Welcome to the Franklin’s Forum newsletter. The newsletter contains two sections. First, in The Key, we will explore and analyze one key issue affecting Penn, why it matters, and what it means for the university’s future. Next, in The Almanac, we’ll highlight recent developments in higher education and at Penn — giving you what matters most, without the noise.
The Key
Today’s The Key is the third installment of Inside Penn: Two Years That Defined Our Campus. Parts I and II recapped the 2023-2024 school year, including the rise of campus antisemitism, resignations of President Liz Magill and Board Chair Scott Bok (C ‘81, W ‘81, L ‘84), inauguration of new leadership, and dismantling of the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” in May of 2024. Read the earlier installments here.
Penn entered the 2024-25 school year with new leaders, stricter protest guidelines, and updated goals for the campus climate. Today’s edition explores how President Larry Jameson and the school’s leadership chose to move forward.
As students returned for the school year, Penn’s leadership prepared to turn hard lessons into action. The university opened a first-of-its-kind Title VI office, responding to what it called a “surge in antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of religious and ethnic intolerance” on campus. Led by dialogue experts and community leaders Steve Ginsburg and Majid Alsayegh, the Office of Religious and Ethnic Interests (Title VI/OREI) was created to “uphold the University’s obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to protect communities based on shared national ancestry or ethnicity.” In future editions, we will talk about its work in more detail.
In early September 2024, President Larry Jameson unveiled two aspirational statements to anchor Penn’s renewed focus and goals. First, Penn adopted a new values statement rooted in ideals set forward by Benjamin Franklin and the mission of the university. Notably, the statement emphasizes “excellence, freedom of inquiry and expression, and respect” as well as a culture “inspired by its founder, Benjamin Franklin.”
Second, Penn adopted a policy of institutional neutrality for official commentary on geopolitical events not directly tied to campus, following a model established by UChicago. Rather than arbitrate between groups and assuage concerns about whether it took a “right” or “strong enough” stance, Penn would take no stance at all.
Institutional neutrality is a strength; it promotes truth by encouraging diversity of thought. When the university chooses not to take a stance, it allows for the free expression of ideas. This signals that the administration will not dictate views and instead enable faculty and students to conduct research, form opinions, and express their positions, uninfluenced by an institutional stance. This helps Penn uphold its goals of academic freedom and excellence.
Institutional neutrality was pioneered by the widely considered bastion of free speech among elite universities, UChicago. The school’s 1967 Kalven Report declares “the university is the home and sponsor of critics; it is not itself the critic.” That philosophy fosters open inquiry on campus and attracts bipartisan support beyond it. At Penn, many alumni groups and faculty alike praised the decision as a serious commitment to free speech and to the university’s academic mission.
Together, the new Title VI office and the neutrality policy signaled a push to strengthen both free speech and student safety, highlighting how the two could go hand in hand. These changes were urgently needed. In September 2024, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) published its annual College Free Speech Rankings, based on surveys conducted in the 2023-24 academic year (before Penn adopted its new values or institutional neutrality statement). Penn was ranked near the bottom, coming 248th out of 251 schools.
FIRE’s results showed student comfort expressing ideas had dropped dramatically from the prior year, with Penn plummeting from 135th to 245th on that FIRE metric. In every context, an overwhelming majority of Penn students noted they would be uncomfortable with disagreement or expressing unpopular views: in public with a professor (77%), in assignments (67%), during class discussions (69%), and on social media (78%).
These statistics highlight one of Penn’s most pressing challenges: making constructive dialogue a campus norm rather than an elective activity. By late 2024, the university had opened the Title VI Office and was in its fifth year of the SNF Paideia program, which promotes dialogue through community-building, events, courses, and fellowships. But these efforts were mostly opt-in. The harder task remained: reaching students who had no interest in engaging in dialogue at all.
By the start of the Spring 2025 semester, Penn’s campus seemed its calmest in years as the university pushed forward on the reforms promised over the last few semesters. Suddenly, change at the national level brought new challenges. Soon after taking office, President Donald Trump (W ‘68) issued executive orders targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives (DEI). The Department of Education followed with guidance directing universities to end DEI-linked programs and policies. Penn, which relies on about $1 billion a year federal funding, removed references to DEI from websites across all 12 schools, rebranded its DEI website, and shut down programs focused on DEI.
President Jameson and the Penn administration faced backlash from some Pennsylvania lawmakers and disappointment from faculty. Yet, the Board of Trustees confirmed Jameson as president through June 2027, removing his “interim” status. Penn was changing, but not settled. With Washington reshaping the policy landscape and some key campus issues unresolved, James entered his full presidency with a new test ahead: guiding the university through an unprecedented financial environment.
The Almanac
Wharton announces new Master of Science in Quantitative Finance backed by $60M gift
Wharton has announced a new Master of Science in Quantitative Finance (MSQF), supported by a $60 million gift from Bruce Jacobs (G’79, GrW’86) — surpassing Marc Rowan’s $50 million gift to become the largest in Wharton’s history. Jacobs, a former faculty member, has now donated a total of over $80 million to the school.
Launching in fall 2026, the one-year MSQF will be open to Penn undergraduates from all four schools who complete prerequisite coursework and stay for a fifth year. The program will combine financial economics with technical skills in AI and machine learning. Wharton Dean Erika James cited interest in Wharton offerings across Penn’s undergraduate schools and growing market demand for quantitative finance training.
So what? Jacobs’ donation follows a 2023 email in which he wrote that his future Penn donations “would be dependent upon the administration ensuring a safe, inclusive, and respectful academic environment for its students” amidst concerns of antisemitism on campus. His new support signals renewed donor confidence. The MSQF also expands access to Wharton’s business training, offering non-Wharton students the chance to earn a Wharton degree and gain in-demand technical skills. As job market competition rapidly evolves, such programs may become a key part of Penn’s academic and financial strategy.
FIRE criticizes Gov. Josh Shapiro’s legal ‘uniquely dangerous’ influence at Penn
FIRE, a nonpartisan campus free speech advocacy group, has criticized Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s role in Penn’s internal affairs, calling the situation a “uniquely dangerous” example of state overreach of a private university.
FIRE Government Affairs Counsel Michael Hurley (L’25) notes that, under the Statutes of the Trustees at Penn, the Governor of Pennsylvania has an ex officio role on the university’s board. After the October 7 Hamas attacks, Shapiro used that authority to appoint ally Robb Fox (C' ‘82) as his representative. Fox reportedly pushed for the removal of then-President Liz Magill and Board Chair Scott Bok, and joined Penn’s antisemitism task force.
The report also notes that when Jameson took office, Penn was seeking to reclaim $31 million in state funding for its veterinary school and $1.8 million for its Division of Infectious Diseases — both previously withheld by the state legislature over antisemitism concerns.
So what? After Penn’s “tumultuous 2024 spring semester,” the school adopted a new speech policy on campus events and demonstrations — a change that FIRE describes as vague, overbroad, and potentially subject to uneven enforcement. As a private university, Penn is not subject to public records laws, and FIRE raises concerns about the transparency behind such policies. FIRE links the timing to Governor Shapiro’s influence and the legislature’s funding threats, calling it a form of “jawboning,” or indirect state pressure that chills speech. From Penn’s perspective, however, the picture is more complex: as an academic institution, it must balance protecting speech and protest rights while maintaining an academic setting where students can learn that promotes academic excellence.
Penn Med partners with American University in Dubai to launch U.S.-style medical school
Penn Medicine partnered with the American University in Dubai (AUD) to help launch the UAE’s first American-style medical school, aiming to train the next generation of doctors locally and bolster the region’s healthcare system. The program will follow a U.S.-modeled MD degree, with a curriculum tailored to the UAE’s needs and co-developed with Penn.
At the launch event, Penn President Jameson framed the alliance as a way to elevate both Penn’s global reputation and AUD’s institutional standing. Glen Gaulton, the vice dean and director of the Center for Global Health at Penn Med noted the partnership would bring “Penn’s legacy of excellence” to the region. AUD President Kyle Long called Penn “a phenomenal partner.”
So what? Modeled on Penn’s 2018 alliance with Vietnam’s Vingroup where it helped launch and shape VinUniversity’s health sciences programs, the AUD-Penn alliance reflects Penn Med’s strategy of exporting its medical training model to fast-growing regions where quality healthcare demand is rising. While Penn is not opening a branch of its domestic campus or directly granting degrees in Dubai, the partnership will reportedly involve curriculum, admissions, and faculty guidance. Like the Vingroup Alliance, this Dubai collaboration extends Penn’s global education model, brand, and expertise without full academic control or financial liability.
Penn Carey Law unveils new fellowship, scholarship honoring its first black female graduate
Penn Carey Law has announced the launch of the Dr. Sadie T.M. Alexander Post-Graduate Fellowship, providing two years of support for graduates pursuing civil rights work. Starting in Fall 2026, it will prioritize projects focused on racial and economic justice in Philadelphia or Washington D.C. (where Alexander had “deep ties”).
The announcement follows backlash over the law school’s August decisions to suspend a prior scholarship honoring Alexander and to close its Office of Equal Opportunity and Engagement, as covered in our first newsletter.
So what? This fellowship reflects a broader shift at Penn to restructure DEI efforts to align with federal guidance while preserving stated commitments to access and equity. Amid executive orders targeting DEI programs and renewed federal scrutiny under Title VI, Penn has removed references to race across its schools and replaced them with race-neutral frameworks. Initiatives like the Alexander Fellowship or Penn Law’s new full-tuition scholarship for incoming students with the greatest financial need are now framed around geography, legacy, or income — models that may become increasingly prevalent to balance these dual interests.
Penn receives $21M gift for Jewish studies, rare collections, and plant science research
The estate of Louise Strauss (C’82) has gifted $21 million to Penn, supporting the Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies, Penn Libraries’ Rare Judaica Acquisitions Endowment, and Morris Arboretum & Gardens.
Strauss, who passed away in February 2024, was a longtime advocate for Jewish studies at Penn and served on the Katz Center’s board of advisors. President Jameson noted that Strauss’ gift “will have a lasting impact across multiple pillars of Penn’s academic mission” as it will fund global fellows at the Katz Center, expand Judaica acquisitions, and support Penn’s plant science research at the arboretum.
So what? Strauss’ gift is the latest in a string of major alumni donations. The gift also stands out for its deep investment in Jewish studies, bolstering Penn’s leadership in the field at a time of heightened national attention on campus antisemitism.
Thank you for reading the Franklin’s Forum newsletter! We love connecting with our readers — send us your thoughts and questions, Penn news, and ideas for future issues. If you enjoyed this edition, please spread the word by forwarding it to friends and classmates.