With the spring semester days away, here’s what you need to know about housing and dining

As more than 3,000 undergraduate students move in to their on-campus residences, here's everything you need to know about changes to housing and dining this spring.

Penn transitions to remote learning

Engagement Prize winners raise nearly $20,000 to expand improv program across Phila. schools

Two Wharton graduates raised nearly $20,000 in a virtual fundraiser for their 2020 President’s Engagement Prize-winning project, The Unscripted Project, with the goal of expanding their youth improv theatre program. 

Here's how Philadelphia's new COVID-19 restrictions will affect on-campus services

On Monday, the city of Philadelphia announced new COVID-19 restrictions closing indoor dining, gyms, and museums, as well as banning private indoor gatherings like weddings, funerals, and parties

As the pandemic rages on, Class of 2021 holds out hope for in-person commencement in May

The Class of 2020 and 2021 are scheduled to hold Commencement ceremonies on campus in May. But as COVID-19 continues to devastate the country, seniors are beginning to worry if the traditional ceremonies will be safe or feasible.

Here's how Penn graduates running for office did on Election Day

They span across six states and the majority are running for seats in the United States House of Representatives. Nine are incumbents, while seven are running for the first time. 

RAGAs are worried about lack of COVID-19 testing enforcement on campus

Penn offers weekly COVID-19 testing that is mandatory for students, faculty, post-doctoral trainees, and staff that are living in on-campus housing or are on campus for “at least eight hours every week and whose activities are done in a congregate setting that involves at least 10 people.” 

Philadelphia sues Pa. for better gun control after 47% increase in shooting victims

While most Penn professors and student leaders recognized the need for stricter gun control in the city, some questioned the lawsuit's ultimate effectiveness on the issue.

'Sheer hypocrisy': Professors, Penn Dems express concern over Barrett's election year nomination

They were especially frustrated with the perceived hypocrisy of the Republican Senators who blocked former President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee in March 2016, stating that the winner of the upcoming election should decide who chooses the nominee.

COVID-19 pandemic leads to approx. 300% increase in gap years for incoming Penn students

Dean of Admissions Eric Furda said he does not expect the gap year increase to have a “significant impact on the selectivity or opportunity” during the upcoming admission cycle. 

CAFSA says Penn’s compliance with latest Title IX policy is ‘extremely unethical’

The new regulations now allow different third party advisors, who may be attorneys, to cross-examine students involved in the complaint, and they make the definition of "sexual assault" more narrow and subjective.

Penn’s insurance requirement and costs frustrate students living away from campus

SHS requires all full-time students to submit a waiver to opt-out of PSIP by Aug. 31 each year, or they will automatically enroll them in the plan.

Students grapple with reduced financial aid packages and re-evaluation delays amid pandemic

Some students who submitted aid re-evaluation forms did not receive their re-evaluated package before the fall tuition bill's Aug. 30 deadline, and consequently could not pay for the semester on time.

Penn sophomores launch tutoring program for newly immigrated Bangladeshi students

The program, called First Mentors, will offer free tutoring, college counseling, and mentorship for high school students at Moder Patshala, a non-profit that helps newly immigrated Bangladeshi-American students adjust to the United States. 

'Not even the bare minimum': Penn students demand more than just tuition freeze

After switching to a completely remote semester, Penn President Amy Gutmann and Provost Wendell Pritchett froze tuition – keeping it at the same value as the previous year – and decreased the fall general fee by 10%.

Here’s what the Ivy League is deciding for fall 2020

In early August, four Ivy League institutions backtracked on their initial plans for a hybrid fall semester and on-campus living.

Students frustrated by inability to register for coinciding asynchronous classes

After attempting to register for two asynchronous classes scheduled to be held at coinciding times, students have said the College denied their requests to allow them to register for the classes and override the time conflict.  

Calls to abolish Greek life are sweeping the nation. Now, they’re growing louder at Penn.

Students involved in Greek life believe there is room for reform, while those calling for abolition disagree because of Greek life’s long history of alleged racism, classism, and sexism.

Wharton partners with historically Black medical school in Nashville for M.D./Ph.D. program

Meharry Medical College students selected for the program will earn a medical degree from Meharry and a Ph.D. from Wharton. 

Penn Museum to remove Morton Cranial Collection from public view after student opposition

The collection is the work of Samuel George Morton, an 1820 Perelman School of Medicine graduate who used the skulls of enslaved people to argue that there are inherent differences between the brains of people of different races.