research at Penn during the summer, giving them the kind of first-hand experience that makes for an excellent science education," College Dean Robert Rescorla said. Increasing undergraduate research opportunities has been a focus of the administration's since the beginning of the 21st Century Project on undergraduate education in 1994, and is a major component of the Agenda for Excellence strategic plan put forth by Rodin. The new program will also complement the added research opportunities provided by the new IAST building. "Yes, we need new space, but we also need to support student programs -- this is a way to couple the two," Vagelos said. The program will act as a recruiting tool to encourage students interested in science and research to attend the University, Provost Stanley Chodorow said. "This program will have a wonderful effect on recruiting students," Chodorow said. "It will change the mix of students who come to Penn." Interim SAS Dean Walter Wales called the creation of the program "unmatched." "It's a wonderful thing for the school and for undergraduate research," Wales said. "It will attract students here that might not otherwise have come here." The Vagelos Scholars Program is "an enormous creative addition" to existing interdisciplinary programs like the International Studies and Business and Management and Technology programs, Vice Provost for Research Ralph Amado said. The program, approved by the College Curriculum committee, awaits SAS approval, Rescorla said. Vagelos, who majored in Chemistry as a Penn undergraduate, is the former chairperson and chief executive officer of Merck & Co. Inc., a pharmaceutical and health care company.
(11/10/97 10:00am)
The approval finalized Penn's decision to outsource facilities management to the firm. The University Board of Trustees approved the plan to outsource facilities management to Trammell Crow Co. in a unanimous vote Friday, bringing a quiet end to a month of angry outcry and campus-wide debate about the deal. The vote finalized the administration's October 8 decision to hand over management of Penn's approximately 10 million square feet of buildings to the company effective March 1. The University and Trammell Crow will sign a definitive contract by December 8. Trustees expressed their faith in the administration's decision. "The business of the University is teaching, education and research," Board of Trustees Chairperson Roy Vagelos said. "Outsourcing is something that is being done throughout America today? Our operation will be improved." During the Budget and Finance committee meeting Friday morning, Executive Vice President John Fry said the deal will save the University between 5 and 15 percent -- including 20 percent on construction costs -- on facilities management expenses. The department's budget currently stands at about $100 million. Several campus groups, however, had urged Trustees to reject the deal because of concerns that the small group of administrators that oversaw the deal failed to adequately consult members of the University community. "People who are in no way, shape or form directly affected by the situation are extremely concerned, extremely afraid and aware of an extremely divisive situation in the campus community," Graduate and Professional Student Assembly Vice Chairperson for Policy Matthew Ruben said. He added that the approval indicated that "the Trustees are comfortable with the deal" while "a large part of the campus community is not." In an effort to stop the deal from going through, a group of University employees sued Penn and Trammell Crow October 24 in federal court, alleging that the deal's goal was to avoid paying benefits to the workers. Campus outcry climaxed with employees' "Save Our Jobs" rally on College Green last Thursday. Many employees not directly affected by this deal said they fear that future outsourcing of departments such as Dining Services may be handled in a similarly secretive manner. University President Judith Rodin would not comment about whether the consultative process would be opened up in the future. But officials maintain that closed discussion of the Trammell Crow deal was both necessary and appropriate, explaining that consulting facilities managers would have compromised the objectivity of the deal. "I challenge anyone to tell me how we can negotiate the kind of consultative letter of intent that we negotiated in full public view," Fry told the Budget and Finance committee. With the approval finalized, the approximately 180 employees affected by the deal have begun to brace themselves for upcoming changes. Fry reported that about 158 University employees signed up for interviews with Trammell Crow beginning this week. Among those who have signed up for an interview is Physical Plant Executive Director Jim Wargo, who said he must "apply for a job like everybody else." The deal stipulates that Trammell Crow must hire a minimum of 70 percent of the 180 employees affected by the outsourcing. The Dallas-based company will interview employees this month and send out offers by December 5. Employees' spouses will lose tuition benefits after next spring, Fry said. Children's benefits will be extended indefinitely -- past the 2001 cut-off date set when the deal was first announced -- at a cost of $4 million to $5 million to the University, Fry added. And current employees rehired by the company will have their base salaries increased to make up for any differences in medical and dental benefits after the transition, Fry said. The University struck the deal -- hailed as a landmark agreement -- in an effort to simultaneously cut management costs and improve services. Trammell Crow will help hold down campus construction costs and respond to maintenance requests faster, Penn officials said last week. The company already manages Penn's for-profit real estate firm, University City Associates. For the new deal, it will form a new division, Trammell Crow Higher Education Services, and will move its regional headquarters to University City, creating 30 jobs for area residents. The University will pay Trammell Crow at least $5.25 million each year to manage the properties, but the company will give Penn $26 million up-front and another $6 million later for helping it start its higher education venture. Daily Pennsylvanian staff writer Scott Lanman contributed to this article.
(11/10/97 10:00am)
Council's recommendation against outsourcing did not sway Trustees' decision to OK the agreement. University Council's recommendation that University Trustees reject the decision to outsource facilities management to the Trammell Crow Co. failed to sway the final decision, as Trustees voted unanimously to approve the deal Friday. At a rare special session last Wednesday, Council members passed a resolution by at least a three-to-one margin asking the Board of Trustees to reject the deal. "I think that the purpose of the resolution by those who proposed it was to send a message to the Trustees -- which I'm sure they heard," University Council Steering Committee Chairperson Vivian Seltzer said. "But clearly it did not have the impact the people who voted for the proposition had hoped it would have," she added. About 50 members -- more than half of Council -- and 60 non-members attended the special session. The large showing underscored the importance of the issue to members of the University community. But because a vote on the deal was already on the agenda for the Trustees meetings, many Council members believed the session was held too late to change the outcome of the Trustees' decision. Once items appear on the Trustees meetings agenda, they are usually "pro forma [basically a formality]," Jason Horger in the University Secretary's office said last week. Instead, the meeting focused on changing the way similar situations are handled in the future, Council Steering Committee member and Communications Professor Larry Gross said. "The real point is to set the tone for the next kind of major decisions -- this one was too far along to make a difference," Gross said. "This had to do with the conduct of future discussions and future considerations in terms of the consultative process." "The earlier Council gets involved, the more it can have an effect," he added. "In this case, constituencies that are represented in University Council were not given adequate time to consider these issues." University administrators have come under fire recently for their tight-lipped negotiations before the October 8 announcement of the decision to outsource facilities management to the company. Various groups have expressed concern that future outsourcing of University divisions such as Dining Services might be handled just as secretively. The Council meeting gave student groups and other concerned members of the University community a chance to express concern about the University's handling of the negotiations. Council voted to form a committee dedicated to examining "the problems that have been raised about the consultative process." Discussion in upcoming Council meetings will determine the structure of this committee, said Seltzer, who also chairs the Faculty Senate. Because it is rare for the Trustees to vote against proposals by the administration, Council members hope this direct appeal to the administration will allow them more influence in future outsourcing decisions. Gross added that Council's appeal last week to the Trustees to intervene in "internal University discussions" might not be the most effective way for the advisory body to function. "In many cases, it's important for the Trustees to be prevented from intervening -- these are matters that should be discussed widely but internally," he said.
(11/07/97 10:00am)
The United Way and the Center for Responsible funding were both hired. Not one, but two groups will manage the University's annual charity drive this year in a "side-by-side" campaign administrators hope will maximize employee choices and placate both sides of a long-standing debate. The United Way -- which managed last year's campaign -- and the local, independent Center for Responsible Funding will run separate campaigns, allowing employees to donate to their favorite charities. The Center funds several agencies -- including the Bread and Roses Community Fund, the Catholic Charities Appeal, the Environmental Fund for Pennsylvania and the United Negro College Fund -- not supported by the United Way. Many employees complained that the decision to let United Way handle last year's campaign prevented them from donating to their favorite charities because the United Way limits the range of choices to its member agencies. The Center would have allowed donations to any group, but if the University had hired the Center exclusively, United Way would have charged a fee for any donations targeted to United Way members, according to Executive Vice President John Fry. Since the Center would have charged a fee for handling the campaign, Penn would have paid twice for donations to United Way members. "While we chose the United Way so as to minimize administrative fees to United Way participants, we chose the Center to manage the partner organizations campaign," Fry wrote in an e-mail yesterday to University employees. The Center for Responsible Funding, however, manages Philadelphia's city-wide charity campaign -- and the United Way does not levy a double charge in that campaign, said Center Director Nan Langen Steketee. United Way officials were unavailable for comment yesterday. Fry said he "can understand the United Way's decision" to double-charge. "They'll waive the fee for the city campaign -- maybe because they consider it a civic obligation," he said. "But they wouldn't do it for us, and I respect their policy." And Penn's Way campaign coordinator Barbara Murray said "the most prudent and wisest financial decision was to let each agency fund their own groups and charge their separate fee." Independent of the double-charging issue, the decision makes sense because a "vast majority of Penn employees donate to the United Way," Fry said yesterday. This year, several University employees were included in the decision process. Administrators hoped consulting with employees would avoid the controversy surrounding last year's campaign. That campaign -- which ran last November and December -- raised only $230,029, a sharp decrease from the $304,386 raised in a similar time span in 1995 and the $406,580 raised in 1994. This decrease may be partly due to many employees' refusal to donate in protest of the University's failure to consult them in the decision. But this year's shared campaign may bring some of those donations back. Women's Studies Program Co-Director Demie Kurz said she would consider reinstating her donations "if the two groups are really equal." She began donating directly to the Woman's Way organization -- which is funded by the Center -- after officials outsourced the campaign last year. But Physiology Professor Martin Pring said he is "disappointed" about the decision, adding that he would have preferred to see the Center receiving the entire campaign. With the campaign's start date approaching, administrators had felt pressure to finalize the issue. This year's campaign will begin in early December and conclude by winter break.
