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 will mail all domestic undergrads COVID-19 tests and hold nearly all classes online
While colleges across the nation are reversing their fall plans, the University continues to stand by its initial hybrid instruction model. The vast majority of undergraduate fall classes will be held online, the statement read, with very few in-person offerings.
Students opting to stay home this fall cite health concerns and campus restrictions
Some students are not satisfied with the University's preventative methods to reduce the spread of COVID-19, such as contact tracing, testing, and restrictions on social gatherings over 25 people.
Penn summer courses enroll students in 30% more course units than 2019
Vice Dean for Liberal and Professional Education Nora Lewis said 2020 summer enrollment has increased by approximately 850-900 course units as compared to 2019.
Former criminology students call on department to discuss race in curriculum
The letter also called on the Criminology department to diversify its current faculty members and future Master’s cohorts.
Wharton creates business-focused summer webinar series for parents
'Wharton Families: Summer Webinar Series' consists of five virtual one-hour presentations that are conducted weekly by Wharton faculty members on topics including online marketing, big data, and resilience.
Wharton partners with historically Black medical school in Nashville for M.D./Ph.D. program
Meharry Medical College students selected for the program will earn a medical degree from Meharry and a Ph.D. from Wharton.
Rising seniors concerned about social life, course quality ahead of their final fall term
A college career defined by in-person experiences and a bustling campus was quickly halted by a global pandemic this spring — an obstacle that rising seniors never envisioned would mark the end of their time at Penn.
As Phila. schools plan to reopen, ABCS courses adapt to support local students this fall
Penn faculty and School District of Philadelphia partners have been collaborating to figure out how to adapt ABCS courses to an online format, ABCS Research and Program Coordinator Faustine Sun said.
Rising Nursing seniors may return to campus by July 21 to make up spring pediatric clinical
After self-quarantining for two weeks, rising Nursing seniors have the option to complete their missed in-person clinical pediatric experience from Aug. 4 to Aug. 15, 2020 for NURS 225: Pediatric Nursing, a required Nursing course for juniors.
Graduate students teaching this fall are frustrated by lack of support from Penn
Some graduate students who are currently weighing whether to teach courses in person this fall expressed confusion and frustration over the lack of support for graduate and professional students in Penn's fall 2020 plan.
Wharton announces 'Remote Plus' plan for fall 2020 instruction
Wharton's fall classes enrolling more than 48 students will be conducted online, with classes of fewer than 48 students potentially offered in a hybrid format.
Here’s how Penn’s graduate schools are planning for the fall semester
Each school that has announced a plan so far will implement a hybrid of in-person and remote instruction on campus, with varying levels of in-person instruction.
Professors are wary of in-person teaching following Penn’s hybrid semester announcement
Under Penn's hybrid model, courses with more than 25 students will be recorded and taught remotely while all smaller courses may be taught in person, at the discretion of the individual professor, and with larger seating space permitted.
New fall course will study how COVID-19 exposes inequalities in U.S. and Latin America
The speaking intensive seminar, taught in English, will study foundational critical theory alongside recent media, activism, and policy to analyze the pandemic's impact on poor communities and people of color.
Organic chemistry lab splits into two semesters beginning fall 2020
The undergraduate chemistry department announced that in fall 2020 and onwards, the 1.0 course unit organic chemistry lab, CHEM 245 Experimental Organic Chemistry, will be offered as two 0.5 course unit labs.
With most fall classes online, incoming transfer students worry about social transition
While they will be present on campus in the fall, incoming transfers are concerned that online instruction and the Student Campus Compact will make the transition to the University more difficult than normal.
Intl. students hesitant to return to campus, citing travel restrictions and COVID-19 risks
Responses to an AIS survey so far suggest “no clear majority” among the three options — going back, staying home, or unsure — for what international students plan to do in the fall.
All Nursing courses, besides labs and clinicals, will be conducted online in fall 2020
Regardless of size, all Penn Nursing lectures, seminars, and discussion groups will be conducted online in the fall, according to a June 29 announcement from Nursing School faculty. Clinicals and simulation and skills labs — the majority of which were moved online last semester — will still be held in person in the fall.
How chemistry, physics, biology, neuroscience lab courses will be conducted in fall 2020
All chemistry lab courses will be taught entirely remotely for fall 2020 with potential optional in-person experience, Merriam Professor of Chemistry and Chemistry Undergraduate Chair Jeffrey Winkler said.