At last week’s University Council meeting, Penn President Amy Gutmann took a few minutes at the outset to reiterate her strongest dismay at the anti-Muslim rhetoric that has been expressed during the election season. President Gutmann said that everybody at Penn belongs here and that the University will not tolerate any discrimination. She said that she is committed to an inclusive environment where “we have a lot to learn from everyone.” Her statement drew a round of applause and then Nayab Khan, C’18, representing the Muslim Student Association, expressed their appreciation of the University’s support.

Provost Vincent Price introduced the main agenda item: cross-disciplinary and cross-school programs involving staff, students and faculty. He said that Penn integrates knowledge in many ways including the PIK Professors, of which there have been 17 jointly-tenured faculty appointed since 2005. There are also more than 100 centers and institutes as well as various educational programs.

Beth Winkelstein, vice provost for education, presented an overview of Integrating Knowledge Across Penn’s Academic Initiatives, with a glimpse of the earliest examples: from 1852, department of mines, arts & manufactures; 1813, Philomathean Society; 1908, International House; to more recent ones: 1960, LRSM; 1979, GRASP Lab; 1996, PPE and IME. The latest is the Perry World House now under construction. Dr. Winkelstein noted that there are several ways to integrate knowledge: interdisciplinary degrees and majors, cross-school programs, dual degrees, minors, interdisciplinary courses and research projects. According to the 2014 MSCHE Self-Study, nearly 10% of Penn undergrads complete dual degrees and approximately 70% of undergrads work on research projects. She also cited the annual theme year, arts & culture seminars and integrated programs in the College Houses.

Dawn Bonnell, vice provost for research, presented a look at Penn Centers and Institutes: Platforms for Integrating Knowledge. She explained how these have broad impact to develop new collaborations and innovative approaches to education, research, curriculum development, community outreach and knowledge for the benefit of society. Dr. Bonnell explained that there are three different models at Penn: department-based with membership in related disciplines, school-based with membership from different departments and University-based with membership from schools across campus. Some centers are endowed, like LDI, while others, like LRSM, are research-funded, and still others, like CCN, are supported by the Provost’s Office, or by gifts, like Kleinman Center for Energy Policy.

Genie Birch, Design, and Susan Wachter, Wharton, the Penn IUR co-directors, described how they are dedicated to advancing cross-disciplinary urban-focused research and civic engagement at Penn.

During the Open Forum, Rita Wegner, C’18, spoke on behalf of Fossil Free Penn.