July 2022 Newsletter for Graduate & Professional Students

Vice Provost for Education
Newsletter for Graduate & Professional Students

July 2022 

 

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

I hope all students are able to unplug and recharge a bit this summer.

With a year of experience being back on campus and managing COVID, we are looking forward to a new academic year ideally with fewer COVID-related restrictions, while also placing community health as a top priority. I hope to see you at more in-person events and activities!

 

New Policies and Initiatives
The PhD Student Leave of Absence policy has been updated to include a new benefit: PhD students whose University funding includes coverage of the Penn Student Health Insurance Plan will continue to receive coverage for their individual health insurance while on medical or family leave for one full semester. Students may petition for an additional semester as well.

The Academic Rules for PhD Programs have been updated with several improvements for PhD education. Special exceptions put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic have been formally instituted, including that dissertation defenses can be held in-person, virtually, or in a hybrid format, and hard-copies of dissertations are no longer required at deposit. In addition, dissertation and thesis status students will now receive a grade in their dissertation and thesis courses to document their satisfactory academic progress.

The Graduate Student Emergency Grant program remains open during the summer. Graduate and professional students who are experiencing unanticipated emergency expenses should apply. 

Penn Student Insurance Plan Options
All full-time and dissertation status students must enroll in PSIP or submit a waiver with proof of enrollment in a compliant health insurance plan by August 31. PSIP includes a new option this year for dental insurance. Students can opt for the Aetna Student Health Dental Plan, which provides nationwide coverage. See details & enroll at the Aetna website.  And as always, students can instead opt for the voluntary Penn Dental Practice Student Plan, which provides coverage for services at the Penn Dental Practice in Philadelphia. See details and enroll. Please note: PhD and EdD students may be eligible to be reimbursed for 50% of the cost of purchasing the Penn Dental Practice Student Plan. Learn more at www.gsc.upenn.edu/insurancegrants.

Upcoming Events and Activities  

Culture Chats Series for New International Graduate Students
Are you a new international graduate student? Interested in learning more about what to expect and cultural practices in the U.S? Each summer we offer a series of free workshops on a variety of topics related to transitioning to life at Penn and in the United States. Click on the links below to learn more and register:

• Tuesday, July 26, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm: Meeting New People and Forming Friendships
• Tuesday, August 9, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm: Life at Penn and in Philadelphia - with Trivia! 

Data Visualization Workshop
Wednesday, July 27, 10:30AM-12:00PM | Biotech Commons
Cosponsored by Penn Libraries and the Grad Center
Join us in the Biotech Commons to learn the basics of visualizing your research. Explore the various tools available to quickly and clearly visualize your data and gain hands on experience. Learn more and register at gsc.upenn.edu/events

National Ice Cream Sandwich Day Giveaway
Tuesday, August 2, 12:00PM; Grad Center Common Room (first floor)
The Grad Center is celebrating National Ice Cream Sandwich Day by giving out free ice cream sandwiches from Weckerly's Ice Cream! We'll also have some vegan popsicles available from Lil Pop Shop. Stop by the Grad Center first floor starting at noon and show your Penn Grad ID at noon to pick up your free sweet treat! Learn more and register at gsc.upenn.edu/events

2022 Faculty Job Search Prep Camp – Virtual
August 2-3 and October 20-21 | Virtual – register for participation link
Sponsored by Career Services, the Center for Teaching & Learning, and the Grad Center
If you’re planning to apply for faculty jobs, either in this upcoming cycle or in the future, join us for this virtual two-part Faculty Job Search Prep Camp to get a head start on planning your job search. Through workshop presentations and faculty and alumni panels, we’ll help you understand how you can best prepare for each step of the process, from assessing your readiness to go on the faculty job market and crafting application materials to preparing for interviews and negotiating offers.  Visit the website for complete information and registration.

Online Q&A with Wellness at Penn
Thursday, August 4, 11:00AM-12:00PM
Have questions about health insurance requirements or resources for students? Join us for a live Q+A session with Wellness at Penn It is recommended that students view these videos in advance and come prepared with any questions they may have! Learn more and register atgsc.upenn.edu/events

See more upcoming events and activities:

• Grad Center Events Calendar
• Grad Center “Events Around Campus” Calendar
• University Life Calendar of Events

 

Grad Students Making News

Seven Penn graduate students and one recent graduate alum have been offered Fulbright U.S. Student Awards for 2022-23: Gavin Blasdel, PhD Candidate in Ancient History (SAS); Amira Chowdhury, Master's student in SP2; Anuj Krishnamurthy, Master's student in Computer and Information Technology (SEAS); Becca Lee, MS (GAS ’21); Amin Marei, PhD student and Fontaine Fellow in Education (GSE); Zonía Moore, MD candidate (PSOM); Wil Prall, PhD candidate in Biology (SAS); Chloe Zhou, Master's student in Secondary Education (GSE). Are you interested in pursuing a Fulbright? See information in Highlighted Opportunities, below! 

Tyra Moore, a doctor of social work (DSW) candidate in SP2, was awarded the Joy Award from the Boris L. Henson Foundation in recognition of her steadfast commitment to mental health care for Black Americans.

SEAS PhD student Hannah Zlotnick has been named a 2022 Schmidt Science Fellow. 

Visit the Penn Grad News page for more Penn Grad Students making news!

 

Tips for Success in Graduate & Professional School

The benefits of rethinking and revising your resume or CV. 

 

Highlighted Opportunities

Cornell FIRST Future Faculty Symposium
Deadline: August 10 | Program dates: October 23-26, 2022
Program for graduating doctoral students and advanced-level postdoctoral fellows interested in exploring faculty careers at Cornell University and cultivating relationships with hiring departments. Participants will spend time on the Ithaca Campus, meeting with colleagues, mentors, and peers in their disciplines, sharing their research, hearing about opportunities, and preparing to launch their job search path into academia. For its Inaugural Year, we invite Early-Career applicants whose research engages with quantitative biomedical sciences, infection biology, and health equity. Early-Career applicants demographically underrepresented in their disciplines are highly encouraged to apply! Questions? Contact first@cornell.edu

Fulbright U.S. Student Program (for 2023-24 grants)
University endorsement deadline: August 22
The Fulbright provides grants to support 9-12 months of graduate research, study, degree programs, and teaching abroad in over 140 countries. Eligibility: master's and doctoral students who are US citizens. More information and application support is available at: www.curf.upenn.edu/content/fulbright

Schwarzman Scholarship (for Fall 2023 start) 
Deadline: Sept 20 (all countries excluding China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao) 
Highly selective international scholarship program designed to prepare future leaders for success in a world where China plays a key global role. Scholars develop their leadership skills through a fully-funded one-year Master's degree in Global Affairs at Schwarzman College at Tsinghua University in Beijing – one of China's most prestigious universities. Chinese language proficiency is NOT required.

To see additional fellowships and award opportunities, visit CURF Resources for Graduate Students and Grad Center Grants and Fellowships webpages. For general information about graduate funding and need-based aid, please visit the Graduate Funding and Finances section of the Graduate Resource Guide.   

 

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 Council of Undergraduate Deans, the Graduate Council of the Faculties, and the Faculty Advisory Council for Access and Academic Support Initiatives.