March 2022 Newsletter for PhD Students

Vice Provost for EducationPhoto of woman (Karen Detlefsen) outside
Newsletter for PhD Students
March 2022

 

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

Welcome to this special edition of the VPE newsletter just for PhD students!

2022-2023 PhD Stipend
I am happy to announce that the University’s minimum stipend level will increase 4.25% to $30,547 for nine months in the 2022-2023 academic year. Some schools and programs provide stipends above the minimum; check with your school to confirm your stipend amount for next year. I am particularly pleased that this is the fourth consecutive annual increase over 4% for minimum stipends, despite the many disruptions to our University operations. These stipend increases demonstrate the University’s strong and continued commitment to our PhD students.

Pilot Program to cover Penn Student Health Insurance Plan
for PhD students on medical and family leave
I am also very pleased to announce a pilot program, beginning in July 2022, for PhD students whose funding includes health insurance to continue to receive coverage for their individual health insurance while on medical or family leave for one full semester. Students may also petition to be considered for a second full semester of medical leave. We are hopeful that this additional benefit will support students taking a necessary break from their studies. The Penn Student Health Insurance Plan (PSIP) coverage during the fall semester extends from August 1-December 31. PSIP coverage during the spring semester extends from January 1-July 31. 

I am also happy to share with you that the 2022-23 PSIP will include an optional national dental plan. More details about this new benefit will be available later in March. Many thanks to the students on the Student Health Insurance Advisory Committee (SHIAC) who advocated for this additional benefit. The cost of PSIP next year will be $4,029. This price reflects a generous University subsidy of $240 per enrollee, which reduces the cost of the annual premiums for our students.  Many PhD funding packages cover this annual premium.

Resources for PhD students

I want to remind you that the Graduate Student Center’s Academic Policies and Support page for PhD students includes resources you might useful, including the Advising & Mentoring PhD Students Guide, Graduate Group Review Student Feedback Form, Navigating the Academy Programs, and more. The Graduate Group Feedback Form can be used at any time by students to convey — anonymously or not – feedback about your experiences in your Graduate Group. Forms are submitted to the Office of the Provost, not to the Graduate Group. 

In addition, Individual Development Plans (IDPs) are useful tools to help you set goals and stay on track while you are doing research and coursework. IDPs can help you identify, develop, and improve skills oriented toward academic and career goals. Some students at Penn are already required to use IDPs; however, we encourage all students to explore IDP tools. Here are a few to consider:

  • Imagine PhD for students in the humanities and social sciences
  • myIDP for students in the sciences
  • ChemIDP for students in Chemistry

Booster Shot Information
Beginning March 14, students who have not yet uploaded their information, or are not yet booster-eligible, will be required to undergo screening testing twice each week. This requirement will be lifted once the booster information is uploaded. As a reminder, all students must upload their booster vaccine information into their Student Health Portal.

Family Center phased reopening
Beginning Monday, March 14, the Family Center facility located at 3615 Locust Walk will be open for in-person events and lactation room reservations. During this time, the facility will not be open regular operating hours, however, the space can be enjoyed and utilized during upcoming events. Please visit the website to register for events and submit your lactation room reservations: www.familycenter.upenn.edu

 

Upcoming Programs and Activities  

All times listed are for the Eastern Time Zone (NY/PA) unless otherwise specified. 

Publishing Workshops
Learn strategies and tips for how and where to share your research during this workshop series:

  • Responsibly Sharing your Scholarship March 15 @ 2 PM
  • Introduction to Data Visualization March 30 @ 2 PM
  • Introduction to Online Academic Profiles April 4 @ 2 PM
  • Raising the Visibility of Your Scholarship April 5 @ 1 PM
  • Spotting Low-Quality Journals April 7 @ 2 PM

Cosponsored by Penn Libraries and the Graduate Student Center. Learn more and register at www.gsc.upenn.edu/events.

Online Dissertation Workshops
Learn the basics of copyright and ethical norms around reuse and documenting the work used in your dissertation during this workshop series.

  • I Finished My Dissertation, Now What? March 28th @ 2 PM
  • Copyright and Dissertation April 11th @ 1 PM
  • Ethical Dissertation Writing April 12th @ 2 PM

Cosponsored by Penn Libraries and the Graduate Student Center. Learn more and register at www.gsc.upenn.edu/events.

Cover Letters: From Experience to Narrative
Thursday, March 17, 1:00-2:00 PM; Grad Center #304
During this workshop we will cover how to analyze job descriptions, and attendees will practice translating their own experiences into cover letter-ready narratives. This workshop is open to graduate and professional students from across Penn who are interested in roles beyond tenure-track faculty roles. Cosponsored by Career Services and the Grad Center. Learn more and register at www.gsc.upenn.edu/events.

See more upcoming events and activities:

Highlighted Opportunities 

Wolf Humanities Center Graduate Research Fellowships
Deadline: March 21
The Wolf Humanities Center offers two one-year research fellowships to Penn graduate students in the humanities who are ABD and conducting research related to an annual theme. The 2022-23 theme is Heritage. Research fellows receive $2,500 each and are required to attend the Center’s weekly Mellon Research Seminar and to present their work at one of the sessions. https://wolfhumanities.upenn.edu

Y.H. Park Fellowship
Deadline: March 27
One-year fellowship to support a Ph.D. or a research master’s student in the humanities, social sciences, international management, international studies, or fine arts whose primary research area is Korea and whose thesis/dissertation will be on Korea. Fellows must have sufficient Korean-language proficiency to use Korean-language sources in conducting research and writing dissertations.

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 Undergraduate Deans, the Council of Graduate Deans, the Council of Professional Master’s Degree Deans, the Graduate Council of the Faculties, and the Faculty Advisory Council for Access and Academic Support Initiatives.