Administration
Penn Chaplain Charles Howard named first Vice President for Social Equity and Community
As Vice President for Social Equity and Community, Howard will oversee programs and initiatives that foster social equality, inclusion, and diversity at Penn through various research and collaborative efforts.
Penn funding initiative encourages community to submit project proposals on racial justice
As of this month, Campaign for Community will offer grants of up to $1500 toward proposals concerning racial justice at Penn, in Philadelphia, and in students’ home communities.
UMOJA demands Penn give Makuu a building on Locust Walk, cut ties with Philadelphia police
Members of UMOJA said they were disappointed after a meeting with administration, in which the group also demanded a COVID-19 response fund for students and SAC funding for local non-profits.
Thousands petition U. to cut ties with Philly PD, reform militarized campus 'police state'
More than 9,600 people have signed a petition demanding that Penn cease its institutional support of a "racist, fascist police state" that has led to continued violence against Black people. After decades of postwar gentrification, the petition also asks the University to open its campus to West Philadelphia and pay PILOTS.
A Penn student allegedly yelled the N-word in a viral video. He says it’s not his voice.
The five-year-old video has prompted the University to look further into the matter.
Gutmann releases follow-up statement on the murder of George Floyd after citywide protests
While students appreciated that Gutmann named particular initiatives in her second email, many still felt it did not properly communicate what Penn could do to fight systemic racism and support students of color.
After city protests and violence, Gutmann addresses George Floyd murder in statement
Gutmann’s statement addressed the “tragic and senseless” nature of Floyd’s murder, as well as the University’s commitment to creating a safer and more inclusive campus community.
Cornell is set to effectively divest from fossil fuels. FFP says Penn needs to catch up.
Penn announced in January that they would not invest in thermal coal and tar sands industries in the future and a University spokesperson wrote Penn has no further plans to report.
Rev. Al Sharpton calls for minority representation, transparency in management of endowment
Sharpton asked Gutmann to publish a report on the involvement of African American professionals in the management of Penn’s $14.7 billion endowment.
Penn outlines four possible scenarios for fall 2020, will finalize plan by end of June
The four scenarios include a hybrid of in-person and online instruction, a shortened in-person semester, more robust summer 2021 course offerings, and entirely online learning.
Over 200 profs. sign letter demanding U. use endowment to protect grad students
207 Penn faculty and staff signed an open letter urging administration to use the University's endowment to support graduate students and non-tenured faculty during the coronavirus pandemic.
Former dean of Penn School of Veterinary Medicine Barry Stupine dies at 78
Stupine worked as an Associate Dean and then Vice Dean for Administration and Finance at Penn Vet from 1978 to 2009. He also held interim positions at the School of Dental Medicine and Office of Budget and Resources at Penn.
Virtual commencement honors Class of 2020 after tumultuous spring semester
Penn President Amy Gutmann was joined by commencement speaker and award-winning author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, as well as 1999 College graduate and Grammy-award winning musician John Legend, to congratulate the Class of 2020.
Disillusioned students consider gap semesters if fall courses are held online
University administration said they have no plans to amend the current leave of absence policy for the fall semester.
Penn considers combination of virtual and in-person classes for fall 2020
Penn President Amy Gutmann wrote in an email to the Penn community on Monday that the University has established a Recovery Planning Group to determine when students will be able to return to campus.
Penn rejected $9.9 million – here's how other Ivies are handling federal coronavirus aid
Here’s how all eight Ivy League universities are using — or not using — their CARES funding.
Penn rejects federal coronavirus aid after facing criticism
Fox News host Tucker Carlson blasted Penn for qualifying for federal aid, citing President Amy Gutmann's $3.6 million salary and the University's $14.7 billion endowment.
Gutmann criticizes U.S. for ‘striking lack’ of global leadership during coronavirus course
Gutmann also discussed the process of making major decisions such as asking undergraduates to move off campus and shifting to remote learning. She said that the University has not yet decided when students will be allowed back at Penn.
Penn will receive $9.9 million in aid from federal government coronavirus relief act
Vice President of Finance and Treasurer MaryFrances McCourt wrote in an email to The Daily Pennsylvanian that Penn has not yet finalized how it will spend the funds, nor has it received the money from the federal government yet.