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Trustee Meeting Coverage

When the Trustees met on campus last month, they had a full slate of committee meetings that culminated in the Stated Meeting on Friday, February 20 where Dr. Amy Gutmann was elected to become Penn's next president effective July 1 (Almanac February 24, 2004).

The Trustees passed Memorial Resolutions for two long-time trustees, Samuel Ballam, Jr., EV '41, CGS '50, for whom the Ballam Board Room on the 21st floor of Penn Tower is named; and Reginald H. Jones, W '39, Hon '80, for whom the Reginald H. Jones Professorship of Corporate Management, and the Reginald Jones Center in Huntsman Hall, along with the Reginald H. and Grace Cole Jones Trustee Scholarship are named (see Deaths).

President Judith Rodin congratulated Pedro Ramos, vice president and chief of staff, as he embarks on his new position as the City Solicitor, and Senior Vice President Wendy White assumes the chief of staff duties in addition to her other responsibilities as General Counsel. Dr. Rodin said as a way of marking the 50th anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education, Penn will be holding a series of events, including Dialogues on Race (see Council coverage). She also noted that the Penn Alexander School has become a community resource with numerous evening activities and programs made possible with a grant from the William Penn Foundation.

Provost Robert Barchi noted the recent appointment of Dr. Janice Bellace who is now the associate provost, adding that she is "well-suited for this position." Dr. Barchi also said that the Law School's new faculty wing that opened in the fall was needed because their faculty has grown in recent years. The Law School's admit rate is now less than 15%.

Craig Carnaroli, senior vice president for finance, and treasurer, gave the financial report for the six months ending December 31, 2003.  He reported that total net assets for the consolidated University (academic and health system) increased $339.4 million to $5.668 billion. Total endowment is estimated at $3.86 billion, an increase of $310 million.

Dr. Arthur Rubenstein, EVP for UPHS, gave the Penn Medicine Report. He mentioned the community service outreach and the uncompensated medical care provided in excess of $175 million, and increased patient volume that produced a 12% increase in operating revenue compared to the prior year.

When Tom Ehrlich gave the Academic Policy report, he discussed the Middle State Accreditation process that has been completed recently and said that Penn needs "to enhance funding in graduate education." That remark prompted applause from the contingent of GET-UP supporters. The trustees approved a resolution to establish the position of academic clinician as a new track in the associated faculty of the Medical School.

Mr. John Clark, chair of Budget and Finance, presented eight resolutions pertaining to design and construction projects that will be done this coming summer: Harnwell College House renovation ($28.5 million); School of Nursing Education Building renovation ($8.15 million); installation of sprinkler and fire alarm systems in Hill College House ($3.95 million); Stouffer CHAS renovation ($2.6 million); Steinberg Conference Center elevator replacement  ($2.5 million); installation of sprinkler and fire alarm systems in Stouffer College House ($2.1 million); residence perimeter security--phase II ($1.85 million); SEAS Graduate Research Wing renovations ($1 million). There were also two resolutions to authorize refunding of long-term debt.

In the External Affairs Committee report, Andrea Mitchell said that the new home for WXPN and the World Café is on track to be completed by the end of 2004. She also said that Carol Scheman had given a Government Affairs update.                A new U.S. postage stamp commemorating the 2004 summer Olympics in Athens will depict a Greek runner from the UPM collection.

Mr. William Mack, chair of Facilities and Campus Planning, reported on the presentation by that had been given by architect Robert Stern for the McNeil Center for Early American Studies; and on the progress being made in the Translational Research Building which is slated for fall occupancy by the School of Medicine/GSK.

On behalf of the Neighborhood Initiatives Committee, Mr. Gil Casellas reported on the civic engagement revolving around the 40th Street Community Forum.

Mrs. Susan Catherwood, chair of Student Life, reported that 11 houses in the College House system are at full capacity, consisting mostly of freshmen and sophomores.

Mr. Howard Marks, reported that as for Investments, Penn is off to a good start in 2004.