Penn Forward: Turning vision into action

Let’s start big picture: Why now for Penn Forward?

Penn is thriving and is arguably stronger than at any point in its nearly 300-year history. We’ve produced astonishing research breakthroughs; award-winning books; and are home to exceptional students, faculty, and staff committed to making the world better. The accomplishments of our alumni demonstrate that the talent we attract, and help shape, have a huge impact on society. As a community, we should be incredibly proud.

Despite this momentum, we face major headwinds and a rapidly changing world. For example, there is significant public distrust in institutions, including universities. There is less certain funding for our missions at a time when the opportunities have never been greater. Penn Forward empowers us to proactively shape our future and restore trust in the value we bring to society.

How is this different from other strategic processes we see at universities right now?

We asked our community to think boldly about what Penn might look like 10 years from now—in research, academics, operations, the student experience, and beyond. As such, Penn Forward is a comprehensive, future-focused and, critically, an action-oriented plan. It builds upon the foundation established by In Principle and Practice, focusing on the ‘in practice’ components.

I would add that Penn is, as we say in our values statement, “imperfect but self-improving,” and Penn Forward’s six working groups took this feature of our values to heart by taking an objective and honest look in the mirror, revisiting assumptions about how we operate, and how to maximize our enduring contributions to society. Because of their ambitious efforts, I’m more confident than ever that these initiatives represent an exciting vision that we will be proud of in a decade’s time.

What does Penn Forward intend to accomplish?

At its core, Penn Forward is about preparing Penn for the future, advancing our mission, and strengthening how we operate.

You can learn about our initial nine initiatives on the Penn Forward webpage. We’ve organized them around three core actions: build, discover, and extend.

1) First, we are focused on building trust with the people we serve: our students and their families. That starts with ensuring anyone admitted to Penn can do so with clarity about available financial support—while broadening access for those who might not have considered Penn. A significant evolution of the Quaker Commitment will help address these needs. Penn Experience will reimagine the journey for undergraduate and graduate students to strengthen a shared Penn identity and deliver on the value of a Penn degree. Key elements include expanded experiential learning, stronger networks within and beyond Penn, and new programs that level the playing field for learning and career advancement. We are also building on our organizational health with Penn Health Advantage, redesigning our health benefits to reduce friction and lower health care costs for Penn employees and their families.

2) Second, we are advancing discovery. AI is an accelerating wave of innovation that will transform learning, research, operations, and the way we do work. Penn AI will position us as a national leader in this space. Penn can be enormously impactful with AI solutions that advance human insights—especially in health care, business, engineering, and the life sciences. We can also lead in how AI is used responsibly and effectively in these and other fields. We will also build on our strength in commercialization and industry partnerships through Penn Partners for Impact, making it easier for nonprofits, government, and industry to engage with Penn—accelerating discovery and translating ideas into real-world impact.

3) Third, we are extending Penn’s reach, across geography and every stage of life. We recognize the importance of continuous renewal of knowledge and skills. Penn Learning for Life will develop new platforms for teaching and learning, connecting learners to Penn from K-12 through retirement. We are also broadening and deepening our engagement, nationally and globally. Penn San Francisco will expand programming at our Wharton San Francisco hub, accelerating innovation through new collaborations and stronger alumni connections on the West Coast—while deepening ties to Asia. And through Penn Global, we will also expand our international presence, improve alumni engagement, and pursue new partnership opportunities.

Penn Works Better underpins all of these efforts. It will simplify work, clarify accountability, and reduce institutional risk, helping Penn operate more efficiently and effectively over the long term.

Will there be other initiatives that emerge from Penn Forward?

I’ve highlighted major initiatives that consolidate many of the working group priorities. That said, we will continue to look for opportunities to support other great ideas that emerged from this process. I am also aware that each of our 12 schools has ambitious plans, specific to their disciplines, that will complement Penn Forward. Taken together, this creates a dynamic, forward-looking future for Penn.

What comes next for Penn Forward?

Now, the focus is execution. Leaders and teams are already in place, with clear goals and accountability. We expect to exit the spring term with work well underway, recognizing that some initiatives have a longer time horizon.

Is there anything further you want to add?

Penn is already an exceptional institution, made possible by our people, our ideas, and our commitment to impact. Penn Forward is about how we can be better and position this remarkable University for even better—building trust with those we serve, enabling bold discovery, and extending our reach for the greatest possible impact for more people.