Administration
Penn freezes hiring, cuts spending in ‘proactive’ response to federal funding uncertainty
Senior Penn administrators announced six University-wide financial measures to protect Penn's "core principles and support existing people and programs" in an email on Monday.
Penn strikes antidiscrimination protections in graduate student union contract bargaining
The bargaining committee first signed its “Prohibition Against Discrimination, Unlawful Harassment, and Abusive Conduct” proposal, including demands against harassment and discrimination, in October 2024.
ADL gives Penn ‘C’ rating on 2025 Campus Report Card, marking improvement from last year
The Anti-Defamation League rated Penn “above expectations” in publicly disclosing administrative actions and “excellent” in Jewish life on campus.
Penn trustees discuss political challenges, approve campus renovations at annual winter meeting
The Board of Trustees met over the course of two days on Feb. 27 and 28 at the Inn at Penn for one of three annual stated meetings.
Penn to raise tuition by 3.7% for 2025-26 academic year, expand financial aid
At a University Board of Trustees meeting Thursday, administrators announced that tuition will increase from $60,920 to $63,204 next academic year.
Graduate chairs express concerns over admissions cuts in letter to SAS admin.
The letter expressed concerns about the negative effects of reducing graduate program class sizes, and argued that the cuts may inflict "reputational harms" on Penn.
Penn names Matthew Grossman to serve as vice president for University Communications
The Feb. 25 announcement — which was made by Interim Penn President Larry Jameson — emphasized Grossman’s leadership and communications experience.
‘Cowardice’: Pa. lawmakers express disappointment with Penn’s DEI response at meeting with admin.
One lawmaker said that Penn “has made a cowardly move” in “rushing to heed dog-whistle demands from a feckless federal leadership.”
Penn Medicine graduate programs instructed to cut Ph.D. admissions by 35% due to funding uncertainty
The email noted that the school has admitted an average of 307 students in recent years, but this year plans to admit 201 — a 35% reduction.
Jameson reiterates Penn mission, campus unity as 'existential threat' of federal action looms
In a Feb. 24 email, Jameson wrote that Penn is closely monitoring changes to federal actions and reaffirmed the University's commitment to academic freedom, inclusion, and legal compliance.
Penn schools scrubbed their DEI websites. Here’s what’s left.
As Penn quietly rolls back policies, programs, and initiatives it once championed, The Daily Pennsylvanian compiled the changes the University's schools have made to their DEI websites so far.
Laura Perna reappointed as Penn’s vice provost for faculty
Perna was first appointed to the position in 2020 and has furthered a number of initiatives including “new websites, interactive dashboards, and e-newsletters catering to faculty needs and interests.”
Mackenzie Fierceton reaches settlement with Penn following yearslong legal battle
“I feel absolutely ecstatic that the lawsuit I brought against Penn has concluded,” Fierceton wrote in a statement to The Daily Pennsylvanian.
Penn reinstates standardized testing requirement for 2025-26 admissions cycle
After four years of test-optional admissions policies, the University announced that prospective students applying to Penn in fall 2026 will be required to submit either SAT or ACT scores as part of their application.
Penn strips central DEI website as ‘review’ of programs begins
The scrubbed website contains only a brief three-sentence statement about Penn’s “commitment to equal opportunity.”
Penn lawsuit filing says NIH policy change threatens hundreds of jobs, millions in research funds
Senior Associate Vice President for Research Elizabeth Peloso wrote in an affidavit that Penn has 1,803 active NIH awards — amounting to a total of $2.6 billion — across its research system.
Ad hoc committee finds Penn Police acted with ‘professionalism’ in October search warrant execution
The formation of the committee followed public backlash in response the execution of the October 2024 warrant.
Penn provost appoints ad hoc committee to search for new vice provost for education
The new vice provost for education will replace Karen Detlefsen, who has served in the role since 2021.
Jameson says $240 million NIH funding cut will ‘severely harm’ Penn research
In his message, Jameson highlighted the potential impacts of the funding cuts and reiterated Penn’s commitment to “identify solutions to minimize the impact” of the federal action.