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.
Complex policies turn students away from individualized majors
Students interested in an individualized major must go through a series of procedures much more complicated than declaring an existing major.
Penn graduate schools slip in recent ranking
Students and administration think there's more to a good graduate program than numbers.
Wharton Social Venture Fund teaches students to be investors
The Wharton Social Venture Fund is showing off Wharton’s social impact side — by becoming the largest student-run platform in the world for impact investing.
Penn wins EPA challenge in green energy
Penn has funded more green energy units than any other university in the Ivy League.
Penn Civic Scholars program may implement advisory board over next year
The Civic Scholars program may implement an advisory board over the next year.
Wharton program builds 'bridges to wealth'
Approximately four years ago, Wharton Professor Keith Weiglet started Wharton initiative Building Bridges to Wealth, a program that helps combat the racial wealth gap in West Philadelphia by providing free financial literacy courses.
Up close and personal with the Romance Languages Department
Both those reluctantly jumping through the hoops of Penn’s foreign language requirement and those taking up a new tongue for pleasure or professional advantage have gotten to know the mixed bag of characters that is Penn’s Romance Languages department. The department’s squad of lecturers samples every kind of language specialist imaginable — from linguists and literature wonks to pedagogy experts and translation specialists.
Q&A with new dean of Engineering
Vijay Kumar, a professor in multiple departments of the School of Engineering and Applied Science and a researcher in robotics, is set to take the helm of the Engineering School when he replaces Glandt as dean beginning June 1. The Daily Pennsylvanian sat down with Kumar to hear about his plans for the future of the Engineering School and the field of technology.
The DP's annual joke issue makes headlines
The annual joke issue successfully tricked Vanity Fair into thinking Emma Watson was to attend Penn.
Gutmann announces inaugural President's Engagement Prize winners
While many university leaders across the country trumpet the qualifications of their graduating seniors, President Amy Gutmann is putting money where her mouth is.
ABCS Summit highlights unique courses during advanced registration
The Netter Center for Community Partnerships held its 12th annual ABCS Summit at the Shotel Dubin Auditorium in Penn Hillel.
College Dean's Advisory Board reinvents writing seminar
From schoolwide celebrations to reinventing the writing seminar, the College of Arts and Sciences’ Dean’s Advisory Board hopes to improve the College experience one initiative at a time. Its latest endeavor is recruiting new members.Hexagon senior society unites upperclassmen engineers
The society has already tapped its potential members, and its first recruitment event, called "a smoker," was held on Wednesday night. Within a week, Hexagon will welcome their newest group of members.
Writing the textbook: Why professors assign their own publications
Every semester, Penn students undergo the wallet-depleting ritual of buying expensive required textbooks — but what happens when assigned textbooks are written by the course instructor?
Penn professor under fire for Michael Brown autopsy poem
For the second time this school year, Penn writing professor Kenneth Goldsmith has made headlines for his eccentric work.
Digital age transforms the landscape of academia
Online content, which is published at a faster rate, can affect the tenure decisions and the amount of information accessible to students.
The myth of Spring Break
For many Penn students, Spring Break is no break at all.
Recruiting the best without merit-based scholarships
Without the option of merit-based scholarships, Penn cannot lure outstanding athletes or writing prodigies with money — but recruited students do find value in community.
Life as a TA is more than grading homework
Recitations don't lead themselves — at the front of the classroom, teaching assistants must balance their responsibilities with their student obligations.