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 research team finds that suicides most commonly occur at night
Led by Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program Director and Psychiatry professor Michael Perlis, the study determined that most suicides take place between the hours of midnight and 6:00 a.m. The findings were released in the wake of the Spring semester's two student suicides.
Marijuana might mess with sleep (or not)
The study showed that any history of marijuana use is linked to impaired sleep quality. While the study only demonstrates correlation, not causation, results suggest that those who began using marijuana in adolescence have a much higher risk of sleep impediments as adults than those who did not — although its senior study author said that other factors may play a role.
Faculty writers 'retreat' to rooftop lounge
Organized by faculty and funded by the two sponsoring schools, the retreat allowed 26 registered participants from 14 departments to focus uninterruptedly on their own writing. From 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. last week, participants gathered in the Rooftop Lounge of Harnwell College House where they spent each day writing with an hour break for lunch and socialization.
President Gutmann announces President's Engagement Prizes
Starting this year, seniors can apply for the President’s Engagement Prizes, which will provide up to three recipients with up to $150,000 to devise and implement a local, national or global engagement project during the year following their graduation from Penn.
M&T Alumnus donates $7.5 million to renovate the home of the Jerome Fisher Program
Larry Robbins graduated from the M&T program in 1992. His donation will fund a complete renovation of the M&T building and establish a fund to support the building's operations and management.Law students and professor draft new penal code for island nation
Penn Law professor Paul Robinson, the director of the Criminal Law Research Group and a leading global expert in criminal law, presented the Maldives Penal Code Project to the student group as one of its first projects.
Trading libraries for classrooms: Towne Library closes
Students and faculty continue to raise concerns over the closing of the math and engineering libraries, citing the importance of physical text.University announces Law Professor as inaugural director of Perry World House
Burke-White hopes the Perry World House will serve as the first physical location on Penn’s campus to connect international professors, students and researchers. The house will also host visiting scholars from all over the world as a "gateway to Penn for the world."For adjuncts, a disappointing academic experience
The replacement of tenure-track faculty positions with adjunct, or contingent, faculty positions at universities has gained significant public attention in the past year. Now, two organizations are targeting the perceived inequity that contingent faculty are facing.Historian to join Africana Studies department as a Presidential Professor
Williams, a prominent historian at University of North Carolina, studies African American slavery.Wharton's Writing for Work Challenge winners discuss business writing
Wharton senior Nikita Anand won best writer in the undergraduate writing competition.
Performance art class strives to create 'wonderful experiences'
The students of Jim Schlatter's class, "Taking Performance Art Public at Penn," are learning to think outside the frame.The course is a freewheeling interdisciplinary look into thePipeline for promise: SP2 program inspires community college students
The Pipeline for Promise Program offers a free summer course at SP2 to community college students, introducing them to the foundations of social work, its ethics and its various fields of practice.Alice Xie talks about the interaction between the Chinese economy and legal system
The College senior and Politcal Science major presented her research findings Thursday night in Stiteler Hall.Tell doctors medical stories, and they'll remember more details
Professors Zachary Meisel and Jeanmarie Perrone are studying how doctors adopt medical guidelines, and how their adoption of the guidelines affects prescribing pain medications, such as oxycontin and percocet.
Publock — building a better bike lock
Four mechanical engineering students are making biking easier and safer.College of Liberal and Professional Studies to offer masters in Chemical Sciences
Applications for the Fall semester are open until June 1st