Student Life
International first-year students taking an entirely online course load cannot enter U.S.
About 14% of admitted students to the Class of 2024 classify as international students who come from 98 countries, placing over 450 admitted international first years at risk under the restrictions.
Community service groups plan to volunteer virtually in the fall
After determining how they can be most effective to the communities they partner with, student groups such as A Moment of Magic, Camp Kesem, and West Philadelphia Tutoring Project all decided to operate virtually this fall.
All pre-orientation programs will proceed virtually in 2020
Applications are now open for the Class of 2024 and fall 2020 transfer students to apply for any of the University's five pre-orientation programs — PENNacle, PennArts, PennCORP, PennGreen, and PennQuest.
New Student Orientation and Convocation will be online for incoming first years, transfers
David Fox, director of NSO and the Penn Reading Project, said Convocation may be run in a similar form to the Class of 2020's virtual commencement this spring. NSO will be held primarily through Thrive at Penn modules on Canvas.
‘Life or death’: Immunocompromised students fear return to campus
As some immunocompromised students prepare to return to campus despite the health risks posed by the ongoing pandemic, they worry that their peers may not take the threat of the virus seriously — potentially endangering their lives.
Rising seniors concerned about social life, course quality ahead of their final fall term
A college career defined by in-person experiences and a bustling campus was quickly halted by a global pandemic this spring — an obstacle that rising seniors never envisioned would mark the end of their time at Penn.
Students concerned about new on-campus housing arrangements for fall 2020
Prior to receiving their new fall housing assignments, students planning to live on campus expressed concern of being separated from their intended roommates and confusion about the social aspect of new living arrangements. All rooms will be charged the same rate.
Police Free Penn demands abolition of Penn Police Department, redress of anti-Black violence
Police Free Penn seeks to reimagine police-free strategies to ensure community safety and well-being, and demands that the University reinvest in community-controlled funds, particularly in West Philadelphia.
Student groups can now donate revenue after Office of Student Affairs reverses policy
In a June 29 email to Student Activities Council groups, OSA Associate Director of Activities Rodney Robinson announced that SAC-funded student groups may donate their unused revenue to charities.
Penn to file amicus brief supporting MIT, Harvard lawsuit against ICE restrictions
According to an email sent to the DP on Wednesday afternoon, Penn will file an amicus brief in today's lawsuit brought against new ICE restrictions barring many international students from studying in the U.S. this fall.
Professors are wary of in-person teaching following Penn’s hybrid semester announcement
Under Penn's hybrid model, courses with more than 25 students will be recorded and taught remotely while all smaller courses may be taught in person, at the discretion of the individual professor, and with larger seating space permitted.
Incoming first years remain positive about fall, despite concerns about social life, health
While students expressed an understanding of the importance of coronavirus prevention measures, they believe the restrictions on large gatherings and in-person classes will negatively affect their semester.
With most fall classes online, incoming transfer students worry about social transition
While they will be present on campus in the fall, incoming transfers are concerned that online instruction and the Student Campus Compact will make the transition to the University more difficult than normal.
Ivy League universities wrestle with deep-rooted ties to slavery, racism
Institutions such as Penn, Yale, and Princeton have deep-rooted ties to slavery and other discriminatory practices, prompting students to call on their schools to address and denounce their pasts.
Mamta Motwani Accapadi named Penn's Vice Provost for University Life
Penn Provost Wendell Pritchett made the announcement on Tuesday that Mamta Motwani Accapadi will replace Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum as Penn’s new VPUL on Aug. 17. Accapadi will arrive to Penn with committed to goals of inclusion, community, and social justice.
The DP spoke with two of Penn’s health experts. Here’s what you need to know about fall 2020.
Chief Wellness Officer Benoit Dubé and Director of Campus Health Ashlee Halbritter discussed health and safety initiatives for bringing students back to campus, including the Student Campus Compact, and emphasized that many specifics of Penn's plan remain fluid.
Housing, academics, finances among students’ chief concerns with Penn's fall 2020 plan
Shortly after the University released its fall semester plan to open campus and offer instruction in a hybrid format, students voiced mixed reactions. While some are concerned about intense time zone differences, Penn's testing abilities, and housing, others are excited to return to campus.
Penn will conduct fall 2020 on campus with hybrid of online and in-person instruction
Penn will invite students back to campus on Sept. 1 for a hybrid fall 2020 semester with a mixture of in-person and virtual instruction. The remainder of the semester will be conducted online after Thanksgiving break.
More than half of surveyed Penn students prefer on-campus, hybrid instruction for fall 2020
The DP surveyed undergraduates to gauge what students hope to see and are currently most concerned about regarding fall 2020. Over half of the nearly 1,000 respondents prefer a hybrid model of in-person and online instruction, while only 9% preferring an entirely remote, online option.