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.
SCUE hosts 2024 Education Week to promote community engagement, academic development
Throughout the week, SCUE hosted several events open to undergraduate students, offering opportunities to explore civic engagement and academic success initiatives at the University.
Why Penn dropped to No. 10 in the 2024-25 U.S. News & World Report rankings
Penn's average cost of attendance increased from last year, the most notable change from the 2023-2024 rankings.
Penn Engineering signs memorandum of understanding with Plaksha University to advance joint research
This agreement will enable faculty, researchers and students to engage in cross-cultural exchanges and advance research in both institutions, according to the Penn Engineering Blog.
Penn first year competed as one of 30 semifinalists in global science video competition
Aguilar, who made his video about a mathematical concept called the Fourier transform, advanced to the semifinalist round.
Penn's Biology Department removes concentrations, prompting mixed reactions from students
While the decision to remove the concentrations does not impact already-declared students, prospective students are no longer able to declare a concentration.
Wharton names inaugural Bantwal Family Goldman Sachs professor
Penn President Larry Jameson and Wharton Dean Erika James announced McDonnell's appointment in a June 4, 2024 press release.
Penn falls to lowest U.S. News ranking since 1997 while Princeton, MIT notch top spots
Princeton University claimed the No. 1 spot, followed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in No. 2 and Harvard University in No. 3.
Steven Fluharty to step down as School of Arts and Sciences dean after 12 years
Fluharty’s 12 years leading the school make him the longest serving dean in SAS history.
Penn student government leaders lead campaign to ease transfer course credit application process
The XCAT Working Group was formed in October 2023 with the goal of addressing the challenges faced by transfer students in the process of receiving transfer credit.
Several Penn classes explore presidential election amid tumultuous campaign
Here are four courses highlighting how Penn is approaching teaching about the election.
New College dean defends liberal arts, talks protests and curriculum changes in DP interview
In a conversation with the DP, Struck discussed the value of the liberal arts in managing political discourse and heightened tensions on campus.
Penn History Department launches political history concentration for undergraduate majors
The concentration officially opened to all undergraduate history majors on Aug. 19.
Former Penn President Amy Gutmann returns to Penn as Annenberg professor
After resigning from her ambassadorship in May, Gutmann is returning to Penn as the Christopher H. Browne Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Professor of Communication.
Penn to offer new law and society major in the College of Arts and Sciences
The new major will prepare students to “identify and explain patterns of social life and human behavior by emphasizing how large-scale social phenomena … affect the everyday experiences of individuals and vice versa.”
The Penn policies and guidelines central to the pro-Palestinian encampment on College Green
There are several University policies, including both facilities policies and the Interpretative Guidelines on Open Expression, that Jameson might be referencing in his approach to the encampment.
Penn's interim president, provost meet with organizers of pro-Palestinian encampment
Organizers wrote in a statement that until the encampment's demands are met, they "will continue to occupy this space."
Penn faculty group slams interim president's demand for pro-Palestinian encampment to disband
"Do not escalate the situation. Do not violate the rights of students and faculty. Remember that the actions you choose to take today will be your legacy," the letter read.
Penn threatens consequences for breaking University policies, laws amid pro-Palestinian encampment
The University also outlined what conditions will prompt it to respond to the encampment.
Penn students seek dueling referendums on Israel divestment as campus tensions rise
In a joint statement to the DP on Wednesday night, NEC Chair and UA President Ria Ellendula expressed support for the process of initiating a referendum based on student concerns.