Heather Schwedel
Recent articles
Looking Ahead - A Series (Part 4 of 4) | Officials hope to avoid other Ivies' expansion woes
Three schools in the Ivy League have set their sights on bold campus-expansion plans. But while Penn is sitting pretty with a blueprint to expand into the Postal Lands directly east of campus, plans at Columbia and Harvard Universities to extend into non-adjacent neighborhoods have created a host of issues.
Perspective: Reaching beyond tuition
They drove you to soccer practice; they guided you through the college application process. When it came time for dorm shopping, they made checklists. And now that classes are in full swing, they expect daily e-mails. Some people call them "helicopter parents," and, somewhat improbably, they might just be the next big thing in college fundraising.
Quantifying Quality: Dozens of spots from the top, universities stay nonchalant
Part four in a four-part series Quantifying QualityThis week, the 'DP' looks at the history and impact of the 'U.S. News' rankingsMonday: Penn's rise through the rankingsTuesday: An analysis of ranking criteriaYesterday: The history of the rankingsToday: 'U.
Wharton welcomes new head of school
Following a large-scale, six-month search that ended in late June, Penn President Amy Gutmann and Provost Ron Daniels announced that Thomas Robertson will become the dean of the Wharton School.
Robertson named Wharton Dean
Thomas Robertson will lead the Wharton School as its new dean, Penn President Amy Gutmann and Provost Ron Daniels announced last week. As Wharton's 13th dean, Robertson will be responsible for increasing the school's global presence, diversity and interdisciplinary efforts.
Robertson named new Wharton dean
President Amy Gutmann and Provost Ron Daniels announced today that Thomas Robertson, currently affiliated with Emory University, will become the next Dean of Wharton, effective Aug. 1.
Penn students may have been drafted by Knox
As the dust from last week's decisive mayoral primary settles, some are questioning the scruples surrounding the use of community service workers to man a pre-election event supporting second-place candidate Tom Knox. Several Penn students among those completing court- or school-ordered community service hours at the time, said they were surprised when supervisors instructed them to set up food and amusements at a West Philadelphia park where Knox later gave a speech.
Wharton vice dean to leave in July
Wharton Vice Dean and Undergraduate Division Director Barbara Kahn will be the third dean to leave Wharton for another position this year.
Chop, slice, dice - and a dose of competition
On Spruce Street, behold a clash of the salad titans. Located just a few steps away from each other, Saladworks and Gia Pronto may feature similar menus, but their cultures are vastly different. Saladworks is simple and efficient, one of dozens of franchises in the New Jersey and Pennsylvania area.
Ditching textbooks for partying
During reading days, typical Penn attire can range from shabby pajamas and sweats to swanky suits and evening gowns. Although the University bills reading period as a time for studying, it is also during these three days that many Penn student groups, especially fraternities and sororities, schedule year-end formal events.
Seniors pay final dues via gowns
These days, a Penn diploma will set you back a cool $180,000. Wait - make that $180,044.95. Plus tax. If members of Penn's graduating Class of 2007 want to flip their tassels at Commencement next month, they will have to wear required regalia purchased at the Penn Bookstore.
Temple prof to head Office of Student Conduct
Former assistant district attorney Susan Herron will become the next director of Penn's Office of Student Conduct, Provost Ronald Daniels announced last week. She will assume the post on July 1. The OSC is in charge of confidentially investigating and resolving student violations of Penn's conduct code, including issues of academic integrity and substance abuse.
SAS recruiting budget scaled back
The School of Arts and Sciences has scaled back this year's faculty recruiting efforts due to unprecedented success last year, and some officials say smaller academic programs are feeling the squeeze the worst. According to Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Dennis DeTurck, Penn's recruitment and retention efforts last year were more successful than administrators had anticipated.
Meet the men behind the money
NEW YORK, N.Y. - He may not look it, but Penn Trustee George Weiss is akin to a fairy godmother - well, almost. Weiss wears a suit and tie instead of a wand and wings, but he and other supporters of undergraduate financial aid at the University make wishes come true by providing scholarships for hundreds of Penn students each year.
*Faust: 'Innate differences' no more
Drew Gilpin Faust is set to take the reigns as Harvard University's 28th president this summer, but whether she will also become the institution's first female president is now less certain. In confidential documents obtained by The Daily Pennsylvanian, several members of Harvard's Board of Overseers called Faust's gender into question.
On-campus recruiting, for faculty
They say "those who can't do, teach," but at Wharton, "those who can't do" may be few and far between. Over this past year alone, two prominent Wharton faculty members, including the current dean, Patrick Harker, have announced plans to leave the business school for outside post.
Robb's lawyer moves to overturn case
The lawyer of accused murderer and Penn Economics professor Rafael Robb is hoping to keep the three-month-old case out of court. Earlier this week, Robb's defense lawyer Frank DeSimone filed two motions in the Montgomery County Court challenging the ruling that the case had sufficient evidence to go to trial.
U. Council holds monthly meeting
Some students are calling on the University to investigate whether its policy on blood donations is discriminatory. This issue and others were on the agenda at last night's University Council meeting. The UC, composed of faculty, undergraduates, graduate students and University administrators, convenes each month to discuss University-wide issues.
Penn hired for more than just acting skills
Most Penn professors have Ph.D.'s; Kal Penn has a Teen Choice Award nomination. Officials announced over the weekend that Penn, an actor best-known for his role in the 2004 comedy Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, will teach two courses at the University next spring.
Financial Aid: Revamped packages reach out to middle-income families
In the University's quest to increase access to a Penn education, middle-income students are the next frontier.
