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.
Amid a national epidemic, Penn launches a center to study opioid addiction
“The opioid crisis is a catastrophe for the country, which many people have suffered and lost their lives,” said Henry Kranzler, director of the Center for Studies of Addiction at the Perelman School of Medicine.
Penn no longer plans to eliminate Van Pelt bag checks
The current bag check procedure has been working well, and there aren't any changes that need to be made, Associate Vice Provost and Deputy University Librarian Jon Shaw said.
Gutmann, Pritchett recommend Dean Fluharty to lead SAS for a second term
"The Committee was unanimous that Dean Fluharty has the vision, energy, skills, and broad support needed to thrive and succeed in a second term as Dean," Penn President Amy Gutmann and Provost Wendell Pritchett wrote in an email to the Penn Community. "We enthusiastically agree."
Wharton appoints professor Diana Robertson as new head of undergraduate programs
Robertson, a Wharton legal studies and business ethics professor, will replace current vice dean Lori Rosenkopf on July 1.
Finance, consulting, and tech remain top industry choices among 2018 Penn grads
While students pursuing finance decreased over the years, the share of students working in the technology sector has doubled since 2011, jumping from 7% to 14%.
Ramadan will fall during finals, leading Penn students to balance studying and observance
While University policy allows examinations to be postponed for religious observance and allows students to take make-up exams during the first week of the fall or spring semester, the exact details are left up to the faculty and students to decide, University Chaplain Charles Howard said.
Students praise Penn Global Seminar flat fee for increasing financial accessibility
Before Fall 2018, Penn Global Seminar program fees did not include travel expenses or meals, creating uncertainty regarding the actual cost of the program.
The story behind the failed 2013 plan to renovate David Rittenhouse Labs
A plan to renovate DRL was scrapped in 2013 after administrators determined there was not enough funding.
Penn Global to offer its first biology seminar course in Costa Rica
The course will be taught by Byron Pedler Sherwood, a senior fellow in the Biology Department, and will be offered to students from all four undergraduate schools with no prerequisites.
Snort! Oink! Rescue pigs lounge on Locust for Wharton class project
The project was a part of MGMT 203's “Swag Day,” in which teams of students have to bring in an item or experience they obtained for free.
Penn students visit Singapore to learn about ancient epic poetry
Students in the class learn about classic epics from the West, such as "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey," and epics from the East, including "Gilgamesh" and "Ramayana."
Van Pelt basement will undergo a complete renovation this summer
Sal Caputo, director of Facilities Management for Van Pelt, said that the renovation will include new carpeting, paint, soft furniture, and a rewiring of the electrical system.
Here are the College courses that double-count for fall 2019
Are you a student in the College looking to get more bang for your buck in your fall 2019 course load? Here's a list of all the classes next semester that will let you "double-count."
Students can now access 60,000 historical materials after new Penn Libraries partnership
The partnership has allowed access to unique primary sources including original photographs, architectural drawings, and historical maps from Philadelphia.
Students praise financial literacy course taught by NFL player Brandon Copeland
Students currently enrolled said they appreciate the class for its practical life lessons and pragmatic approach to personal finance.
To improve diversity in math, this Penn program helps underrepresented students get Ph.D.s
The initiative, now in its second year, helps students from underrepresented backgrounds earn a master's degree and prepare for fast-track admission to Penn’s mathematics Ph.D. program.
Penn responds to urgent maintenance issues in DRL, but long-term solutions remain unclear
On Feb. 27, four students sent a petition to Penn administrators calling for solutions to the frequent ceiling leakages and pest infestations in the building.
Penn doctors honored as 'Patient Care Heroes' for treating rare case of leprosy disease
Leprosy is an infectious disease that starts out as bacterial infection and affects the skin and the nerves. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 150 to 250 cases are reported in the United States each year.
Penn receives $6 million gift for a program focusing on civil discourse
The program’s courses will be interdisciplinary and aim to teach students to become engaged citizens.