The University of Pennsylvania Trustees met on November 7 and 8. During the Invocation at the Stated Meeting, Penn Chaplain Charles Howard mentioned that Penn’s cross country team won the championship (see Cross Country All-Ivy Honors article). 

Board chair David L. Cohen presented the memorial resolution for David P. Montgomery (Almanac May 28, 2019) as well as resolutions of appreciation for Alberto J. Chamorro and Simon D. Palley, which all passed. A resolution was also passed concerning the emeriti members of the Penn Medicine Board. 

Mr. Cohen noted that a memorial resolution for Deborah Morrow will be presented at a future meeting. A memorial resolution for John Neff will be at the February 2020 meeting (Almanac July 16, 2019).

President Amy Gutmann presented the resolution to reappoint Steven J. Fluharty for a second term as dean of the School of Arts and Sciences through June 30, 2025 (Almanac September 10, 2019); it was approved. 

Although by that point, the numerous protesters who were at the meeting had begun what became prolonged chanting, throughout the remainder of the Stated Meeting, repeating their demands about divesting from fossil fuel and having a town hall.

EVP Craig Carnaroli gave the financial report, which showed that for the three months that ended September 30, 2019. The Consolidated University total net assets were $19.3 billion, $758 million above the prior year. The $122 million increase in net assets from operations was $44 million above the prior year due to strong operating performance from the Health System. Expenses of $2.7 billion were $199 million above prior year with compensation being the significant portion. For the Academic Component, capital expenditures totaled $112 million.

Other resolutions the Trustees passed: 

• A power purchase agreement for the delivery of solar-generated electricity; it will reduce the University’s current annual carbon emissions by 75 percent. 
• Gregory College House HVAC installation and Mayer College House painting: $21.45 million.
• Steinberg Hall-Dietrich Hall 3rd floor, Behavioral Labs and Undergraduate Division renovations, $14.86 million.
• Up to $740 million in indebtedness for financing certain capital projects and refinancing certain indebtedness for the Health System.

Judith L. Bollinger was elected as an emeritus trustee; James H. Greene, Jr., as a charter trustee; Bonnie Miao Bandeen and Ofer Nemirovsky as term trustees.

There were numerous appointments to the various boards of overseers, from Annenberg Center to Wistar Institute.

At the conclusion  of the meeting, it was also announced that in recognition of a recent gift of $125 million from the W. P. Carey Foundation, the Penn Law School would be changing its name to the Carey Law School (see W.P. Carey Foundation's Historic $125 Million Gift article).