Little-known fund reimburses faculty for class social expenses

For 20 years, select professors have been taking advantage of a somewhat secret stash of cash administered by the Office of Student Life.

This collection -- known as the President's Fund for Faculty-Student Interaction -- enables professors to offer their students a meal and some good conversation for free.

Last year, 367 reimbursements were issued to faculty members. Most reimbursements range from $80 to $120, but occasionally run in the thousands for larger classes, according to Francine Walker, director of OSL and administrator of the fund.

OSL does not outwardly publicize the fund.

"We'd be out of money in a day" if it were advertised, Walker said, noting that there have been times when the money has run out and the fund had to be replenished to meet faculty demands.

The President's Fund provides $3 per student for refreshments, $4 for lunch and $6 for dinner. Though an asset to hosting class events, the fund has not been adjusted for the economy's inflation since its creation under former University President Sheldon Hackney in 1984. This has led some professors to believe that the funds do not provide enough money per student.

History professor Kathy Peiss uses the fund at the end of each semester either to bring food to her class or to take her students to a local restaurant.

"Unfortunately, the allocation per student usually does not cover the cost of lunch or catering," Peiss said. Still, this does not stop Peiss from her semesterly gatherings.

Originally, before the creation of the fund, professors, teaching assistants and other faculty members had to personally fund such activities.

German professor Francis Brevart used to invite the students in her class each semester to have dinner at her home in West Philadelphia.

"Having 30 to 40 students over was, understandably, somewhat of a financial burden for me," she said. "So, when the president made money available for this purpose, ... it made this happy event much more affordable."

Since its inception, the fund has developed a loyal following.

Nancy Hornberger, a professor in the Graduate School of Education, first began using the fund in 1987.

"During my first year as an assistant professor at Penn -- 1985-1986 -- I sat in on a wonderfully stimulating graduate seminar taught by Dell Hymes," Hornberger said, noting that at the end of the semester, the professor and his wife hosted the class for dinner.

"I was so struck with the graciousness of this event that I decided to do the same with my doctoral seminar," he said.

Brevart has also been using the fund for years.

"For the past 15 years, [my classes] have been going to the New Delhi restaurant," she said, adding that the owners do their best to make the dinner affordable.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.