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.
Study abroad returns with limited options this semester
Travel to seven countries resumed after Penn suspended study abroad programs in spring 2020 due to global travel restrictions and health risks.
First years and sophomores enjoy in-person classes, social life after virtual learning
While students have eagerly awaited a return to in-person campus life, some are also feeling a sense of anxiety associated with in-person interactions.
Penn suspended operations Thursday. But some classes were still held virtually.
Some professors assumed that only in-person classes were canceled and planned to hold class on Zoom before receiving further communication from administrators that no classes could be held.
In-person classes and accessible class recordings: A guide to Penn’s academic scene this fall
Undergraduate courses are set to be primarily delivered in person with limited exceptions, remaining in line with administrators' original plans announced in April.
A rundown of Penn’s FGLI student resources this fall
Students can join various FGLI-oriented clubs and take advantage of academic resources.
Ten tips for navigating your first in-person semester at Penn
The Daily Pennsylvanian reached out to Penn students and faculty for advice on how incoming first years, transfer students, and sophomores can succeed in their first in-person semester.
Penn Medicine establishes professorship, fellowship for vaccine research and development
Professor of Medicine Drew Weissman — whose research allowed for the development of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine — was named the inaugural Roberts Family Professor in Vaccine Research.
As Penn’s 2021 summer course session ends, some students say they will miss online learning
Students generally expressed that while they are looking forward to the switch to in-person learning in the fall, they will miss the flexibility of online courses.
Penn community members are once again required to wear masks indoors
A total of 80% of students enrolled in on-campus programs and 84% of faculty and staff have reported being fully vaccinated. The University expects the community vaccination rate to reach 90% by September.
Prof. Dache becomes first tenured, female, Latinx professor in Graduate School of Education
Dache’s research focuses on how historical challenges and racial demographics influence access to higher education in places such as Havana, Cuba; Cape Town, South Africa; Ferguson, Missouri; and Rochester, New York.
Penn Vet, Pa. Game Commission investigate cause of mysterious songbird deaths
Initially, Penn Vet solely tracked the cases of sickness and death, but they are now focused on finding the underlying source of the illness, the Centre Daily Times reported.
New student group aims to prepare members for a career in aerospace business
In spring 2021, WUAC hosted a case competition where teams designed a proposal to present to a panel of industry experts, including Harry Partridge, NASA’s Ames Center Chief Technologist.
Online teaching negatively impacts student learning, Wharton professor’s study finds
The researchers found that no particular demographic was more impacted by the effects of online learning and that certain learning techniques were more effective.
A look back at Amy Gutmann’s greatest accomplishments in her 17 years as Penn president
As Gutmann awaits U.S. Senate confirmation for her ambassadorship, here's a look at her greatest accomplishments during her 17-year presidency.
Penn Museum to open new exhibit on fashion history called ‘The Stories We Wear’ in September
The exhibit called "The Stories We Wear" is set to open on Sept. 25 and will be available for nine months for visitors of the Penn Museum.
Penn astronomers discover largest comet in modern history that will be visible in 2031
Comet Bernardinelli-Bernstein was named after Pedro Bernardinelli, who received his Ph.D. in astrophysics from Penn in 2021, and professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics Gary Bernstein, the astronomers who discovered it.
Nine fellows selected as 2021 Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellows for Academic Diversity
The fellows — who will conduct research across five of Penn’s schools — come from a variety of backgrounds and possess a wide breadth of research interests.
Penn confirms plans to conduct fully in-person fall semester
Fully vaccinated students will not be required to submit to any form of regular COVID-19 testing, as they had been in the spring 2021 semester.
Students, professor deem spring 2021 course taught using virtual reality a success
Students attended INTR 391: Senior Seminar for Thesis Research using virtual reality headsets, which allowed them to customize their avatars, walk around, and have face-to-face conversations with their classmates.