Loading
Print This Issue
Subscribe:
E-Almanac

Trustees’ May Meeting Coverage
PDF
May 26, 2009, Volume 55, No. 34

At the May 14 Stated Meeting of the Trustees’ Executive Committee, President Amy Gutmann noted that the Senior Class Gift Drive—led by Trustee Andy Heyer’s son, William Heyer, had set an all-time participation record of nearly 70% and was still growing. Dr. Gutmann said that at the June 19 Stated Trustees’ meeting, she would recommend the reappointment of Dean Richard Gelles to lead the School of Social Policy & Practice as it celebrates 100 years of social work education. The school now has five degree-granting programs, along with six centers.

Dr. Vincent Price, interim provost, mentioned that the Annenberg School will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in the fall and it has recently been awarded a five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute (NCI) for cancer communication.

EVP Craig Carnaroli said that the impact of the financial market continues to be felt but that Penn is on track with efforts to reduce expenditures and moderate growth. There have been ‘global actions’ such as the elimination of non-essential travel and other expenses, some capital projects were cancelled or delayed, as well as ‘school-specific’ actions like reducing administrative expenses, reengineering or restructuring. Meanwhile, the sponsored research revenue is up and nearly 790 research grants have been submitted to take advantage of the Stimulus Bill.

Penn Med Dean/EVP for UPHS Arthur Rubenstein reported that the health system and Student Health ramped up their efforts to deal with the potential swine flu cases; 400 individuals were tested with four positives detected. Dr. Rubenstein also noted that 15 of the region’s 64 rising stars—the best physicians age 40 and under—as listed in the April issue of Philadelphia magazine, “The Next Generation of Great Doctors” are from UPHS.

The Budget & Finance Committee presented four resolutions that the Trustees passed: to execute a $100 million line of credit with Wachovia, with a term of two years, to supplement the University’s liquidity; to authorize the Law School construction documentation and bid phase for a new multi-story building on Sansom Street to replace the one-story Pepper Hall ($3.4 million), to authorize Goddard Labs 3rd and 5th floor renovations for the Center for Cognitive Neurosciences ($3.3 million);  the final replacement of the obsolete HVAC system in the Johnson Pavilion with a state-of-the-art digital control system ($1.45 million).

Stacey Rosner Lane was appointed to the Board of Overseers of the Museum.

 

Almanac - May 26, 2009, Volume 55, No. 34