When I became dean of the School of Arts and Sciences in 2005, one of my first priorities was to initiate a comprehensive review of the School’s strategic plan. The new plan that resulted from this process was intended to strengthen not only SAS, but also the University as a whole.
The launch of our campaign, Making History in the Arts and Sciences, represents a critical next step for the School: while the strategic plan articulates our vision, the campaign is the means by which our vision can become a reality.
It is a vision that includes a strong base of support for faculty that will allow us to attract the very brightest and keep the very best, and maintain the largest faculty that the School has enjoyed in over 15 years. It includes resources that enable us to further develop the excellence and diversity of the student body, without having to compromise our standards as a result of financial constraints. It is a vision where the physical spaces that make up the school reflect the high caliber of the people working in them – spaces that energize faculty and students and encourage learning, discovery and innovation.
Enhancing the foundations of excellence in the School will have effects far beyond our doors. In every great research university, the arts and sciences are at the heart of the institution’s mission and intellectual vitality. Thus, an investment in the School of Arts and Sciences is an investment in the University of Pennsylvania. Indeed, it is an investment in the development and dissemination of revolutionary ideas, innovative leadership and new knowledge across our global society.
While fundraising is necessary to achieving our goals, this capital campaign is not just about raising money. For the School of Arts and Sciences, the campaign is an opportunity to share our enthusiasm about the great things – innovative teaching, pioneering scholarship and vigorous service projects – underway in the School. We have more than 113,000 living alumni; add to that Penn parents and other friends, and our community becomes an army of supporters. As we move forward with the campaign, I hope to be able to meet many of you, to share our vision and to let you know how we are continuing to make history in the arts and sciences.
Rebecca Bushnell
Dean, School of Arts and Sciences
