DEENA GREENBERG

But the falling dollar hasn't stopped students from studying in Europe yet, according to director of Penn Abroad Geoffrey Gee.

Six years ago, Harvey Friedman received a call that would alter his entire medical career. The Merck and Gates foundations had partnered with the government of Botswana to make HIV medications available, and they needed his help to distribute and train people to administer anti-retroviral drugs.

For those who have been involved with Penn since the beginning of the ranking system, the University's increase reflects a major transformation within the school - although changes to the ranking criteria have played a role as well.

What college students need to learn is constantly changing, and universities are working to keep up with the times. Yale University instated changes to its distribution requirements for the class of 2009 and now requires students to venture abroad. Harvard University, for its part, recently released a proposal to revamp its own curriculum.

Drew Gilpin Faust is about to break new ground in Harvard University history, but her academic foundation was built deep in the stacks of Van Pelt library.

University presidents' paychecks are getting larger each year. And though her counterparts' salaries have been catching up over the last few years, Gutmann remains one of the most highly paid administrators among university leaders. In the 2004-2005 academic year, more than 100 presidents of four-year institutions received compensation packages of at least $500,000, a 53 percent increase from the previous year, according to a recent Chronicle of Higher Education survey.

University President Amy Gutmann echoed her commitment to remain Penn's president at yesterday's Board of Trustees meeting. "I will say it, and I will say it for the last time: I am absolutely committed to being Penn's president, and I am not interested in any other presidency," Gutmann said.

Penn President Amy Gutmann has named Gregory Rost vice president and chief of staff for her office, officials announced yesterday. Rost, currently the chief of staff at Temple University, will join Penn on Dec. 18. He will replace Joann Mitchell, who will assume the position of Vice President of Institutional Affairs.

University President Amy Gutmann made the list of about 30 leading contenders for Harvard University's next president, according to an article published yesterday in The Harvard Crimson.