The University announced admission decisions for Regular Decision applicants to the Class of 2028 across its four undergraduate schools. Penn received more than 65,000 applications—the largest first-year applicant pool in its history. The class will represent one of the largest cohorts from Philadelphia, while also representing 109 countries, all 50 states, plus Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Marshall Islands, and the military APO.
The Presidential Commission on Countering Hate and Building Community shared progress and early findings through an executive summary. The 19-person Commission has met frequently since being convened and charged by Interim President J. Larry Jameson this winter and recently launched a series of in-person and virtual small group listening sessions and a new survey.
As of December, the Great Cove I and II facilities that comprise 485,000 solar panels are operational; Penn will purchase all electricity produced by them, amounting to 70% of the demand of campus and the health system facilities in Philadelphia. “I couldn’t be prouder that we’ve made such rapid, milestone progress toward carbon neutrality, not only for Penn but for the city of Philadelphia,” Interim President J. Larry Jameson said at a ceremonial ribbon cutting. (Image: Courtesy of AES)
The Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies hosted the latest edition of its “Jews and the University: Antisemitism, Admissions, Academic Freedom” speaker series, featuring Sigal Ben-Porath, a Penn professor and education and political philosopher. She recommended new rules from universities while clarifying existing ones, with a caution about pushback. “Changes have to maintain institutional autonomy in the school’s value and mission with a focus on responding to hate and emphasizing opposition to hate, especially identity-based hatred,” Ben-Porath said.
Penn is one of 10 universities participating in the Higher Education Sexual Misconduct and Awareness survey this spring, coordinated by an independent social science research firm to gather confidential data meant to inform policies, services, and interventions at Penn and elsewhere. “The safety and wellbeing of our students is our top priority, and we hope students will take time to engage in this important, voluntary survey,” said Interim President J. Larry Jameson, adding, “We’d really like to see 100% participation.”
Wellness at Penn partnered with the Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT) for a Narcan giveaway and training on Locust Walk. The program reached approximately 120 students, faculty, and staff.
Head Coach Gilly Lane led the men’s squash team to the national championship at the Arlen Specter Squash Center in early March. They won their first national title in school history.
The School of Arts & Sciences hosted its second dialogue in the “Living the Hard Promise” series, featuring a discussion with Herman Beavers, Paul Sniegowski, and Peter Struck about the current state of discourse around universities. “I want students to move to a space where it’s OK to say, ‘I don't know.’ The university thrives on that kind of thinking,” said Beavers.
A year after the winners of the President’s Innovation Prize (PIP) and President’s Engagement Prize (PEP) began their projects, Penn Today caught up with the three winning teams to learn about the progress they’ve made and what their plans are for the future. (Video)
Six fourth-year students and three recent graduates received a 2024 Thouron Award to pursue graduate studies in the United Kingdom. The awards were established in 1960 as a graduate exchange program between Penn and U.K. universities with an aim to improve understanding and relations between the two nations.
First-year Wharton student Gobhanu Sasankar Korisepati received the Diana Legacy Award, created to recognize humanitarian work or social action. Korsepati founded Sustaining Women in Financial Turmoil, a microfinance organization that provides financial services to individuals and small businesses globally in underserved communities. He accepted the award from William, Prince of Wales.
Lecturer Lorene Cary’s memoir “Ladysitting” was adapted to the stage at the Arden Theatre Co. in Old City. Cary spoke about the process of making the memoir work on the stage. “Once I see the director’s vision, once I see an actor interpreting the character, then it stops being me,” she says. “That’s really how I can think about the memoir as a play and stop feeling like I’m walking around not only with no clothes on but no skin.”
In the run-up to the Program in Gender Studies and Women’s Studies and Penn Women’s Center’s 50th anniversaries, the directors of the centers realized that none of their documents were accessible as archival material. The realization became a larger archival project with University Archives. “It’s not just about our specific programs, but the impact that these movements have had so far throughout the University,” says Elisa Foster, director of the Penn Women’s Center.
Adam Thomson is a second-year student in the School of Engineering and Applied Science and an Olympic hopeful for wrestling. Thomson spoke about balancing his wrestling career and his studies, which include examining hyperinflation in Brazil through a project included in the Penn Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program.
One of the world’s largest crystal balls has occupied the Penn Museum’s Asia Galleries for nearly 100 years. Stephen Lang, the Lyron’s Keeper of Collections in the Asian section, unspools the mysterious origins of the ball. “As a keeper, I’m trying to solve mysteries,” he says. But with the orb, he adds, it’s a “rabbit hole that never ends.”
Michael Scales, who is currently the associate vice president for business services at Temple University, will succeed Marie Witt as vice president of the Division of Business Services, effective June 1. Senior Executive Vice President Craig Carnaroli described Scales as “an effective facilitator, collaborator, and build of effective partnerships.” (Image: Devon Carson)