This story is developing and will continue to be updated.
Penn President Liz Magill announced a new strategic framework that will shape the University's upcoming planning and initiatives.
The framework, titled "In Principle and Practice: Penn’s Focus on Tomorrow," is designed to "capture what the world needs from Penn and how we will cultivate a community that rises to the challenge," according to a dedicated webpage for the plan. The plan was informed by the Red and Blue Advisory Committee, a group of faculty, students, and staff led by Provost John L. Jackson Jr., who sought input from University affiliates globally. The Committee was announced in Magill's first months as president.
"This moment of challenge is exactly the time to recommit to our ambitions for the future and to further our connections as a community," Magill wrote in the email.
The plan outlines four principles — the "Anchored University," the "Interwoven University," the "Inventive University," and the "Engaged University" — and five practices: accelerating interdisciplinary pursuits, leading on contemporary challenges, growing opportunities and strengthening communities, deepening connection with neighbors and the world, and fostering leadership and service.
The framework outlines several new priorities for the University. The plan includes a focus on greater support of interdisciplinary pursuits, including increased interdisciplinary faculty support and more inter-school teaching, projects, and programs. It also outlines plans for leading people forward on "the great challenges of our time" surrounding issues of climate, health, data, and democracy. Other initiatives include commitment to expanding opportunity and affordability and campus development as well as greater collaboration with the city of Philadelphia.
The plan comes in the wake of Magill's University-wide action plan to combat antisemitism — which has drawn mixed reactions from the Penn community — to address the increased antisemitism and Islamophobia on campus through advisory committees and other action steps.
"Just as we are launching urgent University-wide efforts to combat antisemitism and interconnected forms of hate, including Islamophobia, and identifying ways to strengthen our bonds with one another, this strategic framework emphasizes strengthening community, deepening connections, cultivating service-minded leadership, and collaborating across divisions and divides," Magill wrote.
Faculty, students, staff, and alumni will have opportunities to contribute to plans for implementation. More information about next steps will be released soon, according to the announcement.
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