Administration
Everything you need to know about Penn’s spring COVID-19 policies
Penn will begin the spring semester with several COVID-19 mitigation measures — including two weeks of virtual learning and a new masking requirement.
Penn announces COVID-19 mitigation efforts including double mask requirement, gateway testing
University administrators announced that all students need to be tested for COVID-19 48 hours prior to arriving on campus and receive a gateway test upon arrival.
Amy Gutmann praised, but questioned about Penn’s ties to China at ambassadorship hearing
Gutmann faced questions about the millions of dollars in donations that the University has received from China during her time at Penn.
Penn’s former director of Financial Aid William Schilling dies at age 76
Schilling entered Penn in 1962 as an undergraduate student and remained at Penn until his retirement from being director of Financial Aid in 2012.
Amy Gutmann to appear before Senate committee Tuesday in first ambassadorship hearing
After the Dec. 14 hearing, the committee will schedule a vote to submit Gutmann’s nomination to the Senate — favorably, unfavorably, or without recommendation.
Hundreds petition Penn to move finals online after University bans indoor social gatherings
The petition calls for final exams for large lecture classes to be moved online, citing several grievances with the enforcement of the PennOpen Pass self-reporting system and difficulties with social distancing in classrooms.
Year in Review: A look back at the stories that defined 2021
Penn community members coped with the ever-changing pandemic and associated losses, and they managed a complicated and often stressful return to in-person classes and exams.
Major changes to University admin. cause uncertainty
Several high-ranking members of Penn’s administration announced their plans to leave Penn, either temporarily or permanently.
How the ups and downs of COVID-19 defined 2021
Whether in-person or online, masked or unmasked, socializing or isolating, COVID-19 continued to determine what life at Penn looked like in 2021.
Penn community critiques University climate action for stopping short of divestment
Penn's climate-related initiatives ranged from its commitment to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 to its second annual Climate Week, and most recently, its decision to halt new investments in fossil fuels.
Former Provost Wendell Pritchett will return to Penn as senior advisor to Amy Gutmann
Pritchett will be reinstated as a faculty member at the Penn Law School after the spring 2022 semester.
6B minority coalition groups expand to include Natives at Penn, forming the 7B
Natives at Penn is the second organization to join the coalition in the last three years, which meets regularly with top University administration to advocate for the interests of their constituents.
Penn’s latest climate plan report includes drop in campus emissions, more academic initiatives
This year’s report, released on Nov. 8, tracks progress made during the 2021 fiscal year towards the goals set in the University's third Climate Action Plan, which was released in 2019.
Wharton Dean Erika James talks corporate governance in second ‘Beyond Business’ lecture
The theme of this year’s Beyond Business lecture series is examining business and corporations through the lens of environmental, social, and governance concerns.
Student leaders meet with Penn administrators about adding more all-gender bathrooms
The University is adding multi-stall, all-gender bathrooms for future buildings on campus, but student groups are still advocating for renovations to existing buildings that are popular among community members.
Students report month-long waits for CAPS counselor appointments
Even with these delays, CAPS Director of Integrated Care Initiatives Batsirai Bvunzawabaya said students should understand they can also choose to walk into the CAPS office, call for 24-7 support, or attend Let’s Talk.
New Zeke Emanuel course will bring students to Washington to learn about how policy is made
The course, PSCI 398: How Washington Really Works, will include students from Penn and George Mason University, and will be co-taught by Emanuel and George Mason University professor Steve Pearlstein.
Penn employees allege ‘dysfunctional, toxic workplace’ in Gene Therapy Program
Despite numerous complaints to multiple University offices over at least the past decade, employees said nothing has changed. They allege Penn has turned a blind eye to the abusive work environment at GTP, failing to hold the moneymaking program and its director, Jim Wilson, accountable.
Penn will continue hybrid work for staff next spring, extend employee winter break
Winter break will be extended by two days to include Jan. 3 and Jan. 4 as a show of gratitude, University administrators announced.