Announcements
Student Group Social Event Guidance
December 1, 2021 - Hello Undergraduate and Graduate Student Organizations, Due to the recent emergence of the Omicron COVID-19 variant and rise in our campus positivity rate, the Public Health Guidance for the campus community has been updated to include social events being planned by student organizations. Social events include parties, formals, and spaces where alcohol is present.
A Message to the Penn Community: Increase in Positivity on Campus
November 30, 2021 - As we return to campus, we are strongly encouraging all students, faculty, staff, and postdocs to take part in screening testing immediately upon their return – especially those who have travelled or attended large social gatherings over the Thanksgiving break. Our COVID-19 positivity rate on campus and in our surrounding communities has increased over the last week, and early detection will allow us to avoid additional widespread positivity on campus.
Holiday Gatherings Guidance - A Message from Craig Carnaroli & Beth Winkelstein
November 17, 2021 - Holiday traditions are upon us and present unique challenges as we look to gather and celebrate while the risk of COVID-19 transmission continues to be present in our daily lives. While our campus vaccination rate is high and our community positivity rate is low, there continues to be substantial community transmission in our surrounding communities. This uptick in COVID-19 cases around the city, region, nation and world is a reminder that as a society we are still coexisting with a serious virus requiring our diligence in our daily lives, and presenting us a unique challenge.
A Message to Students: Have a Restful, Happy, and Healthy Thanksgiving Break
November 17, 2021 - I hope you all have a healthy, happy, and restful Thanksgiving break. As we embark upon peak travel season, I want to share a few public health reminders to help minimize any risk of COVID-19 curtailing your holiday plans:
A Message to the Penn Community Regarding Commencement
November 11, 2021 - Between March 2020 and May 2021, COVID-19 moved many of our Penn traditions online. It curtailed in-person Commencement for both the Class of 2020 and the master’s and doctoral students in the Class of 2021. We are now absolutely delighted to announce that we will hold an in-person University-wide Commencement ceremony for the undergraduate Class of 2020 as well as for graduate students from the Classes of 2020 and 2021. The ceremony will take place on Sunday, May 22, at 10 a.m. on Franklin Field.
A message to the Penn Community
November 10, 2021 - As we head into the last weeks of the fall semester, we are writing to express our gratitude and pride for our Penn community. We have successfully transitioned back to campus life, with in-person classes and student activities. Many members of our community continued to serve on campus throughout the pandemic, others returned to full-time on campus activity in September, and a number of staff are participating in our pilot hybrid work program. Our COVID positivity rate in asymptomatic individuals, most recently 0.34%, has been below 0.5% for the past eight weeks.
A Message to Undergraduate Students: Have a restful and healthy fall break!
October 12, 2021 - Greetings, I hope you all enjoy your upcoming fall break, taking place from October 14-17. This downtime is critical to your physical and mental wellbeing, and will help to better position you for success for the remainder of the fall semester. Whether you’re spending this time on campus, traveling, working, or doing research on campus throughout break, I hope you are able to take time to rest, reset, and prioritize your self-care.
Campus Update: COVID-19 and Flu
September 30, 2021 - We are now well into our fall 2021 semester, and we could not have come this far without your patience, resilience, and diligence in following our public health guidance on campus.
A Message to the Campus Community On the Start of the Fall Semester
August 25, 2021 - We are writing to update you on the important additional steps that we are taking since our last communication to help our students, faculty, staff, and postdocs safely navigate the semester and to provide important links to more information and resources. With the start of the academic year less than a week away, there is great excitement, expectation, and hope across Penn’s vibrant campus. Many programs are already welcoming students through in-person programming and have had very successful classroom and group activities.
A Message to Students: Vaccination Requirement and Guidance for Fall
August 16, 2021 - Fellow Quakers, Here we are – just weeks away from the start of the semester! It’s exciting to see our campus filled with more and more students each day.
A Message to the Penn Community About Campus Readiness for the Fall Semester
August 5, 2021 - This year, more than any before, we look forward to the start of classes and our joyful pre-semester programs and events. We want to update everyone, in light of the ongoing pandemic, about our progress and the measures we are taking to keep our community safe and healthy.
A Message to Graduate and Undergraduate Students: Gateway Testing for the Fall Semester
July 20, 2021 - Dear Quakers, We are just weeks away from a fully in-person campus experience! We are all eager to gather with old friends, meet some who are new, and take part in all the activities the University has to offer. We are thrilled to be seeing everyone in person again—some of you for the very first time.
A Message to the Penn Community On My Nomination to Serve As United States Ambassador to Germany
July 2, 2021 - Earlier today President Biden nominated me to serve as United States Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany.
A Message to Graduate and Undergraduate Students: Returning to Campus for the Fall Semester
June 24, 2021 - We are joining together to embark on a fully in-person learning experience at Penn this fall.
A Message to Faculty, Staff, and Postdoctoral Trainees on Returning to Campus
June 23, 2021 - We are very pleased to announce that Penn will be fully reopening campus for the fall semester, while continuing to be guided by best practices in public health.
A Message to Faculty and Staff on Staff Appreciation Day Off
June 21, 2021 - As we complete an extraordinary academic year, we write to extend our profound thanks to all colleagues—Penn’s unsurpassed faculty and staff—for your individual and collaborative efforts in serving our community through the pandemic while working both on-campus and remotely.
A Message to Faculty, Staff, and Postdocs on Vaccination Status and Return to Campus
June 1, 2021 - As we look ahead to a vibrant fall semester, with a full resumption of in-person teaching, research, and University operations, maintaining a safe and healthy environment for the entire Penn community remains our highest priority.
Updated Masking Guidance on Penn's Campus
May 21, 2021 - We are pleased to announce that, in accordance with the guidance from the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, beginning May 21, 2021, the University will no longer require the use of masks while outdoors for those who are fully vaccinated. Being fully vaccinated means that it has been two weeks since the final dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
A Message to the Penn Community Regarding Operations During the Summer
May 19, 2021 - With the academic year and Commencement now successfully concluded, and with continued positive progress being made within our community in controlling COVID-19, Penn will be easing restrictions during the summer relating to both on-campus activities and University travel.
An Update on Penn’s Plans for the Fall Semester
April 22, 2021 - The widespread distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine now taking place and the many safeguards we have established across campus reinforce our expectation to return to an in-person teaching, research and residential environment for the fall of 2021.
A Message To Students
April 16, 2021 - We write today to announce that, beginning Monday, April 19, all students will be eligible to be vaccinated at the Penn Cares COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic.
A Message to Faculty, Staff, and Postdocs on Penn Cares COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Opening
April 12, 2021 - Vaccines are one of the greatest tools in the fight against the pandemic. We write today to announce that Penn will open the Penn Cares COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic on Wednesday, April 14, and begin administering vaccines to eligible faculty, staff, and post-doctoral trainees.
A Message to the Penn Community about Vaccine Distribution Plans at Penn
April 1, 2021 - Penn’s Vaccine Response Team (VRT) is currently working on implementing a vaccine distribution plan to provide vaccine access to faculty, staff, postdocs, and students.
A Message Regarding Accommodations for In-Person Commencement
March 25, 2021 - We are writing to follow up on our ongoing conversation regarding the overlap between Penn Commencement and the Shavuot holiday this year.
A Message to Students Regarding Increasing COVID-19 Positivity Rates
March 24, 2021 - We write today to remind you to remain vigilant in following our Penn Cares public health guidance. We are seeing an increase in COVID-19 positivity rates among students, putting an end to our 5-week streak of decreasing positivity rates on campus.