The Penn Compact is our vision to propel the University of Pennsylvania from excellence to eminence in all our core endeavors of teaching, research, and service. Under the Compact, we seek to retain and attract the very best faculty and students. The Compact sets the stage for our achieving eminence by embracing three principles that are deeply rooted in Penn’s proud history and distinct character: increased access; integrated knowledge; and local and global engagement.

Increasing Access:

We must make an excellent Penn education available to all outstanding students of talent and high potential who can benefit from and contribute to our University. In a democracy and at great universities, diversity and excellence go together. To keep them together, we must significantly boost scholarship aid to make Penn even more affordable to exceptional students from all backgrounds.

Integrating Knowledge:

The most challenging questions and problems of our time cannot be addressed by one discipline or profession. To comprehend our complex world, we must better integrate knowledge from different disciplines and professional perspectives in our research and teaching. Beginning with the recruitment of eminent scholars who will hold joint appointments in two schools and departments, Penn will achieve a truly successful partnership between arts and sciences and our professional schools that will benefit our students, our society, and our world.

Engaging Locally and Globally:

Through our collaborative engagement with communities all over the world, Penn is poised to advance the central values of democracy: life, liberty, opportunity, and mutual respect. As we prepare to expand Penn's campus to the east, we strengthen our ties with our neighbors and help drive economic and technological development throughout the City and Commonwealth. At the same time, we will share the fruits of our integrated knowledge wherever there is an opportunity for our students, faculty, and alumni to serve and to learn.

I invite every member of our extended Penn family and friends to unite behind the Penn Compact and contribute to our bold vision for moving our great University forward.

Amy Gutmann,
President