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 Medicine students start podcast to connect with FGLI students in medical field
The podcast, called “Med Legs," currently has eight episodes including topics like applying and interviewing for medical school to navigating academics as a FGLI student.
Students adapt study strategies in response to return of in-person exams
Both first years and sophomores are taking their first set of in-person midterms this semester, as sophomores took their exams online last year.
Here are the spring 2022 courses that double count
Advance course registration for spring 2022 opens Nov. 1 and closes Nov. 14.
Penn Libraries webinar traces conspiracy theory evolution from early France to modern America
The event, “Conspiracy Theory and Political Culture, Past and Present,” covered topics ranging from the use of social media as a means to spread conspiracy theories, to the future prevalence of conspiracy theories in American political culture.
Disabilities Services testing accommodation center closure inconveniences students
Students said they did not receive proper accommodations when the center, housed in Biotech Commons, closed for reconstruction.
Weingarten receives $2.6 million donation for new testing center and academic support
The donation will contribute to a new testing location scheduled to open in the fall of 2022 for students who need accommodations.
Two Penn Medicine professors elected to National Academy of Medicine
Ritchie and Tishkoff are among the 100 new members that were elected to join the academy’s most diverse class of new members, composed of around 50% women and 50% racial minorities.
Penn extends Weitzman dean's contract through 2025
Steiner first began his tenure as dean on July 1, 2016.
Calculus courses’ continued use of video instruction draws student pushback
Students must watch lectures on their own time and work through practice problems in class — a practice that began in fall 2020, when classes were taught entirely online.
SCUE launches website to prepare students for MATH 114 following reports of difficulty
The project reviews core concepts and prerequisite knowledge so that students can enter MATH 114: Calculus, Part II with more confidence regardless of their previous calculus experience.
Director of prestigious Yale program resigns due to donor influence over academics
The program director said that Yale allowed donors to exert inappropriate influence on the program’s curriculum by agreeing to the creation of a predominantly conservative advisory board.
Path@Penn will replace Penn InTouch in time for summer and fall 2022 course registration
Path@Penn is set to contain a number of improvements to the outdated Penn InTouch system, including a cleaner interface, mobile device compatibility, and the ability to swap courses instead of adding and dropping courses.
Asian American Studies Program adds faculty, co-director after fears for program’s survival
Under Asian American Studies professor Fariha Khan's co-directorship, the ASAM program will offer more courses, research and internship opportunities, and opportunities for collaboration and engagement with Asian American community organizations.
Penn announces new $100 million center for biomedical engineering research
The center will not have a physical building, but its work will be done at several of Penn's existing engineering buildings, according to SEAS Dean Vijay Kumar.
‘I know I’m supposed to be here’: Penn’s newest FGLI students adjust to being on campus
Some FGLI first years reported feeling pleasantly surprised by Penn's existing FGLI community and resources, though some added that they felt culture shock upon arriving on campus.
AAUP-Penn recommends classroom safety guidelines, accuses Penn of ‘downplaying’ COVID-19 risk
AAUP-Penn is doubling down on their push for Penn to allow instructors to choose whether to teach in person or virtually.
Students find block schedule inconvenient, unsafe as Locust Walk becomes crowded
The fall 2021 semester marks the beginning of the University's new block schedule format, which created standardized class start times and eliminated the possibility of back-to-back classes.
Some professors remain on Zoom despite resumption of in-person learning this semester
After having adapted their instruction methods for the last year and a half, many of these professors said those changes are here to stay — at least for now.
Penn hopeful entire semester will be in person after finding no COVID-19 classroom transmission
Penn currently has a positivity rate of 1.11%, a vaccination rate of 97% among faculty and undergraduates, and no classroom transmission has been found.