EVP ... A to Z  

News from Across the EVP Division

                   Fall 2013  

Message from EVP     

As regular consumers of news and information, you likely have seen the explosion of the word innovation amidst a steady stream of articles and stories. The concept that is now "out there" is that innovation is part of all our jobs. Yes, it sounds trendy, but in my opinion it is finally getting the attention it deserves. Innovation is a critical part of staying current, and being successful. If I were to be strict in defining the word, to innovate is a verb that means to "introduce something new; make changes in anything established". While I admit Penn is very established, and not always a place that accepts the dynamic of change easily, it is a place that innovates.  

If fact, we may be too busy being innovative to take the time and recognize our administration is deeply involved in bringing necessary innovations to advance the university. I will provide a few examples:   

·        The graduating class of 2013 was the first to enter and exit Penn in the era of a no-loan financial aid policy. Providing historic levels of financial aid required innovative thinking, and we are now seeing young our alums carrying less debt as they enter adulthood.  

·        Plans are being prepared for a new vision of entrepreneurship and accelerating business startups in the South Bank campus in Grays Ferry. Penn is marrying physical planning and architecture with business strategy and research to enhance its culture of innovation in ways we can only imagine.    

·        In 2014 the Climate Action Plan will be five years old, and we are preparing a report to illustrate the varied ways in which Penn educated and inspired its 31,000 person community and helped reduce our carbon footprint. This succeeded through innovative practices at both the institutional and individual level, and a willingness to engage in something new and unproven.  

·        Penn now offers 26 different classes at no cost through Coursera where  tens-of-thousands of people, from literally all over the world, are learning from Penn faculty as they enhance their education through this new method of teaching. 

These are just four examples of the hundreds to choose from, and only a snapshot of the fine work you do and support every day.  As we settle into the new academic year, I ask you to consider the ways you can generate new ideas, methods, and tools, and create a forums in your offices for such discussion. The introduction of something new, or not yet established, could be a creative solution to our many opportunities for advancing Penn.

Sincerely,

Craig    

News You Can Use   

Mission Continuity Program

On Monday, August 12, 2013, the Mission Continuity Program successfully migrated to the new version of Shadow-Planner, the database application used for Mission Continuity planning.  The migration was successful and we are now in Production on the new version; users were notified about the mandatory online training for the new version. Support is available to make the transition to the new version, while Q&A sessions/Open Houses for hands on help have also been scheduled. 

If you have questions or comments about the Mission Continuity Program or the Shadow-Planner software, please contact Anita Gelburd at gelburda@isc.upenn.edu or Janet Plantan at janetp@upenn.edu.  You may also want to visit the Mission Continuity website for additional information:  http://www.upenn.edu/missioncontinuity/ 

Renovations to SRFS continue. All front facing services (Student Financial Services, including Student Employment; Registrar; and. Special Accounts and Collections) will be located on the first floor, while production will be relocated in closer proximity. The garden level will continue to house imaging and mail services.  The NGSS team, as well as the training room, will relocate to the garden level. Expected completion date is September 30, 2013.

SRFS and five students traveled to Washington DC to meet with legislators about financial aid and Penn's commitment to access and affordability.  The students, all aided, told their compelling stories to the legislative staff and spoke about the value of federal funding, federal work-study as well as how Penn's no loan policy has allowed many of them to graduate debt free.  The trip was a collaborated effort between SRFS, The Office of Government Affairs and the Netter Center.

It is that time of year when the campus is buzzing with new and returning students a`s well as parents and families.  SRFS is working to make the beginning of the semester easy and seamless.  Since we have a concierge Nasser Goins, we will not need greeters as we had in the past.  However, you might see faces other than Nasser's as SRFS staff will rotate to cover as necessary.

Alumni whose student records are older than 1987 previously needed to submit a paper transcript request and could pay via cash or check only. This manual process was cumbersome and subject to delays associated with manual processes. SRFS has automated ordering and payment, thus enabling alumni to request transcripts online and pay with a credit card. Alumni will access the online request form through the University Registrar website.

Penn Home Ownership Services Annual Housing Fair

Penn Home Ownership Services will hold its 2013 Annual Housing Fair on Wednesday, September 18, 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. in Bodek Lounge, Houston Hall. This is an opportunity for full-time employees of the University and the Health System to discuss with industry experts the national real estate market and its implications for Philadelphia, plus gain access to a wide array of housing-related information and resources for West Philadelphia and the wider community. Representatives from Penn Home Ownership Services as well as its banking partners will be on hand to discuss the Enhanced Forgivable Loan Program and the Closing Cost Reduction Program. This event is free and open to all full-time Penn and UPHS employees. For more information, visit  http://www.upenn.edu/homeownership or contact Penn Home Ownership Services at (215) 898-7422.

Penn Bookstore Author Events

Throughout the fall and spring semesters, the Penn Bookstore proudly presents a variety of discussions and book signings by outstanding authors, including many of Penn's premier faculty. To view upcoming author events and to sign up for updates, click here. 

Save the Date for Purchasing Services Research Supplier Show

On Tuesday, October 8, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Purchasing Services Research Supplier Show will be held at the BRB II/III Building Lobby, 421 Curie Boulevard. Purchasing Services welcomes all Penn staff and faculty members to participate in this event. In conjunction with the academic theme "Year of Sound", our tag line is the "The Sound of Savings."   Learn and hear about new products and promotions from the University's research laboratory supplies and service providers.

For more details, visit www.purchasing.upenn.edu/news  

Canine Unit joining the Division of Public Safety

The first ever University of Pennsylvania Police Department (UPPD) canine officer, Socks, will embark on the canine training program in ordinance disposal this fall.  Look for Socks on Locust Walk and be sure to welcome her to Penn!

 Share-the-Road

The Division of Public Safety will undertake our fall Share-the-Road campaign at the beginning of the school year to provide education and enforcement of the rules of the road. Educational safety materials will be distributed to pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists. The Share-the-Road campaign comprises participation from UPPD Police, Penn security officers, Philadelphia Police, Drexel Police and student groups including the Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT), the Undergraduate Assembly (UA) and the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly (GAPSA). Continual campaigns will be conducted at the South Street Bridge, reminding bicyclists and pedestrians of shared responsibilities on the road.

Fire Safety and Emergency Preparedness Month

September is Campus Fire Safety and Emergency Preparedness Month. Many safety education activities are held this month as a part of the larger PennReady program.  The PennReady program includes strategies to prevent, protect, prepare for, respond to and recover quickly from any crisis situation that could occur on campus.  

As the Penn community starts a new academic year in September, the Division of Public Safety (DPS) makes special efforts to educate, drill and answer questions about potential crisis situations that could unfold and how students, faculty and staff can take actions to remain safe during a crisis event.

In conjunction with Fire and Emergency Preparedness Month, DPS will be conducting the annual test of our Emergency Notification System, UPennAlert, on September 27th at 11am. Please take this opportunity to check your emergency contact information on your U@Penn webpage: https://medley.isc-seo.upenn.edu/penn_portal/u@penn.php  

2013 Annual Security & Fire Safety Report

The University of Pennsylvania's 2013 Annual Security & Fire Safety Report has been published, and will be distributed via the web and a limited number of printed copies during the month of September. You may view the latest update of the report on the DPS website by October 1st:

DPS Open House

The Division of Public Safety will hold its annual Open House on October 3rd from 1-4pm at 4040 Chestnut Street. For a behind-the-scenes tour of the DPS headquarters! Guests will be introduced to the PennComm communication center, which is the location of our emergency call center and CCTV patrol; tour our fingerprinting processing area and cell blocks; learn about bike safety and RAD self-defense program; climb aboard police motorcycles and T3 vehicle; play along in the FATS simulator, learning appropriate actions for police in high-pressure situations; learn about fire safety first-hand, training to utilize a fire extinguisher on a fire; view our EOC (Emergency Operations Center), which is used by the leadership team to manage emergency response; and meet with the Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT) who will explain how their volunteer group of students provides essential medical support across campus. Stop in between 1 and 4pm, enjoy good food and have your public safety questions answered by the entire DPS staff.

ISC Begins Major Organizational Redesign Program

ISC has started a major program to re-define the organization to deliver best-in-class IT services to meet the needs of the Penn community. ISC's current organizational structure was implemented more than 10 years ago. Since then, there have been sweeping changes in technology and how it is used to support higher education. ISC is looking at the current organizational design to see how it needs to be up-dated to reflect changing client needs driven by these trends. The first step is information gathering which has involved more than 50 people to date including cross-campus focus groups and interviews with key University leaders and ISC clients conducted by well-respected organizational expert Judith Honesty. There have been additional focus groups with ISC employees. The goal has been to identify best practices, the technology services that offer the greatest potential benefits to Penn, the best ways to leverage existing technologies and services, and the best ways to use this information to serve Penn's mission. Next steps include processing and evaluating all the data gathered to determine major themes and trends and developing action plans based on the findings. If you have questions or comments about ISC's Redesign Program, please contact Marion Campbell at marion@isc.upenn.edu 

ISC Launches Cost & Billing Optimization Project

As part of its Organizational Redesign Program, ISC recently launched the Cost & Billing Optimization project to redefine its cost and billing processes and implement tools to provide a more transparent and efficient system for its clients. The project objectives include: refining and clarifying ISC's portfolio of services; simplifying ISC's cost structures; and streamlining ISC's billing mechanisms to provide clients with timely and accurate cost and billing data that is clear, transparent, and easily interpreted. The project includes identifying immediate opportunities to modify or change existing products and services to ensure the best value for clients at the lowest possible cost. For more information, please contact Bill Kasenchar at bmk@isc.upenn.edu 

Fall 5K Walk: Friday, September 20

Walking is a great way to stay fit - not to mention lower your blood pressure, cholesterol and risk of diabetes. So grab your sneakers and a bottle of water, and join us for a 5K walk (3.1-miles) in Penn Park on Friday, September 20. Click here for complete details and to register.

Save the Date for Penn Family Day: Saturday, October 26

Bring your family and friends to the 21st annual Penn Family Day on Saturday, October 26! You can cheer on Penn's football team, visit the Penn Museum, or go for a skate at the Penn Ice Rink. Plus, enjoy the Penn Family Tailgate Party for food, fun, games and more. Find out more.

Step Up Your Career

Do you aspire to be a supervisor or manager? Find out how the STEP UP program can help you pursue the next stage in your career.

Take the Fast Track to Administrative Excellence

If you're an administrative professional, we can show you skills and strategies to help you excel at your job. This five-session program begins on October 15. Click here for complete details and to register.

A Health Advocate for You

You and your family can get free and confidential help for healthcare-related issues with Health Advocate.  

 Learn more about this valuable resource.

Penn Connects Campus Development Plan

Singh Center for Nanotechnology Dedication Planned for October 4

An official opening celebration draws near for the Singh Center for Nanotechnology, located at 3205 Walnut Street. The state-of-the-art research building - featuring characterization labs and clean rooms - was substantially completed this summer. The demolition of the neighboring Edison Building has made way for the planting of a lawn, trees and other landscaping element in addition to the campus art, We Lost, that will form a welcoming courtyard on the East side of campus. The School of Engineering and Applied Science and the School of Arts & Sciences plan an opening dedication for the Singh Center on Friday, October 4.

Summer Campus Construction Highlights

Over the summer months Penn's college houses, classrooms and hallways were abuzz with activity. Summer is the time of year that FRES Operations & Maintenance teams take advantage of vacated spaces to do repair, renovation, and refinishing projects. Keeping to tight timelines, many work crews got to work the day after move-out, with intent to have the paint dry by move-in day in the fall.

In addition to the summer turnaround maintenance that goes on in the College Houses, there were two notable renovation projects. The Class of 1925 building of Gregory College House received interior renovations that include new bathroom fixtures, and wall and floor finishes in rooms and corridors. Hill College House received new common area and bedroom furniture, and has undergone common area and kitchen improvements.

The Steinberg Hall-Dietrich Hall West Addition was completed, with the opening of offices and conference rooms along with the new courtyard entry on 36th Street. Hutchinson Gym and Infill building renovations are reaching substantial completion this month with work on the athletic facilities, locker rooms, conference rooms and offices, in addition to new spaces for basketball, fencing, gymnastics, rowing, wrestling, and golf.

The River Fields Complex is getting an upgrade with the creation of a new synthetic turf for field hockey, a shift of the existing Rhodes soccer field, in addition to spectator seating, sports lighting, and landscaping.   In addition, the new landscaping between Shoemaker Green to Penn Park, outside Ringe Squash Courts, completes the continuous connection of open space from 40th Street to the River.  

Scaffolding has been in view on several campus buildings as façade maintenance was done. Masonry work and cleaning has helped maintain the structure and gave a facelift to Fisher-Bennet Hall, John Morgan and Towne Buildings, Franklin Field, and the Fisher Fine Arts Library, among others.

Assorted classroom renovations took place in Goddard Laboratories, Chemistry 1973, and Hayden Hall as well as the development of a new electronic resource enabled technology teaching classroom in Van Pelt-Dietrich Library. In Meyerson Hall, work was done in both the B-1 classroom and the 2nd floor studio was completely renovated.

Architects named for Perry World House and Perelman Center

Generous donors to Penn have made possible exciting new centers for scholarship on campus. Following an extensive and collaborate RFP process, Penn has selected architectural design firms for each project.

1100 Architect, based in New York and Frankfurt, will design the Perry World House, the central home on campus for global activities and initiatives. A $10 million gift from University Trustee Richard C. Perry and his wife, Lisa Perry, will name the house and establish the Richard Perry Endowed Professorship. The building is planned to be ready for the Fall 2015 semester.

The Ronald O. Perelman Center for Political Science and Economics will be designed by KPMB of Toronto. A $25 million gift from alumnus Ronald O. Perelman will create a new home for Penn's departments of Political Science and Economics in the School of Arts and Sciences. The Center will be located in the West Philadelphia Trust Building at 36thand Walnut Streets in the heart of Penn's campus. The building project proposal will combine a complete rehabilitation of 133 S. 36th Street with a new six story addition to the north.   The building is planned to be ready for occupancy in Spring 2018.

Retail Happenings

New Food Retail this Fall:

The popular food truck, HubBub, will open a second bricks-and-mortar Philadelphia location at 3726 Spruce Street. The owner is 2005 College graduate Drew Crockett, who hopes to create a community gathering coffee-shop feel in the new space. The vegan -friendly restaurant Hip City Veg is expanding beyond Center City to this new 2nd location, 216 S. 40th Street. Both openings are anticipated in October. Visit hubbubcoffee.com and  hipcityveg.com. 

Also of note, the Wawa at 38th & Spruce Streets re-opened on August 15 with a celebration and ribbon-cutting. This location has been completely redesigned to follow a new Wawa store floor plan prototype, plus the store imagery displayed is specific to Penn and a $5000 donation was made to support the community work surrounding the Penn Vet Working Dogs Center.

Neighborhood Initiatives

40th Street Summer Series Continues to Draw Crowds

An eclectic presentation of music, food, and family fun continue to attract attendees to the 40th Street Summer Series. This free concert series, sponsored jointly by University City District, The Rotunda, and Penn, is in its ninth year of treating the West Philadelphia community. This year, between 350-450 people are attending each show to hear sufi music set to brass band compositions, middle eastern, old time ukulele music, singer/songwriter/folk, gospel brass band, and polka. The 2013 expanded five-concert series wraps up September 28 when the Millennial Territory Orchestra performs the music of Sly & The Family Stone. Ben & Jerry's will continue to provide free ice cream samples, and circus performers and face painters will continue to entertain the crowd. Visit  universitycity.org.  

Sustainability Initiatives

Green Living Certification Available to College House Residents

Following a successful pilot in Stouffer College House last Spring, the Green Living Certification program will be introduced to residents at the start of this academic year. Designed to acknowledge an individual's environmentally sustainable lifestyle choices, the program gives students a Gold, Silver or Bronze rating based on completion of a checklist of sustainable practices. Staff and faculty living in a College House are also invited to participate. The Green Living program is another effort of the Green Campus Partnership to involve the entire Penn community in its work toward achieving the goals of the Climate Action Plan. Visit http://www.upenn.edu/sustainability/programs/green-living-certification.  

Penn's Eco-Reps Take Part in Green Apple Day of Service

Penn's Eco-Reps program is partnering with the Netter Center's Urban Nutrition Initiative for an environmental service project at Bartram's Gardens along with students from John Bartram High School on Saturday, September 21 as part of the Green Apple Day of Service.   Students will be helping with plant management, composting, mulching, and clearing garden beds as well as participating in food-related discussions with staff from Bartram's, the Netter Center, and Penn's Green Campus Partnership.  Visit  mygreenapple.org.  

Morris Arboretum Executive Director Paul Meyer Wins Prestigious Award

At the 2013 American Public Garden Association (APGA) National Conference held in Phoenix, AZ, Morris Arboretum executive director Paul W. Meyer received the APGA Award of Merit. The award recognizes an individual APGA member who has performed with distinction in the field of public horticulture and has excelled in the public garden profession.

Hilton Inn at Penn Receives AAA Four Diamond Rating (Honors & Things)

For the 13th consecutive year, the Inn at Penn has been awarded the AAA Four Diamond rating. The AAA Diamond rating process is North America's premier rating program and is considered a trusted source of quality when traveling. To be awarded AAA Four Diamond, a hotel must offer accommodations which are progressively more refined and stylish than a standard property. The physical attributes of the building must reflect an obvious enhanced level of quality throughout. The fundamental hallmarks at this level include an extensive array of amenities combined with a high degree of hospitality, service and attention to detail.

Penn recognized as a leader in Greener Purchasing

Office Depot, Inc., a leading global provider of office supplies has recognized Penn as a winner of a Special Recognition Award for Green Purchasing in the area of Green Spend Analysis.   For the past seven years, the Company has publicly recognized a small group of its contract customers who proactively seek out products with environmental attributes and eco-labels. For 2013, 28 organizations were selected out of 17,000 customers evaluated.

The awards were presented at Office Depot's Greener Purchasing Summit & Awards Ceremony in Boca Raton, Florida. For more information, visit:  http://www.purchasing.upenn.edu/news/Leadership_in_Greener_Purchasing.pdf 

Travel & Expense Management (TEM) Update: Concur Expense Rollouts

The TEM Team continues the campus-wide rollout of Concur Expense, the expense report submission module of the Concur Travel & Expense Management (TEM) application. Concur is the fully integrated online travel booking, expense reporting, and reimbursement application for faculty, staff, and students conducting University business. As of Aug. 26, all of the EVP Division is using Concur.

Other resources available to users include:

•  Penn TEM Website - includes Concur login, important updates, links to policy documentation, Penn Travel Card information, preferred travel vendors, and more
•  Training Manuals - instructional guides on booking travel, creating and approving expense reports, and special topics
•  How-To Videos - videos on creating and submitting expense reports, setting up mobile receipt application, assigning delegates, and more
•  Frequently Asked Questions - Travel, Expense, and Penn Travel Card FAQs
•  Know Before You Go Brochure - quick guide on travel booking and reimbursement, car rental, and more.
•  Penn Travel Card - information on the benefits from having a travel card and application instructions.

End User Support

For help with Concur, call the helpline 215-746-4357 or 6-HELP or send an e-mail to temsupp@exchange.upenn.edu. For questions about the Penn Travel Card, contact Travel Card Administration at 215-898-3606 or CardAdm@exchange.upenn.edu.

Green2Go

Through the support of Penn's Green Fund, Penn Dining is introducing reusable take-out containers in the three residential dining cafes.