Student Life
Students with disabilities face challenges accessing campus buildings
Penn’s campus is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, but students with disabilities are struggling to find accessible entrances, navigate buildings without elevators, and secure accessible on-campus housing.
Students find block schedule inconvenient, unsafe as Locust Walk becomes crowded
The fall 2021 semester marks the beginning of the University's new block schedule format, which created standardized class start times and eliminated the possibility of back-to-back classes.
Penn’s Chinatown bus service returns to campus with shuttles every other Saturday
The service will be offered for a full semester for the first time following its pilot launch last spring.
Student activists share ‘disorientation guide’ critiquing Penn’s impact on campus and Phila.
The 2021 Disorientation Guide, which was compiled by a coalition of student activist groups called the "People's Board," consists of articles about Penn's impact on students, staff, Philadelphia, and the world.
Study abroad returns with limited options this semester
Travel to seven countries resumed after Penn suspended study abroad programs in spring 2020 due to global travel restrictions and health risks.
First years and sophomores enjoy in-person classes, social life after virtual learning
While students have eagerly awaited a return to in-person campus life, some are also feeling a sense of anxiety associated with in-person interactions.
Sophomores praise Penn’s first-ever Second-Year Orientation
After missing in-person New Student Orientation last fall, the Class of 2024 became the first sophomore class to attend a specialized second-year orientation program.
Undeterred by COVID-19, students jump back into campus life and crowded parties
While some believe that contracting COVID-19 is inevitable on a full campus, students said they are not worried due to Penn's vaccination requirement.
From Perry World House to Annenberg, fall campus speaker events will be virtual or hybrid
Campus organizations are using streaming, and video-conferencing platforms to make sure events are accessible to all members of the Penn community.
The SAC Fair is back on Locust Walk
Clubs have the option to recruit new members in person, virtually, or both from Aug. 31 to Sept. 2.
Class of 2025 and transfer students kick off their Penn careers at in-person Convocation
This year’s Convocation was markedly different from last year’s virtual ceremony, with students seated close together in front of College Hall — some without masks.
Your questions about Penn move-in, answered
Students will need to be masked and vaccinated in order to enter their dorms.
A rundown of Penn’s FGLI student resources this fall
Students can join various FGLI-oriented clubs and take advantage of academic resources.
From libraries to gyms, here’s how Penn’s campus amenities will operate this fall
Here’s a breakdown of some of the most well-known amenities on campus, as well as their current COVID-19-related policies.
Ten tips for navigating your first in-person semester at Penn
The Daily Pennsylvanian reached out to Penn students and faculty for advice on how incoming first years, transfer students, and sophomores can succeed in their first in-person semester.
Class of 2024 to attend first-ever second-year orientation
Members of the Class of 2024 will be able to participate in specialized programming overseen by the office of New Student Orientation & Academic Initiatives.
In Photos: Exclusive first look at New College House West
New College House West is set to welcome its first residents in just under two weeks. Here's an exclusive first look at its features.
Some students support reinstating Penn’s indoor mask mandate, others feel it’s unnecessary
Some students welcomed the reinstatement of the mask mandate, saying that it is important to protect students, faculty, and staff and the surrounding Philadelphia area from the rapidly-spreading Delta variant.
Gutmann announces plans for a new $31 million student-focused performing arts center
Plans include creating a 450-seat theater and stage, and the center will support performing arts instructors and provide rehearsal and practice spaces.