Academics
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.
Housing, academics, finances among students’ chief concerns with Penn's fall 2020 plan
Shortly after the University released its fall semester plan to open campus and offer instruction in a hybrid format, students voiced mixed reactions. While some are concerned about intense time zone differences, Penn's testing abilities, and housing, others are excited to return to campus.
Penn will conduct fall 2020 on campus with hybrid of online and in-person instruction
Penn will invite students back to campus on Sept. 1 for a hybrid fall 2020 semester with a mixture of in-person and virtual instruction. The remainder of the semester will be conducted online after Thanksgiving break.
Perry World House selects 31 student fellows for global affairs research program
Selected from a pool of more than 150 applicants, the newly assembled cohort is a diverse set of rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors from four undergraduate schools and many different countries.
Students frustrated with cost of Penn summer courses take classes at other institutions
Because summer classes are taught remotely and not in person this year, students said they chose to take summer courses at other institutions which charged less for transferable course credits, in comparison to courses that Penn is offering.
Communication major consolidates 12 concentrations to five new options in curriculum update
The new concentrations — Advocacy & Activism, Audiences & Persuasion, Culture & Society, Data & Network Science, and Politics & Policy — represent a "less is more approach."
Black Pre-Law Association compiles courses and resources for allies, Black students
BPLA shared a compilation of resources for students, including recommended Penn faculty and staff, courses focusing on Black issues, Black LGBTQ courses, and Black movies for white allies.
Master in Law program doubles enrollment for summer 2020
The summer cohort includes over 90 students from a variety of degree-seeking programs, such as Wharton MBA, Penn Dental, and Penn Veterinary Medicine students, who are pursuing joint degrees.
Students and faculty pleased with virtual Penn Undergraduate Research Mentoring program
While PURM participants said they are disappointed that they are unable to conduct research in person, they remain optimistic about their projects, and appreciate how faculty mentors have worked to provide meaningful research opportunities.
Penn launches free virtual summer academy for rising Philadelphia high school seniors
The goal of the program is to increase students' access to high-quality learning and help prepare them for success after high school.
After first full week of virtual summer courses, students have mixed reactions
Students found little differences in remote summer learning in comparison to what they experienced during the latter half of the spring semester.
Professors use online workshops, resources to prepare for remote summer learning
After the University announced that summer courses would be online, instructors began to consult with University-provided resources in preparation for the start of summer courses.
Paideia Program announces 20 inaugural fellows who will take civic discourse seminars
The group of 20 inaugural fellows were selected for their commitment to “developing the knowledge, skills, and values needed for effective, ethical, and civil dialogue in a diverse world.”