Female enrollment in Penn Engineering currently stands at about 40%, which Engineering Dean Vijay Kumar said is not enough.

While faculty members welcomed the option to submit a pandemic impact statement, some expressed concern over how answers would be interpreted.

University spokesperson Stephen MacCarthy did not respond to a request for comment about whether the University is aware of the petition and if it is considering moving the date of commencement, which coincides with Shavuot.

The event — which some student and faculty leaders say is an important step in a longer process of voicing climate concerns to administrators — will take place on April 7 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. 

To commemorate the 52 weeks since the University was evacuated, The Daily Pennsylvanian spoke to 52 members of the Penn community, who shared how the pandemic has impacted their lives.

Yesterday's incident follows an increase in incidents of discrimination and violence directed against Asian and Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In an email sent an email to faculty on Monday morning, top University administrators cited the increasing availability of vaccines and Biden's recent promise to make every adult in the United States eligible for vaccination by May 1 as reason to be hopeful about a nearing end to the pandemic.

Only seniors who have participated in Penn's asymptomatic testing program this semester and who have not had housing or access to campus revoked because of a Campus Compact violation will be eligible to participate.

As May approaches and the threat of COVID-19 still looms large, many universities are reconsidering their plans to hold in-person commencement ceremonies for the classes of 2020 and 2021.

University officials announced the three projects are all set to begin construction in 2022 and will carry steep price tags. 

Although the University does not yet know when vaccines will be available for students, Pritchett said it is prepared for quick and seamless distribution.

Next year's cost of attendance will total $79,014. The increase is notably lower than the typical 3.9% annual tuition hike, a move Penn President Amy Gutmann said is intended to benefit families amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Brown University and Princeton University have recently canceled their plans to hold an in-person ceremony for the Class of 2020 this spring.

Project proposals must directly address at least one of three objectives: eradicating or reducing systematic racism, achieving educational equity, or reducing health disparities. 

Eight of the 15 topics at Wednesday's forum covered a wide range of climate-related demands, including mitigating the climate risk for Philadelphians and supporting issues of race and the environment.

All classes will be held online, but COVID-19 testing will continue with a modified schedule at a limited number of sites.

Hundreds have taken to a Change.org petition to voice dissatisfaction with the policy. A petition calling for the cancellation of the policy garnered more than 400 signatures as of the evening of Feb. 16.