Campus Centers & Activities

African American Resource Center serves to enhance the quality of life for students, staff, and faculty at Penn, with a particular focus on those of African descent.

Greenfield Intercultural Center promotes intercultural awareness and cultural competency workshops to help prepare Penn students to be thoughtful global citizens and leaders.

La Casa Latina focuses on building a unified community by working with the Latino Coalition, LaGAPSA, students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

The LGBT Center offers educational programs and mentoring, works with and supports student organizations-including Lambda Grads and other queer graduate and professional student groups. The center also co-sponsors QPenn (an annual pride week in March) and offers free printing.

Makuu, the Black Cultural Center, serves as a cultural hub for campus activities, activism, and personal, professional, and academic growth in order to increase resources and connections to the Penn community.

Pan-Asian American Community House (PAACH) is a hub of academic, personal, and professional growth for Penn students interested in Asian American culture and the Asian American Diaspora.

The Penn Women's Center aims to understand and address the continuing and evolving needs of all women at Penn.

The Vice Provost for University (VPUL) programs and resources are intended to stimulate shared interactions and connections among students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community members. University Life comprises 32 programs provide academic and career support, campus and community engagement, health and wellness programs, and much more.

The Office of Student Affairs (OSA), within VPUL, is a primary source of information and advice for students regarding campus co-curricular opportunities and resources. OSA advises and helps administer student activities and governance, the PENNacle pre-orientation program, University Life leadership training programs, and major campus-wide special events, including Family Weekend, No Place Like Penn Weekend, Homecoming, Spring Fling, Hey Day, and Ivy Day.

We encourage students wishing to engage in service and volunteer opportunities to identify established organizations addressing community needs and to get creative about finding needs and opportunities you can participate in both remotely and in-person. 

Penn Centers and Programs 

Civic House is Penn's hub for student-led community service and advocacy efforts. Civic House also invites graduate students to lead discussions about community-oriented research and to serve as mentors for undergraduates.

Barbara & Edward Netter Center for Community Partnerships is Penn's vehicle for academically based community service (ABCS), which emphasizes collaborative, local, real-world problem-solving. The center works to create mutually beneficial partnerships between the University and the West Philadelphia community. Programs include:

• Penn Volunteers in Public Service provides a vehicle for the Penn community and the West Philadelphia community to work together through community service activities and events.

• Provost’s Graduate Academic Engagement Fellowship at the Netter Center (PGAEF@NC) is an opportunity for PhD students across all schools and fields at the University of Pennsylvania. Fellows are outstanding students whose scholarship significantly involves Academically Based Community Service (ABCS) and related activities, including locally based community problem-solving, community-engaged scholarship, service learning, participatory action research, and learning by teaching in public schools.

The Penn Office of Government and Community Affairs advances Penn's mission by managing relationships with government and community leaders, advocating for policies and legislation consistent with the University's goals, and shaping local engagement initiatives. Email ogca@pobox.upenn.edu or phone 215-898-1388 with questions.

Voting and Voter Engagement

Register to vote, get educated on your ballot, and vote: https://Pennvotes.org

Become part of Penn Leads the Vote: https://www.pennvotes.org/lead-the-vote/

Find a politically affiliated student group at Penn: https://pennclubs.com/

Ongoing Engagement Opportunities 

University-Assisted Community Schools (UACS)
UACS focus on schools as core institutions for community engagement and democratic development. Students have leadership roles in each of the programs that comprise UACS, including literacy, science, nutrition and health, college access, arts and culture, and more. Penn students engage year-round with Kindergarten-12th grade students in West Philadelphia through work-study and volunteer positions. To learn more about specific UACS programs, visit https://www.nettercenter.upenn.edu/what-we-do/programs/university-assist....

West Philadelphia Tutoring Project
The West Philadelphia Tutoring Project (WPTP) is a program of Civic House. WPTP aims to promote mutually beneficial relationships between Penn student tutors and Philadelphia students, primarily through one-on-one weekly tutoring sessions. WPTP also provides tutors with opportunities to engage with the West Philadelphia community, gain a greater understanding of education-related issues, and develop and strengthen a sense of civic responsibility. Apply to tutor with WPTP by Friday, Sept 11th. To apply, visit https://upennwptp.weebly.com/fall-2020-tutor-application.html

See additional opportunities related to the Year of Civic Engagement and for the fall 2020 semester on our Remote Resources & Activities page.

Local Volunteer and Engagement Opportunities

There are many established organizations in Philadelphia seeking volunteers. Students are not required or encouraged to engage in any of these initiatives. These opportunities are completely voluntary. Please contact the sites directly to sign up or with any questions.

• The Philadelphia Mayor’s Office of Civic Engagement and Volunteer Service is working to connect residents to volunteer opportunities with these critical organizations. Residents who wish to support these efforts can sign up for shifts on serve.volunteermatch.org
   

• Netter Center Civic and Community Engagement Opportunities
  Through the Netter Center, Penn undergraduate and graduate students work with local public schools, communities of faith, and community organizations to help solve critical campus and community problems. Penn students learn from and with the community through democratic partnerships that help contribute to improving the quality of life and learning on campus and in West Philadelphia/Philadelphia. Learn more about opportunities through the Netter Center.

• Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance (MANNA) 
  MANNA uses nutrition to improve health for people with serious illnesses who need nourishment to heal. By providing medically tailored meals and nutrition education, we empower people to improve their health and quality of life. Individual and group volunteer opportunities are available. 
   
• Philadelphia Writing Project (PhilWP) 
  PhilWP is a practitioner network, connecting K-university educators with teachers, principals, parents, and out-of-school-time leaders to explore literacy, writing, teaching, and learning across grade levels and disciplines.PhilWP is currently looking for judges to identify exceptional writing among local and regional student work in January 2021. Panels of judges will judge all local writing submissions remotely. Online information sessions and training will be scheduled in November.
   
• Give Blood 
  the American Red Cross has an ongoing critical need for blood product donations as uncertainties remain during this coronavirus pandemic. Giving blood is considered an essential community service. As part of our nation’s critical infrastructure, healthy individuals can still donate even in areas that have issued shelter in place declarations.
   
• Smithsonian Digital Volunteers
  Become a Smithsonian Digital Volunteer and help us make historical documents and biodiversity data more accessible.
   
• BookShare Virtual Volunteer Opportunities
  Book Share offers thousands of books to people with reading disabilities. As an online volunteer you can scan books to be added to the collection, edit books that have been scanned and add text descriptions to images.
   
• Be My Eyes 
  Be My Eyes is a free app that connects individuals with visual impairments with sighted volunteers and company representatives for visual assistance through a live video call.
   
• Translators without Borders (TWB)
  TWB is a non-profit organization offering language and translation support for humanitarian and development agencies, and other non-profit organizations on a global scale. If you are fluent in at least one language other than your native language you can help! TWB also utilizes volunteer support in graphic design and website design.
   
• United Nations Online Volunteer Opportunities
  You can help with writing and editing, translation, technology services, research, and advocacy, to name a few, and there is a variety of short and longer-term opportunities.
   
• The Spruce Foundation 
  The Spruce Foundation is an all-volunteer, next-gen-led nonprofit based in Philadelphia focused on cultivating the next generation of philanthropists through community giving and grantmaking in support of Philadelphia’s youth. The Foundation offers offer year-round opportunities to engage young professionals in the local philanthropic scene through Spruce Council and opens applications for the Spruce Foundation board every spring. 

Penn is committed to providing the necessary resources and services, and enhancing its mechanisms for support, in order to grow Penn as global campus and further Penn as a global agenda setter. Whether serving as a welcoming home to its thousands of international students, supporting students' academic, research, or professional pursuits abroad, or building strong connections within the global community, Penn is dedicated to providing you with the assistance and tools necessary to support your global endeavors. 

Perry World House
Perry World House at the University of Pennsylvania (PWH) is a global policy research center that aims to advance interdisciplinary, policy-relevant research on the world’s most urgent global affairs challenges. At a time of increasing ideological division and highly politicized of policymaking, PWH draws on the wide range of expertise found across Penn’s 12 Schools, connecting Penn with policymakers, practitioners, and researchers from around the world to develop and advance innovative policy proposals. 

Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement
The Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement at the University of Pennsylvania is founded on the principle that a democratic, open, secure, tolerant, and interconnected world benefits all Americans. Based in Washington, D.C., the Penn Biden Center engages more of our fellow citizens in shaping this world, while ensuring the gains of global engagement are widely shared.  

Penn Abroad
Penn Abroad serves as the hub for student global opportunities at the University of Pennsylvania. Each year Penn Abroad sends more than 1,000 Penn students to over 50 countries around the world on semester study abroad, summer internships, and embedded Global Seminars. Explore our website to find information about the many global opportunities available to Penn students. 

International Student and Scholar Services
International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) aims to provide immigration assistance as well as a sense of community for the international population at Penn.  In addition to answering your technical questions about immigration, ISSS also offers student programs and leadership opportunities for students, such as Forerunner and the Intercultural Leadership Program (ILP), to foster meaningful engagement throughout their journey with Penn. 

Global Support Services
Global Support Services (GSS) supports the administrative and business functions of the University’s international activities. GSS works closely with the Office of the Vice Provost for Global Initiatives to advise and support central organizations, schools and centers on new and ongoing international activities. GSS also coordinates with other departments that support global operations which include the Office of Risk Management & Insurance, Comptroller’s office, Human Resources, Office of General Counsel, Audit and Compliance, Public Safety, Treasurer, ISC, Business Services and FRES.  

International Student Advisory Board
The International Student Advisory Board (ISAB) works to enhance the international student community at Penn and provide feedback and recommendations to ISSS in order to provide effective and successful programs and services. Members also give insight and develop relationships with other Penn units and student organizations. Members of ISAB meet a diverse range of peers and learn about the inner workings of our university and have an opportunity to make a lasting impact on Penn’s international community.

GAPSA International Student Affairs Committee
The International Affairs Committee advocates on behalf of over 4,000 international graduate and professional students at Penn. In addition,  the committee organizes welcome events for incoming international students, as well as various cultural celebrations throughout the year. The committee works side-by-side with the Equity and Access Committee to support the IDEAL Council, coordinating collaborative events and distributing information about available funding.

Many students undertake postgraduate study with partners and/or children. The Family Resource Center provides a hub for information, resources, activities, and advocacy for students with children.

The Family Center provides a forum for student parents to connect and develop supportive networks, and offers a welcoming and family-friendly environment for Penn students, post-docs, caregivers, and children. 

The space includes a lounge, a family reading room, and a children's playroom complete with toys, games, books, stuffed animals; two private lactation rooms equipped with a Symphony breast pump; and community bulletin boards. 

The Graduate Student Center coordinates a variety programs and events that promote a vibrant, engaged, and supportive graduate and professional student community at Penn. Graduate Life Programs foster a well-rounded graduate experience, including programs on maintaining a healthy school-life balance, personal development, social events, and building a sense of community. 

Visit the Graduate Life Program page for more information or go to our events page to see upcoming opportunities and events!