Announcements

Today’s verdict is an important step towards justice in this case, but we as a campus community and a country have much more to do in our work toward racial justice and healing. Our thoughts are with Mr. Floyd’s family and we hope that the jury’s verdict brings them some measure of comfort. We must and we will continue to work with renewed resolve to ensure that the University and our nation move ever closer to fulfilling our pledge of liberty and justice for all. 

As leaders of the University of Pennsylvania, we affirm unequivocally and in the strongest possible terms Penn’s unwavering commitment to advancing racial equity and social justice in our nation.

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 postdoctoral trainees. This phased approach is consistent with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) guidelines, which prioritizes by age adult members of the Penn community.

Combatting climate change is one of the paramount challenges of our time. We write today to update the University community on a significant new initiative that Penn is undertaking as part of our deep and wide-ranging efforts to respond to climate change. We are pleased to announce that the Office of Investments has established the goal of reducing the net greenhouse gas emissions from Penn’s endowment investments to zero by 2050.

It has been one year since the pandemic began changing the ways we live, work, and learn. Though it has been a time of unprecedented challenges, the Penn community has shown remarkable resilience. Critical tools such as PennOpen Pass and Penn Cares have engaged all of us in our collective responsibility to protect ourselves and each other, and to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The next critical step in our fight against the virus is vaccine distribution.

Penn is committed to providing its students, faculty, staff and postdocs of Asian descent with a safe, welcoming and supportive campus environment, and denounces the troubling surge of violence, hatred, and discrimination the country is experiencing.

With the widespread distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine now underway, at this time Penn expects a return to an in-person teaching, research and residential environment for the fall of 2021.

For the Class of 2021, Penn will hold one limited in-person undergraduate Commencement ceremony at Franklin Field on May 17th.

Athletics director M. Grace Calhoun will be leaving the University of Pennsylvania on April 19 to become athletic director at her alma mater, Brown University. The announcement was made today by Penn President Amy Gutmann and Provost Wendell Pritchett.

When the pandemic began last year, many faculty and staff members started working from home as the nation learned to navigate life during this challenging time. We deeply appreciate the commitment and dedication of every member of the Penn community in carrying out your roles and responsibilities, whether you are performing your job from home or on campus.