Administration
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.
Student groups criticize Penn for stopping short of divestment in latest climate policy update
Penn administrators announced late last week that the University will halt commitments to private equity vehicles dedicated to investments in fossil fuel production.
Penn will place 1,150 students on registration hold due to COVID-19 vaccine noncompliance
The registration holds will be placed on student accounts on Oct. 29, barring students from participating in the upcoming Advance Registration period, which begins on Nov. 1.
Penn faces federal complaint for participation in conference discussing Hindu nationalism
Penn community members, including the South Asia Studies Department and some faculty members, disputed the complaint.
More than 9,000 students have broken Penn’s COVID-19 testing policy in last two weeks
The University requires that all vaccinated students receive at least one COVID-19 test every two weeks, and if they fail to do so, they will receive a red PennOpen Pass until they test negative.
Penn Police superintendent Maureen Rush to retire by end of 2021
Rush has been at Penn since 1994, in which she launched several public safety initiatives on campus and faced criticism from University and Philadelphia community members.
Penn Engineering breaks ground on new data science building named Amy Gutmann Hall
Construction for Amy Gutmann Hall, a data science building for research collaboration, is scheduled to be completed in 2024.