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.
Here’s how Penn’s pass/fail grading policy compares to the rest of the Ivy League
In light of the coronavirus outbreak, five Ivy League schools — including Penn — have implemented an opt-in pass/fail policy, while three are mandatory pass/fail.
As peer institutions adopt mandatory pass/fail policy, Penn says it has 'no plan' to do so
Harvard University, Stanford University, and Columbia University have established policies that make all classes graded on a pass/fail, pass/no credit, or satisfactory/no credit basis.
Students praise Penn Law's decision to convert all classes to Credit/Fail
Students commended the school's transparency in the decision-making process and thanked the school for listening to student opinion before making a final decision.
Over 1,300 students tune in to first Wharton coronavirus lecture
Students praised the lecture, which analyzed policies intended to combat the coronavirus and their economic impacts, for its interdisciplinary approach.
With lab courses shifting online, students are worried about losing hands-on experiences
Some lab classes were canceled altogether, while others were replaced with pre-recorded videos of professors and teaching-assistants performing the labs.
Spotty Wi-fi and time zone issues: FGLI and intl. students adapt to online classes
Penn's first week of online classes was not without technological issues. But many students praised professors for their dedication and compassion amidst COVID-19.
Virtual instruction complicates volunteering in Philadelphia for ABCS courses
Academically Based Community Service course professors are grappling with how to redesign their classes in light of Penn shifting to virtual instruction due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Penn Law will implement a mandatory Credit/Fail grading system for spring 2020
Penn Law Dean Ted Ruger announced in an email to Penn law students on Wednesday that the new grading system will apply to all law students and full-semester classes.
In a new course on pantomiming, students will study — and dress up as — Charlie Chaplin
The seminar will examine the history of European-style pantomime and the social and political impacts of Chaplin’s twentieth-century silent films.
Penn professors are 'pleasantly surprised' after first few days of virtual classes
For many professors, the first day of virtual classes, conducted via online platforms like Zoom, went well despite worries that virtual learning would detract from the quality of instruction.
Virtual experiments and mailed equipment: How professors are moving labs online
Some lab classes have been canceled altogether while others will require students to watch and analyze pre-recorded videos of their teaching assistants completing the labs.
Students praise flexibility of pass/fail policy, but some want a later deadline to opt in
Some students praised the policy's flexibility but demand an extended deadline to choose pass/fail, while others claimed students in less privileged environments during the coronavirus pandemic will continue to be at a disadvantage.
Penn students can now opt in to pass/fail grading for all courses. Here’s what that means.
The new University-wide pass/fail policy eliminates many restrictions that the four undergraduate schools have placed on pass/fail courses.
Penn will allow students to opt in to pass/fail grading for all courses by April 13
Provost Wendell Pritchett wrote in an email to Penn undergraduates Friday morning that students must opt in to take their classes pass/fail, and have until April 13 to do so.
As Penn students petition, some schools have already adopted pass/fail grading
Some institutions have implemented mandatory pass/fail grading systems, while others are allowing students to opt-in to pass/fail grading.
Wharton introduces six-week online course on coronavirus and global crisis management
The course, titled “Epidemics, Natural Disasters, and Geopolitics: Managing Global Business and Financial Uncertainty,” will run for six weeks starting March 25.
SHS alerts over 100 Penn students, faculty, and staff about potential coronavirus exposure
In an interview with The Daily Pennsylvanian, Penn's Director of Campus Health Ashlee Halbritter said out of the over 100 cases of potential exposure Penn identified, none of the cases were high risk.
Penn Abroad urges students studying in Europe to return home immediately
Provost Wendell Pritchett wrote that Penn would provide financial assistance with flight costs and that he would be working to ensure students abroad in Europe receive "as much academic credit as possible" for this semester.
Penn moves spring semester classes online and asks students to move off campus by March 15
Penn will extend spring break by one week and move to remote instruction beginning March 23, President Amy Gutmann Provost Wendell Pritchett announced in an email to Penn faculty.