Student Life
Van Pelt Library opens to Penn community, visitors ahead of in-person fall semester
Individuals no longer need to schedule an appointment or make a reservation to browse the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center's stacks or to use self-serve study areas.
New student group aims to prepare members for a career in aerospace business
In spring 2021, WUAC hosted a case competition where teams designed a proposal to present to a panel of industry experts, including Harry Partridge, NASA’s Ames Center Chief Technologist.
Penn will 'strongly recommend' — but not require — mask-wearing indoors, joining CDC
The move comes as COVID-19 cases across the country continue to rise, largely due to the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant. Penn will continue to monitor the situation and the decision may change in the future.
Online teaching negatively impacts student learning, Wharton professor’s study finds
The researchers found that no particular demographic was more impacted by the effects of online learning and that certain learning techniques were more effective.
A look back at Amy Gutmann’s greatest accomplishments in her 17 years as Penn president
As Gutmann awaits U.S. Senate confirmation for her ambassadorship, here's a look at her greatest accomplishments during her 17-year presidency.
Students are excited to be on campus, but cautious about COVID-19 variants
Students said that they were looking forward to socializing on campus after two semesters of online learning. For some, it would be their first time stepping on campus.
Penn Museum, Philadelphia Museum of Art partner to offer summer discounts for visitors
Visitors can purchase discounted tickets until Labor Day on Sept. 6 and will be provided with a one-use voucher that can be utilized until Sept. 20.
Penn Law students revitalize club to petition against University-sponsored travel to Israel
Penn Law Students for Justice in Palestine released a statement on July 2 discouraging students from participating in itrek, an annual academic trip to Israel for business, law, policy, and STEM students.
Students call Gutmann’s nomination a ‘great opportunity,’ but are wary of leadership change
In an email sent to the Penn community, Gutmann said she intends to serve as Penn president until June 30, 2022, as originally intended, or until the Senate confirms her ambassadorship.
Student leaders praise Penn's decision to hold 2021 pre-orientation programs in person
The five University Life pre-orientation programs were previously held virtually in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For first time ever, Penn sophomores will participate in their own orientation program
Many rising sophomores expressed excitement and said that they hope to meet people through the programming and, for some, to take their first steps on campus.
Penn announces $94 million project to renovate graduate student dorm Sansom Place East
This summer, a variety of construction projects are underway, including on the Graduate School of Education, Pennovation Works, and the Class of 1949 Generational Bridge.
‘Very bittersweet’: Associate Director of La Casa Latina Kareli Lizarraga leaves Penn
2013 College graduate and Associate Director of La Casa Latina Kareli Lizarraga ended her position on June 30, making Director of La Casa Latina Krista Cortes the only remaining staff member.
Some students say they feel comfortable attending Made in America, citing vaccination rates
Some Penn students that plan on attending the festival said that concert reopenings generally felt safe as more Philadelphia residents become vaccinated.
Penn LGBTQ groups host in-person events for Pride Month as COVID-19 restrictions ease
The celebration of Pride Month highlighted the sense of unity among queer and allied members of the Penn community.
Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts rebrands to ‘Penn Live Arts’
The rebranding will give the center the opportunity to grow and expand programming beyond Penn's campus by holding upcoming performances at Morris Arboretum and the Church of the Holy Trinity.
Penn Law students urge admin. to arrange meeting about student debt with Biden officials
A group of Penn Law students collectively wrote an open letter to refute Biden's argument that Ivy League students are undeserving of student debt relief.
Penn confirms plans to conduct fully in-person fall semester
Fully vaccinated students will not be required to submit to any form of regular COVID-19 testing, as they had been in the spring 2021 semester.
Students, professor deem spring 2021 course taught using virtual reality a success
Students attended INTR 391: Senior Seminar for Thesis Research using virtual reality headsets, which allowed them to customize their avatars, walk around, and have face-to-face conversations with their classmates.