Academics
There’s always something new going on at Penn’s four undergraduate schools and 12 graduate schools. Look here for information on upcoming academic initiatives, new classes and research conducted by professors and students.
Penn receives $25M donation from James and Agnes Kim Family Foundation
This new gift will create an academic center within the Korean Studies program that will sponsor a global conference and promote collaboration with Philadelphia’s Korean community.
Penn Law School announces new equity initiatives amid Amy Wax investigation
Ruger and Finkelstein wrote that Penn Law will contribute over $8 million in new investments over the next five years to expand financial access.
Penn Museum to hold virtual lecture on antiquities trafficking and art crime
Guest speakers Special Agent Jake Archer of the FBI Art Crime Team and Assistant U.S. Attorney K.T. Newton will discuss recent issues surrounding art and antiquity fraud during the lecture on Feb. 17.
Penn professor named Association for Computing Machinery Fellow for computer science research
Adani President's Distinguished Professor of Computer and Informational Science Zachary Ives was honored as one of 71 ACM fellows.
Penn Libraries holds Douglass Day event to honor Frederick Douglass and Black women in history
Along with a transcribe-a-thon, the event included other activities like group songs and national broadcasts with live speakers.
Penn receives record $125 million donation to establish tuition-free nursing program
The donation from Wharton graduate Leonard Lauder will fund a program to recruit and prepare a group of nurse practitioners to work in underserved communities across the nation.
Wharton Behavioral Lab now running in-person studies from newly renovated lab space
The WBL resumed in-person studies in its upgraded lab space in the fall 2021 semester, with sample sizes of 150 to 200 participants per study.
Penn Violence Prevention Director Malik Washington leaves post, sparking national search for new director
Associate Vice Provost for University Life Sharon Smith and PVP Associate Director Reema Malhotra are currently leading PVP, according to VPUL's Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives Michael Elias.
Penn senior Erin Hayes awarded scholarship to study astronomy at University of Cambridge
Hayes is the 33rd Gates Cambridge Scholar from Penn since the program's inception in 2001, and she will begin her studies at the University of Cambridge this October.
Over 150 Penn faculty rebuke U.S. government for racial profiling of Chinese academics
The China Initiative was unveiled in 2018 during the Trump administration under the guise of preventing economic and technological espionage by — or for the benefit of — the Chinese government.
Kelly Writers House holds book launch for Penn professor Weike Wang's new novel
The event took place on Feb. 7 at the Kelly Writers House’s Arts Café and was hosted by Penn Artist-in-Residence Piyali Bhattacharya.
Temple University Professor Xiaoxing Xi seeks reinstatement of lawsuit against FBI
Lawyers representing Xi and his wife asked a Philadelphia appeals court to reinstate his lawsuit against the United States government in a brief filed Monday.
Yale University creates committee to investigate donation policy
While the committee will provide recommendations, it is unclear if it will have the authority to modify Yale's policy.
Participants deem first Penn Global Seminar in two years a success — despite COVID-19 cases
When the class arrived in mainland Ecuador, eight group members tested positive for COVID-19, and completed their quarantine in Guayaquil while the remaining seven returned to the United States.
Former Penn professor and Grammy-winning composer George Crumb dies at 92
Considered an accomplished avant-garde composer, Crumb gained public recognition as a talented composer in the 1960s and 1970s.
Path@Penn to replace Penn InTouch on March 14 ahead of advance registration
Path@Penn, which was created by Next Generation Student System, will be a renovated version of Penn InTouch and offers many changes that students have been asking for.
New SNF Paideia program course on political empathy screens dialogue-based documentary
The 60-minute documentary brought together twelve individuals on different areas of the political spectrum in order to test whether it was possible to bridge their ideological divides.
Penn professor submits map for Pennsylvania redistricting using computational strategies
The map, submitted by a team of 12 mathematicians, was created using computational redistricting methods, meaning computers were used to test options for potential congressional maps that comply with the legal requirements, according to Gressman.
Penn Student Federal Credit Union has opened applications for its $1000 annual scholarship
The scholarship — which closes on March 31 — is open to all Penn undergraduate students who receive financial aid or have outstanding student loans.