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Business Services Update
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July 14, 2009, Volume 56, No. 01

Penn’s Business Services Division (BSD) provides the leadership, business practices, facilities, and services needed to develop and maintain a hospitable, fiscally responsible, customer-friendly campus environment.  Our mission is to provide high-quality service in a fiscally-responsible manner and our vision is to continually set the standard within each of our operating units. Please take note of the following updates to some of our services and promotions benefiting the Penn community in the upcoming year.

—Marie Witt, Vice President, Business Services

Parking Rates for 2009-2010

Effective September 1, 2009, the following rates are available to faculty and staff of the University and Health System: 

Monthly

Weekly

HUP  Bi-weekly

Permit Class

Description

$147.35

$36.85

$73.68

Class A

Campus Parking

  $95.00

$23.70

$47.42

Class B

Remote Parking

  $47.00

$11.75

$23.60

Class C

Evening/Weekend

This year’s rate increase is the lowest increase in the past five years and is necessary to cover the rising costs of garage and surface lot improvements and other deferred maintenance. We are supporting the University’s commitment to sustainability with two initiatives: (1) adding new recycling cans in the lobbies of our major parking garages; and (2) replacing inefficient light bulbs currently used in most of our facilities with efficient bulbs to support the University’s energy conservation efforts.

Parking fees include the City of Philadelphia’s 20 percent parking lot tax. University rates are 20 percent lower than comparable lots and garages located in University City. Permit rates are an average of $7.07 per working day; daily parking in one of Penn’s lots or garages average $15 a day.  University and Health System faculty and staff have the option to pay their parking fees through automatic payroll deduction on a pre-tax basis.

Please inform the Parking Office of any changes to your parking information at all times. All communications will be sent to the e-mail address you provided to Penn Parking. Visit Click-n-Park at www.upenn.edu/parking or www.upenn.edu/u@penn.

Event Parking Arrangements

If you plan to host an event on campus and will need parking for your guests, please contact the Parking Office at (215) 898-8667 to make arrangements in advance to ensure that parking will be available.

Alternative Modes of Transportation

Incentives to current permit holders who choose to use alternative modes of transportation for the duration of the South Street Bridge Project can be found at www.upenn.edu/parking. This will help to relieve traffic congestion and allow easier access to campus and the Health System for emergency vehicles, patients, families and visitors, plus also supports Penn’s commitment to sustainability and lowering the University’s carbon footprint.

SEPTA Commuter Pass Program/COMPASS

Penn provides SEPTA, monthly TransPasses and TrailPasses at a 10% discount through payroll deduction, with pre-tax up to $230 per month. Full-time Penn faculty and staff are eligible. Visit the Parking Office to apply.

TransitChek®

Permanent part-time and full-time employees of the University of Pennsylvania who are not participating in the parking permit program are eligible to purchase TransitCheks® up to $230 through payroll deduction on a pre-tax basis. The following regional transit providers participate in the TransitChek® program: SEPTA, Dart, NJ Transit, Amtrak, and PATCO. Parking also offers up to $230 through payroll deduction on a pre-tax basis through the PATCO Freedom Card. Please call the Parking Office for information.

Good Bye to Junk Mail!

Penn Mail Services, in partnership with the United States Postal Services, is eliminating the delivery of unsolicited standard mail: mail order catalogs, brochures addressed to “occupant” or “resident” or do not have an official campus address. Approximately 35% of inbound mail delivered weekly is discarded in recycling containers or held for pickup by Penn Mail Services’ carriers. This creates unnecessary waste and effort across the campus and slows the delivery of important first class mail, magazines, periodicals and professional trade publications addressed to individuals or to a specific department and accountable mail requiring a signature. This change is part of an ongoing effort by Penn to improve service, reduce costs and support the University’s sustainability efforts.

Bringing Visitors to Penn?  Summer Hotel Savings!

The Hilton Inn at Penn and the Sheraton Philadelphia University City Hotel are offering special discounts in July and August for customers having their charges directly billed to a University budget. The Penn rate will be decreased to $189 (from $209) for the Inn at Penn and to $150 (from $180) for the Sheraton.

Effective September 1, 2009, the rates will return to FY09 levels with no increase for FY10. The Penn Tower rate will remain at $145. Please direct all questions to (215) 823-6240 for the Hilton Inn at Penn and (215) 387-8000 ext 606 for the Sheraton Philadelphia University City hotel.

PennCard Rate Increased for Guest, Visitor and Associate Cards

The PennCard Center in the Division of Business Services will continue to issue first cards to regular University faculty, students and full-time staff at no cost to the cardholder or home department.  Effective August 1, 2009,  the cost of a PennCard for other cardholders, including guests, visitors, and associates, as well as replacements for lost cards, will increase from $20 to $25. If you have any questions, please contact the PennCard Center at 215-417-CARD or check our website at www.upenn.edu/penncard http://www.upenn.edu/penncard

Faculty/Staff Directory: Electronic!

Business Services has partnered with ISC to provide an electronic alternative for the Faculty/Staff Telephone Directory eliminating the need to produce a printed book. ISC is developing an online application for the Directory’s organizational listings (Blue Pages) anticipating a fall implementation, approximately the same time that the printed directory would be delivered. More information will be available in early fall. For questions send e-mail to: online-directory@ISC.upenn.edu

Faculty and staff should continue to use the online update feature at www.upenn.edu/directories to revise directory information year-round. You will need your PennKey (see www.upenn.edu/computing/pennkey). We encourage new staff members to review their record after they have obtained a PennCard and PennKey.

Bon Appétit: Penn Dining Partner

Penn Dining has partnered with Bon Appétit Management Company as the new food service provider on campus. Bon Appétit is a pioneer in environmentally sound sourcing policies and is known for its culinary expertise and sustainable purchasing practices, furthering Penn’s commitment to sustainability. Bon Appétit at Penn Dining will provide fresh, healthful and flavorful meals to the entire Penn community in the dining halls and through campus catering services. At each Penn dining location, the food will be prepared by a professionally-trained chef and culinary team who cook meals from scratch every day using fresh, seasonal ingredients. Penn diners will find a wide variety of menu items at each location, including vegetarian and vegan items. Another unique benefit of this culinary approach is the flexibility and responsiveness Bon Appétit at Penn Dining can provide to special dietary needs. There will also be a registered dietitian on staff to provide additional nutrition support for customers.

Computer Connection Sale

Penn faculty, staff and students are eligible to take advantage of significant educational discounts on Apple, Dell, Lenovo and Microsoft products during Penn Computer Connection’s Back-to-School Sale, happening now throughout the summer months. Details of the sale can be found in the sale brochure mailed to the Penn community in early June. For more information, visit the Computer Connection showroom at 3610 Sansom Street or download the brochure from www.upenn.edu/computerstore.

Penn’s Children’s Center: Rates for 2009-2010

Penn Children’s Center (PCC) accepts applications year-round for infants, toddlers and children of preschool age. Enrollment for all ages is subject to space availability. 

PCC, located at the Left Bank complex at 3160 Chestnut Street, serves children ages 12 weeks through five years. Assisted rates are available to regular University employees that meet eligibility requirements, subject to space availability and funding. (These rates are not currently available to UPHS employees.)  Part-time slots and sibling discounts are also available. Please contact Natalie Subeh, executive director, at (215) 898-5268 for additional information or to arrange a tour. You can also visit the Center’s web page: www.upenn.edu/childcare.

July 2009

5 days

4 days

3 days

2 days

Infants-Penn

$334

$294

$244

$167

Infants-Regular

$369

$323

$267

$180

Toddlers-Penn

$290

$261

$223

$156

Toddlers-Regular

$324

$290

$258

$175

Preschool-Penn

$238

$208

$177

$134

Preschool-Regular

$266

$234

$190

$142

Drop In

Infants

Toddlers

Preschool

 

 

$95

$95

$75

 

 

Almanac - July 14, 2009, Volume 56, No. 01