Former U.S. Sen. Harris Wofford delivering the keynote speech
"A Conference on Penn's Role in West Philadelphia: The Creation, Dissemination and Application of Knowledge" drew Penn students, faculty and staff, along with members of the West Philadelphia community and former U.S. Sen. Harris Wofford to the Faculty Club April 4.
The conference, which explored how community service and community concerns can be incorporated into Penn's academic mission and how that mission can in turn serve the needs of the community, was organized by the Student Committee on Undergraduate Education and the Undergraduate Assembly,
Three panels focused on one of three subjects: research, or creating knowledge; teaching, or disseminating knowledge; and action, or applying knowledge.
The panels featured Penn faculty, undergrads and administrators, who shared their observations on how their specific interests intersect with those of the community.
The panels also included Philadelphia public school teachers and community activists, who spoke about how Penn could better use its resources to help the community.
Wofford, the chief executive officer of the Corporation for National Service, gave the keynote speech. He began, saying, "The Presidents' Summit for America's Future calls on all of us to devote resources to the betterment of children and communities, and Penn has been a leader among universities in devoting academic resources to these matters."
Wofford then explained the five principal goals of the upcoming summit and emphasized that it is not intended just to bring dignitaries together for talk. Instead, he said, its purpose is to "produce a quantum leap in national service, community volunteering and civic action of all kinds, including corporations investing and making commitments of their own."
Summit participants must pledge to achieve specific results related to the summit goals over a three-year period, and in keeping with this spirit, President Judith Rodin formally unveiled Penn's commitments to the summit goals following Wofford's speech.
These commitments include significant increases in the number of students, faculty and staff engaged in community service throughout the University; incorporation of community service opportunities for students into the curricula of every University academic program; expansion of community-based health care and health education programs provided by the Health System, School of Nursing and School of Medicine; and incentives for faculty and staff to engage in volunteer activity.
Penn will also host the regional follow-up conference to the Presidents' Summit, which is scheduled for this fall.
Return to Compass Features for April 15, 1997