Student Engagement & Wellness

Social wellness informs community building and ensures that individuals feel fully supported at the University.

Student Communities and Groups 
The individual students, faculty, professional staff, and administrators at Penn contribute to a diverse and rich community. Explore our lists of graduate student activities and groups and learn more about student governance to find out how you can participate in the broader Penn community.  

Graduate Student Groups & Organizations

University Life 
University Life programs and resources are intended to stimulate shared interactions and connections among students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community members. See a list of Penn student activities and cultural centers that serve graduate students. 

Campus Student Centers and Activities

Campus Events 
The Grad Center Events page includes links to various University calendars with events of interest to graduate students

Events Calendars

UPCOMING EVENTS AROUND CAMPUS

Community Engagement 

Looking to find out more about what to do beyond campus?  Regardless of your budget, there are many opportunities to experience the various activities that the city and surrounding area have to offer. Visit the links below to explore ways to engage in the broader Philadelphia area. 

THINGS TO DO IN PHILADELPHIA 

SELF-GUIDED TOURS OF PHILADELPHIA 

Arts at Penn
From the one-of-a-kind museums on campus to accomplished student performances in music, dance, and theater, culture and the arts play a leading role in life at Penn. Check out a list of cultural institutions at Penn or see a list of upcoming arts & culture events at Penn.

Penn's Department of Recreation offers intramural sports, 2 on-campus fitness facilities, informal recreation, 37 sports clubs, group exercise classes, personal training, massage therapy, and outdoor adventure trips. On-campus fitness facilities and classes may require some fees. Visit the website to learn more. 

• The Pottruck Center offers fitness space, an Olympic sized pool and co-ed sauna, Energy Zone Juice Bar, locker/shower facilities, and the membership services office.
   
• The Fox Fitness Center features fitness space for cardio and strength training as well as Circuit Training classes led by certified Personal Trainers.
   
• PennPark is 24 acres of continuous open space that includes athletic and recreational facilities.

The Class of 1923 Ice Rink is a 2,900-seat facility that hosts figure skating and hockey competitions, among other events.

James G. Kaskey Memorial Garden (Biopond) is a cultivated retreat that includes a pond and a wide variety of plants and animals.

Penn Athletics give students the opportunity to cheer for Quaker football, basketball, baseball, rowing, soccer, and more!

World Café Live features two unique music venues and hosts live WXPN radio broadcasts on occasion.

Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania, located in Chestnut Hill, is a historic public garden and educational institution that promotes an understanding of the relationship between people, plants, and place. Admission is free with your PennCard!

LEARN MORE ABOUT ARTS & CULTURE AT PENN

See arts and recreational activities beyond campus on our Living in Philadelphia page. 

Penn strives to promote physical fitness and emotional balance so that students prioritize their health.

Student Health and Counseling  (formerly SHS and CAPS) is the primary care and psychological care division of Wellness at Penn. Our state-of-the-art medical and counseling centers are designed to provide high-quality, compassionate care for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students during their academic journey. Student Health and Counseling is committed to providing safe, accessible, cost-effective, culturally sensitive, and student-focused care. Their team provides care for acute and chronic health problems, preventative health services, as well as mental health and counseling, crisis management, and consultations. Learn more: 

• Access to Student Health and Counseling is based on student status and payment of general and clinical fees.
   
  • Counseling services are available to all students at no additional charge. Counseling also provides a number of terrific resources and programs to support students, groups and workshops, drop-in conversations (Let's Talk), mindfulness and self-care tools, and more. 
     
  • Medical Services are available to students who pay the Clinical Fee: 
    • All full-time students are charged the Clinical Fee and can access Student Health Medical Services.
       
    • All students who enroll in PSIP will also be charged the Clinical Fee in order to access Student Health and Counseling as your primary care provider. Please check with your program’s financial aid office for details.
       
    • Other students, including those enrolled in fewer than 3.0 CUs, may not be automatically charged a Clinical Fee. Please check with your school financial office to understand what fees are included as part of your cost of attendance. 
       
    • Students who have not been charged the Clinical Fee may elect to pay the clinical fee to access medical services. To do so, please contact Student Health and Counseling at 215-746-3535 or Insurance Compliance at 215-746-4200 to request and submit required information to opt-in to paying the fee. The Clinical Fee will be charged to your student account.

The Public Health and Wellbeing  Division of Wellness at Penn (formerly Campus Health) seeks to create a community of care through advocacy, education, and action. Their dedicated staff focuses on a wide variety of healthy living topics, including sleep hygiene, stress reduction, nutrition, exercise, and sexual health. Public Health and Wellbeing also consists of Immunization and Insurance Compliance and the Penn Farm. 

Penn Campus Recreation serves the University community, with memberships available for students, faculty, staff, and affiliates. Membership includes access to both Pottruck and Fox fitness facilities, group exercise classes, use of the Sheerr Pool and sauna, access to intramural sport leagues, and more. Additional services like Reformer Pilates, personal training, and rock climbing are available. Campus Recreation runs four week-long sessions of Adventure Camp in July for children 6-12. Additional athletic camps are available for children throughout the summer.

The SUPER Program (Substance Use, Prevention, Education, and Recovery) oversees critical areas of health and wellness that can challenge the academic success of Penn students. The office comprises alcohol policy initiatives, violence prevention, data collection, strategic project management, and (in collaboration with Student Intervention Services) proactive crisis management.

Reach-A-Peer Help Line is an anonymous peer-support service founded and run by Penn student volunteers. The phone number is 215-573-2RAP (2727).

Penn Violence Prevention aims to prevent sexual violence, relationship violence, and stalking on campus, by ensuring students have access to resources, and by providing preventative education focused on building healthy relationships, understanding consent, and being an active bystander.

HELP LINE
One call to the HELP LINE can assist you in finding personal and mental health support, 215-898-HELP.

Student Dental, Health, and Vision Insurance Plans and Discounts. Penn students have a range of options for seeking affordable insurance coverage and discounted services. 

PhD Insurance Grants and Family Grants. The University offers four grant programs for PhD students to help offset the cost of insurance and family care. These grants are funded by the Office of the Provost and administered by the Graduate Student Center, Family Resource Center, and the Office of Student Registration and Financial Services.  

Spiritual wellness grounds students in their beliefs, and often helps them identify meaning in their lives.

Office of the Chaplain 
The Chaplain is the administrative officer of the University responsible to the Provost for the oversight and coordination of religious activities on the campus. In addition to providing individual support and counseling, the Office serves and supports a wide range of student organizations and activities on campus, and develops programming designed to improve interfaith understanding and build relationships across religious difference.

The Office of the Chaplain also runs the Spiritual & Religious Life Center (SPARC) provides a home on campus for religious and spiritual students and groups. SPARC provides space for regular prayer (including daily Muslim prayer space), scripture study, and meditation sessions for individuals and groups.  

Anglican & Episcopal Students at Penn and St. Mary's, The Episcopal Church at Penn, include activities centered on the Episcopal Student Association and the liturgical service at St. Mary's Church.

Lubavitch House at Penn provides a warm and stimulating environment for all Jewish students regardless of background or affiliation.

Penn Newman Catholic Center is the Roman Catholic Church's presence on campus, serving the entire community at Penn.

Penn is committed to maintaining a safe environment where students feel valued and secure. Visit our Safety and Campus Conduct page for information about campus safety and security, campus conduct and community values, and reporting concerns and incidents. 

Need Assistance?

​​​​​​​Student Intervention Services (SIS) works with partners across the university to provide support and help coordinate assistance for students experiencing serious challenges or emergencies. They can be reached directly at 215-898-6081 or by contacting vpul-sisteam@pobox.upenn.edu

The Graduate Student Center is here to help you navigate the many resources at the University. Any graduate or professional student experiencing an issue or unsure where to turn can contact us for guidance. Dr. Meredith Wooten, the Grad Center's director, is also available to meet with students individually by appointment. 

The University's HELP Line 215-898-HELP (4357) is a 24-hour-a-day phone number for members of the Penn community who are seeking time-sensitive help in navigating Penn’s resources for health and wellness

Please visit the Wellness Get Help Now page for crisis-response hotlines and resources