The September 2024 University Council meeting was held in the Hall of Flags in Houston Hall. Interim President J. Larry Jameson opened the meeting by welcoming the council to a new academic year. He then announced the reappointments of Melissa Wilde, professor and chair of sociology in the School of Arts & Sciences, as moderator, and Scott Schafer, associate vice president, chief privacy officer and institutional compliance officer, as parliamentarian.

Dr. Wilde presented the minutes of the April 17 meeting, which were approved.

Associate vice president and associate university secretary Lizann Boyle Rode provided responses to new business topics raised during the April 17 meeting. Those responses included:

• In response to requests for greater transparency regarding Penn’s efforts to combat bias and discrimination, each semester, the Center for Community Standards and Accountability will publish data on findings from reports and complaints received.
• Regarding making public transportation more affordable for graduate students, additional efforts will be made to publicize current options, such as SEPTA’s Key Semester Pass. Also, discussions are underway with SEPTA to further evaluate student-oriented options. The University also continues to invest in Penn Transit bus and shuttle services and recently launched the Penn Bus North route.
• Regarding requesting extensions on tuition payment plans, Student Registration & Financial Services (SRFS) cannot provide customized tuition billing options. Students are encouraged to contact SFRS’s one-stop service center for support and options.
• With respect to childcare, ensuring high-quality, affordable, and accessible childcare remains a priority. The Penn Children’s Center recently created a summer pre-K program, increased toddler care capacity, and enhanced drop-in services. Penn also continues to work with partner organizations to meet the needs of its evolving community.
• Regarding requests to standardize curricular practical training courses (CPT), this would be challenging to accomplish across Penn’s 200+ academic programs. International Student and Scholar Services and the Provost’s Office are open to collaborating with deans and other colleagues to identify and institute best practices and explore more consistent approaches to CPT.
• In response to requests from student groups for increased funding, the leadership of University Life has formed working groups to review that process. This fall, the Office of Student Affairs will work with student leaders to implement improvements to the current system and seeking feedback on proposed changes with a goal of instituting a new process by fall 2025.

Eric Feldman, chair of the University Council steering committee, presented this year’s focus issues and committee charges. All were approved.

During new business, council members made the following remarks:

• The Lambda Alliance representative requested information on additional funding opportunities available for the LGBT Center. 
• The Disability Coalition requested a University-wide statement to support wellness given the heightened transmission of COVID and other communicable diseases, the provision of K-95 masks in high traffic areas, and that faculty encourage students not to attend classes when they are ill and encourage them to provide a hybrid option or recorded lectures for students who miss class due to illness.