Covid
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf endorses Joe Biden for president
In a May 27 livestream, Wolf announced his endorsement for Biden, stating he believes Biden is the best candidate to lead the country out of the coronavirus pandemic.
High demand for mail-in ballots sparks concern that some votes may not be counted on June 2
Mail-in ballots must be received by county elections officials by 8 p.m. on June 2, next Tuesday, to be counted. A postmark prior to that time will not count.
Zoom tutoring and outdoor classes: Netter Center and profs. prepare for fall ABCS courses
Even in a possibly remote semester, professors are trying to retain the community service aspect of ABCS courses.
Alfredo Praticò | Is an in-person fall even possible?
No matter what Penn announces, it will be a surprise and a far cry from the normal semesters of the past.
Mapping U.S. colleges' fall 2020 plans
In real time, these interactive maps are tracking the fall reopening policies of over 320 colleges across each of the 50 states. Double click to zoom into the maps.
Professors adjust course plans as fall semester details remain uncertain
Professors are adapting their courses to prepare for each of the four scenarios listed in the May 21 email regarding possibilities for the fall semester.
Guest Column by Mary Shin | Address racial disparities in contact tracing
Technology and surveillance methods are ingrained in the problem of social disparities.
Students forced to break leases, make new housing plans as coronavirus fallout continues
Students have broken their off-campus leases and signed new ones for the summer and upcoming academic year as the virus has brought health and financial concerns to many families.
Wharton Academic Research Building opening delayed from fall 2020 to spring 2021
After a seven-week delay, construction of the Wharton Academic Research Building restarted on May 1.
Live updates — Penn's response to the coronavirus outbreak
Provost Wendell Pritchett wrote in an email to all graduate school professors on Sunday evening that researchers must discontinue all non-essential on-campus research activities by March 17 to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
University's retrieval policy draws mixed reactions from on-campus residents
Some students, having been unable to retrieve belongings from their dorms for months, are frustrated by Penn Residential Services’ recently announced procedures for letting students retrieve, store, or ship their items.
Wharton coronavirus course taken by over 2,400 people deemed a success by students, faculty
Guest lecturers included Penn President Amy Gutmann, National Bureau of Economic Research Fellow Kent Smetters, and Wharton Dean Geoffrey Garrett, among others.
Saying goodbye to graduating seniors from every spring team
The Penn Class of 2020 featured some truly outstanding athletes, many of whom had their careers cut short due to the coronavirus.
Here’s how Philadelphia-area colleges are planning for the fall semester
Institutions in the Philadelphia region are considering many variations of college life, including full in-person instruction, hybrid in-person and virtual instruction, and a fully virtual semester.
Penn study finds political beliefs affect how Americans follow distancing guidelines
The researchers found that people who identified as Democrats were more likely to engage in physical distancing than people who identified as Republicans.
Penn adds 300 seats to summer courses to compensate for 70% increase in enrollment
Each undergraduate school will likely continue to add more courses, seats, and sections for Summer Session II as students continue to demonstrate interest to their academic advisors.
Training from home poses numerous challenges for Penn football
Coming off a slightly disappointing season, the Quakers were looking to use spring training to prepare for the fall. Now, the players will train from home.
Engineering students find online classes less engaging, worry about a remote fall semester
Penn's School of Engineering and Applied Science emphasizes a hands-on approach to education and after a semester of online labs and lectures, students are concerned by the possibility of more virtual classes.
Harvard Medical School first years will have all fall classes online
Four HMS deans announced on May 13 that while all first-year students will be taught remotely, all returning students will have classes taught on campus and will have access to research labs and clinical facilities.