Visit the Center

The Grad Center provides a centrally-located space to relax, eat lunch, and connect with other graduate and professional students from across the university. 

The Welfer Common Room, located on the main floor, is the Grad Center's primary space for hanging out. Whether you come for relaxation or work, its comfortable couches, large tables, Andy Wu fireplace, coffee service, and signature French doors overlooking Locust Walk make it the perfect place to connect with Penn's graduate community.

The Welfer Common Room is always staffed with a friendly Graduate Associate available to answer your questions or assist you with registration for upcoming events.

Book Swap
The third floor hallway features a community book swap where you can drop off the book you've finished reading or pick up something new to read! 

Wireless Internet (Wifi)
Wireless internet service is available throughout the Grad Center building. For instructions and assistance connecting to AirPennNet, visit the TechCenter website. If you continue to have difficulty, please email help@isc.upenn.edu or call 215-573-4778. 

Wireless Internet service at the Graduate Student Center was made possible, in part, through a generous contribution from GAPSA in 2002.

Public Computer and Printing
The Graduate Student Center has a public computer in the Welfer Common Room available for graduate and professional students to use and print documents.

• You must login with a valid PennKey to use these computers.
• The kiosk computer at the adjustable table is given priority use for students with disabilities.
• Printing requires a PennCash account debit from your PennCard. Please follow the instructions posted in the Computer Lab. 
• Printing prices and instructions can be found on the VPULTS Printing page.

Please note: public computers and printers are owned and maintained by VPUL Technology Services. If you experience technical problems with the computing and printing services, please inform the Fellow at the Welfer Common Room Main Desk. We will try to help you, but unfortunately, our computing support staff is located in an off-site office and many issues require at least 24 hours to be resolved.

Use Policies 

• The Graduate Center is a space for all current Penn Graduate and Professional students and their guests. 

  • Other Penn students, postdocs, and visitors can access the Center as the guest of a graduate or professional student.

  • You may be asked to show PennID at any time.  

• Graduate and professional students and their guests can study, meet informally, socialize, nap, enjoy coffee and tea, or enjoy their own food and drinks during operating hours. After hours access is not permitted.

• Graduate students can hold small informal meetings in the Common Room or meeting rooms when space is available and providing that their activities do not disrupt the other users of the Center. 

• Occasionally, the Welfer Common Room is used for events sponsored by the Office of the Provost or Grad Center programs open to all graduate and professional students. Signs will be posted in the room when such uses are scheduled.

• Postering and flyers are restricted to the designated bulletin boards at the ground level entryway. Postering or leafletting in other Grad Center spaces is not permitted. All posters or flyers must include contact information for the sponsoring entity or event/organization contact. 

Graduate Student Center
3615 Locust Walk
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia PA 19104-6221
215-746-6868
gradcenter@upenn.edu

Contact Us 

Get directions, accessibility information, and maps on the Penn Facilities website. 

The Grad Center focuses on the importance of both virtual access and facilities access. Read our full accessibility statement here. 

Building Hours 

Please see below our general operating hours. Grad Center building and individual space hours are subject to change. Special hours and updates will be posted online and through our social media channels. 

Famous for Keeping It Fresh and Free

The Graduate Student Center is perhaps best known and loved for providing free coffee and tea every day, all day in the Welfer Common Room. 

• Free coffee and tea are for Penn graduate and professional students and their guests only.
• BYOM: You need to Bring Your Own Mug to fill up.
  • If you didn’t BYOM, you can purchase a travel mug or a paper cup ($1). The Fellow at the Main Desk will be delighted to assist you with this transaction.
• Although our beverage service is free, your voluntary donations are always appreciated and help to defray costs.

We have study and meeting rooms on the 3rd floor that are available to reserve Monday – Friday during normal Graduate Student Center hours throughout the Academic Year.

As long as space is not reserved, you can use and share the space with other graduate students for quiet study or a group meeting.

See all of our available rooms and spaces and submit a reservation request on our Grad Center Spaces page.  

• The Graduate Center is a space for all current Penn Graduate and Professional students and their guests. 

• Other Penn students, postdocs, and visitors can access the Center as an approved guest of a graduate or professional student for specified events. 

• You may be asked to show a current PennID at any time.  

• Graduate and professional students and their guests can study, meet informally, socialize, nap, enjoy coffee and tea, or enjoy their own food and drinks during operating hours. After hours access is not permitted.

• Graduate students can hold small informal meetings in the Common Room or meeting rooms when space is available and providing that their activities do not disrupt the other users of the Center. 

• Occasionally, the Welfer Common Room is used for events sponsored by the Office of the Provost or Grad Center programs open to all graduate and professional students. Signs will be posted in the room when such uses are scheduled.

• Postering  and flyers are restricted to the bulletin boards at the ground level entryway. Postering or leafletting in other Grad Center spaces is not permitted. All posters and flyers must contain contact information for the posting entity.