April 2024 Newsletter for Graduate & Professional Students

Vice Provost for EducationVice Provost for Education Karen Detlefsen
Newsletter for Graduate & Professional Students
April 2024

Message from Vice Provost for Education Karen Detlefsen, Ph.D.

As we approach the end of the semester, I encourage all students to strive for balance. You probably have many academic assignments and writings to complete, but don’t forget to unplug and unwind during scheduled breaks as well. 

Announcements

Resources, Support, and Wellness

Graduate Students in the News

Academic & Professional Development Activities

Campus Events & Student Activities

Grants & Paid Opportunities

About the Vice Provost for Education

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Announcements

Unionization Election
April 16-17 from 10AM-7PM | Bodek Lounge in Houston Hall, 3417 Spruce Street
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a decision and direction of election with respect to a petition filed by a group of Penn graduate and professional students seeking representation by the United Auto Workers (UAW). All graduate and professional students who are included in the bargaining unit and who were employed during the payroll period ending February 29, 2024 are eligible to vote. For more information regarding the bargaining unit, please refer to this Union Petition Update. A secret-ballot election will be held on April 16 and 17. The outcome of the election will be determined by a majority of those who vote. I encourage all graduate and professional students who are eligible to vote to learn as much as possible about this significant issue and to vote.

Updates from the Graduate Degrees Office
Congratulations to all our PhD and Research Master’s (MA & MS only) students graduating this May! Please remember these important dates for May 2024 graduates:

  • The last day to apply for graduation is April 24
  • The last day to defend your dissertation is April 24
  • The last day to deposit is May 6

Visit the Graduate Degrees website for graduation checklists, formatting instructions, and to schedule a deposit appointment well in advance of deadlines! Have questions about graduation? Check out our Graduation Frequently Asked Questions.

Resources, Support, and Wellness

International Travel Registry 
Students traveling abroad over the coming months for academic research or conference attendance should Register Your Trip with PennGlobal. Registration provides immediate access to Penn’s comprehensive travel assistance program, including 24/7 medical and security advice, travel medical insurance, evacuation and repatriation insurance, and more. Learn more and get instructions at MyTrips.  

Office of the Ombuds
The University Ombuds helps members of the Penn community who are experiencing difficulty, conflict or confusion within their academics or work. The Ombuds offers an accessible and safe place to resolve differences, explore matters of concern, improve communication, and generate and evaluate options.

Discounted Care at the Penn Dental Clinic
Penn’s School of Dental Medicine offers significant student discounts on dental work: a 30% discount on routine preventative dental services and 20% savings on specialty services. All Penn students who do not have dental insurance and who bring their student ID to their dental visit are eligible for these significant discount opportunities. See penndentalmedicine.org/student-discount/ for more information.

Information about other discounted services and programs for Penn graduate students is available in the Graduate Resource Guide.

Find out about all the University’s resources for graduate and professional students at www.gsc.upenn.edu/resources

Graduate Students in the News

Check out the latest headlines from the Grad Center’s collection of news about – and for – Penn graduate and professional students:

See more Penn Grad News.

Academic & Professional Development Activities

Dissertation Dog Days
Thursday, April 11 from 1-2:30 PM | Houston Hall Golkin Room (#223)
Open to PhD students working on their dissertation or about to graduate. No registration needed. Drop by for help on your dissertation formatting, questions about graduation, or support from Penn Libraries on copyright, LaTeX, and Scholarly Commons, all while visiting with therapy dogs. Sponsored by the Graduate Degrees Office, Penn Libraries, and the Graduate Student Center. 

Networking, LinkedIn, and Beyond: Navigating the Job Search with Confidence as a Grad Student
Learn more about networking and informational interviewing, and hear alumni share their perspectives and insight on different career paths! We also will have an in-person LinkedIn Lab for students to learn how to best create their LinkedIn profile and free professional headshots in the Career Services photo booth! Register for individual sessions on Handshake:

Virtual Ivy Plus Consortium Just-in-Time Career Fair
Thursday, April 11 | register in advance on Handshake
Looking for a summer internship or full-time job? Don't miss this great opportunity to meet top employers from various industries at the Ivy+ Just in Time Virtual Career Fair on April 11!  

Benefits of participating include:

  • Many diverse employers and opportunities! Meet Registered employers who are hiring NOW for opportunities from across industries, including biotech, education, nonprofit, financial services, government, startups, healthcare, consulting (and more!).   
  • It's convenient! Sign-up for employer group sessions (~ 30 minutes) and/or 1:1 chats with an employer (10 minutes) to fit your own schedule.
  • Make connections and expand your network and knowledge of the opportunities available to you.

Campus Events & Student Activities  

Lactation Workshop
Friday, April 12 from 11:30 AM – 12 PM | Family Center, 3615 Locust Walk
In partnership with the Penn Women’s Center and Penn HR, the Family Center welcomes student, staff, postdoc, and faculty families to join our annual Lactation Workshop. Led by Dr. Diane Spatz from Penn Nursing, this interactive conversation is for expecting, new, and experienced parents to check-in and receive support with lactation challenges. Lunch will be provided for registered attendees.

Are Academic Freedom and Open Expression Under Siege? Campus Unrest and the Future of the University
Thursday, April 18, 4:30-6:00PM | Fitts Auditorium, Penn Carey Law School 
There is sharp disagreement about the meaning and practice of open expression and academic freedom at universities. How can the central function of a university – educating students and producing new knowledge – survive in the face of threats to open expression and academic freedom? The Faculty Senate will host a group of the nation’s leading scholars for this timely discussion.  Open to everyone in the Penn community. Register for this event. 

Graduate Community Study Hall
Tuesdays, 2-4:30 PM
Looking for a co-working space with other graduate and professional students? Join the Weingarten Center and the Grad Center for our regular Graduate Community Study Halls. Based in emerging research on body-doubling and productivity, the goal of this program is to create a dedicated and consistent time that helps with accountability. An encouraging, safe, and quiet study space will be provided for graduate students. Snacks will also be provided to participants.

Weekly Organic Produce Giveaway
Thursdays, 12:30-2:30, starting 4/11 | Grad Center Welfer Common Room (1st Floor)
Current graduate and professional students who identify as food insecure are welcome to stop by the Grad Center first floor each Thursday for free, fresh produce straight from Penn Farm as part of effort to help address food insecurity! Students must be able to show a graduate PennID and are encouraged to bring their own produce bags or a container. All produce is provided first-come, first-served and available until supplies run out!

Board Games and (Non-Alcoholic) Brews 
Friday, April 19, 5:30-7:30 PM | Advance registration required
This month's Board Games and Brews will be a “Joy Hour” and we will be serving non-alcoholic beer in addition to other alcohol-free beverages. Join your fellow graduate and professional students for an evening of friendly competition. Earn bragging rights through bold risks and intelligent strategy, or just have fun exploring new games. Bring your own board game or play anything in the Grad Center's growing game library. Participants are invited to play games around the Center at their leisure or join in on a guided game with instructions led by staff. Co-sponsored by the Grad Center and SUPER (Substance Use, Prevention, Education, and Recovery) Program.

See more upcoming events and activities:

Grants & Paid Opportunities

Upcoming opportunities include:

  • Jane Street Employer Trek for STEM PhD students | Deadline: April 10
  • Schmidt Science Fellows | Deadline: April 12
  • National Institute of Justice Graduate Research Fellowship Program | Deadline: April 17
  • National Health Service Corps Scholarship | Deadline: April 25

Additional details and opportunities can be found in the Grad Center’s digest of funding and professional opportunities for graduate and professional students, in addition to the information on their Funding & Finances and Grants & Fellowships pages.

About the Vice Provost for Education

The Vice Provost for Education oversees undergraduate and graduate education at Penn, developing and implementing policies that promote academic excellence, innovative teaching and learning, and interdisciplinary knowledge across the University. The Vice Provost chairs the Council of Graduate Deans, the Council of Professional Master’s Degree Deans, the Graduate Council of the Faculties, the Council of Undergraduate Deans, and the Faculty Advisory Council for Access and Academic Support Initiatives.

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