At the January 29 Council meeting, President Amy Gutmann urged everyone to read the University’s response to Climate Change, which outlines the latest steps that Penn is taking on this “very high priority.” She said that these new initiatives and ongoing actions are consistent with the University’s mission. They involve investments, renewable purchase power, air travel offsets and an environmental innovations initiative (Almanac February 4, 2020). 

There was also an update by Benoit Dubé, associate provost and chief wellness officer, on the coronavirus, which originated in China. 

Lizann Rode, secretary of University Council, described the disposition of the topics raised at the last Open Forum. 

Beth A. Winkelstein, vice provost for education, and Dawn Bonnell, vice provost for research, spoke about how Penn supports student research through the University Research Foundation (URF) and Penn’s Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (CURF). They stressed that the fellowships are not just for undergraduates. Three students spoke about their experiences involving various research projects.