Vice Provost for Education August 2021 Newsletter

Vice Provost for Education
Newsletter for Graduate & Professional Students

August 2021

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

I am very honored to have been named the University’s new Vice Provost for Education. While this is certainly a tumultuous time for all of us, I am feeling optimistic about our return to in-person classes this fall. I look forward to engaging with students and learning more about your needs and ways we can improve the educational experience at Penn.  And I extend a warm welcome to those of you joining the Penn community in Fall 2021.

I’d like to invite you to send me your questions about graduate and professional education at Penn, University administration, or other issues that are on your mind. Email provost-ed@upenn.edu with the subject line ASK THE VPE.

There are also many exciting new developments to share with you as well as important reminders; I list several below.

 

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Grants
I hope you saw the announcement last week that Penn is allocating roughly $20 million in HEERF funding directly to eligible undergraduate, graduate and professional students. Graduate and professional students are eligible if they are enrolled full-time in an on-campus program for the Fall 2021 semester. Both returning and first-year students are eligible; U.S. citizenship is not required. Individual grants will range from $1,000 to $2,000. Penn Student Registration & Financial Services (SRFS) will communicate instructions to eligible returning grad students at their Penn email addresses later in August, and to first-year eligible graduate students in September. In the meantime, you can find more information at https://srfs.upenn.edu/heerf. We hope that these grants will help our students with any uncovered COVID-related expenses.

Graduate Student Lounge Space     
The building located at 3615 Locust Walk, which houses both the Graduate Student Center and the Family Resource Center, will be closed during most of the fall semester to make much-needed improvements to HVAC systems. We look forward to opening the renovated building in the spring. In the meantime, we are working to identify temporary spaces exclusively for graduate and professional students use while the building is closed; stay tuned for more details. I’d also like to remind you about the graduate student study space on the 5th floor of Van Pelt Library. The card-accessible space provides a quiet atmosphere and includes carrels for individual study, a variety of other seating and work-surface options, and a lactation room. The Family Center will continue to operate remotely during the fall semester. Although the Grad Center’s and Family Center’s building will be closed, staff are on campus to provide advising, resources, and programming to graduate and professional students. See the Grad Center website and Family Center website for more information.

Register your vaccination status
Penn is requiring all students to be fully vaccinated for the fall semester. All new and returning students must register their COVID-19 vaccination status as soon as possible; see the University’s Coronavirus website for instructions.

Graduate & Professional Student Survey
In spring 2020 we planned to conduct the second Graduate & Professional Student Survey, to help us identify ways to better serve our students. That survey was necessarily postponed but I am pleased that we will now conduct the survey in spring 2022. Check the Institutional Research website for information from the 2015-16 survey. Look for the survey next semester and please fill it out.

Dissertation deposit changes
Beginning in the fall 2021 semester, the process for PhD students to deposit dissertations will change. The dissertation deposit function will move from the SAS Graduate Division – which has handled deposits for PhD students in all schools – to my office which is organized more centrally. We will also eliminate the $50 dissertation deposit fee starting with Fall 2021 graduates. For more information, contact grad-degree@provost.upenn.edu.

Deadline for Penn Student Health Insurance
All full time and dissertation-status students are required to have comprehensive health insurance. The Penn Student Insurance Plan (PSIP) is available for students who do not have insurance, whose plans do not provide coverage in the Philadelphia area, or whose plans do not meet our criteria for alternative insurance. The deadline to enroll in or waive PSIP is August 31. See the Insurance Requirement website for more information.

“Learning From” address
We will continue to use a “learning from” address for our students, even though most will be in the Philadelphia area. You will be instructed on how to update your “learning from” address information when you log in to Penn InTouch.

 

Highlighted Resources

All University resources
Penn provides graduate and professional students with support to help you thrive in graduate school. The University offers a wide range of resources designed to enrich your graduate experience and support the many different dimensions of your wellness, including emotional, physical, social, spiritual, and financial. Read about all of the resources available to you at the Graduate Student Center’s Resource page.

Graduate Emergency Fund
The Graduate Emergency Fund provides grants to assist graduate and professional students with urgent financial needs and unanticipated, one-time expenses. The fund is intended to support the continued academic progress and well-being of students experiencing short term financial hardship who cannot reasonably resolve their immediate financial needs through loans, aid programs, or personal resources. See the Fund’s website for more information.

Insurance Grants for PhD students
The University offers grant programs for PhD students to help offset the cost of health insurance and dental insurance. These grants are funded by the Office of the Provost and administered by the Graduate Student Center and the Office of Student Registration and Financial Services. The application opens August 23 and the deadline is September 23; see www.gsc.upenn.edu/insurancegrants for more information.

Family Grants for PhD students
The University has created two grant programs for PhD students to help offset the cost of childcare and family expenses, and health insurance for dependents. These grants are funded by the Office of the Provost and administered by the Family Resource Center and the Office of Student Registration and Financial Services. The application opens August 23 and the deadline is September 23; see https://familycenter.upenn.edu/grants for more information.

Library Facilities 
Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center is now open to the Penn community. Opening hours will be Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Patrons may once again browse the stacks and use self-serve study areas without appointments. Reservable study spaces may also be booked.  The Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts will remain open by appointment, Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm.  Starting Monday, August 16, all other library locations except one will also be open to the Penn community and outside visitors. The exception is the Biomedical Library (soon to be relaunched as the Biotech Commons), which will reopen when construction is complete. Opening hours will be Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. See the Library website for the most up-to-date information.

 

Upcoming Events and Activities

Fellowships: What do I need to know?
Tuesday, August 10, 12:00 – 1:00 PM
Fellowships are funding opportunities for promising Penn students and alumni to engage in study, research, service, or education, either domestically or abroad.  Learn more about how you can position yourself to be a good candidate, what opportunities exist, and how CURF can help you through the application process. 

Penn Campus Tours
Are you a student new to Penn's campus? Need a refresher of where buildings and campus services are located? Join us for a walking tour around campus and learn more about your new community, history, and the neighboring area of West Philadelphia. 

• Friday, August 13, 12:00-1:30 PM (ET)
• Tuesday, August 17, 2:00-3:30 PM (ET)
• Thursday, August 19, 1:00-2:30 PM (ET)
• Wednesday, August 25, 5:00-6:30 PM (ET)
• Saturday, August 28, 3:00-4:30 PM (ET)
• Monday, August 30, 12:00-1:30 PM (ET)

Baltimore Bites Walking Tours
Wednesday, August 11, 4:00-5:00 PM (ET) & Wednesday, August 18, 4:00-5:00 PM (ET)
New to Philly or looking to try somewhere new in West Philly? The Grad Center is leading two walking tours of restaurants, cafes, and grocery stores along Baltimore Avenue this month! Can't join us in person? You can download this and other self-guided tours of the Philadelphia area from the "Living in Philadelphia" section of our Graduate Resource Guide to explore on your own!

PhD Grant Information Session 
Wednesday, September 8, 12:00-1:00 PM (ET)
Join us at this virtual info session to learn more about grants to help offset the cost of insurance and family care expenses for eligible full time Penn PhD students. Staff from the Graduate Student Center and Family Resource Center will walk students through the application process and answer questions about the four programs: Dental Insurance Grant; Dependent Insurance Grant; Family Care Grant; & Student Health Insurance Grant. Learn more and register.

Liminal States
Sunday, August 22 at 11:00 PM
The Rotunda at Penn and Bowerbird present a late-night virtual performance from Claire Rousay, whose music takes inspiration from sounds of everyday life, such as voicemails, stopwatches, and whispered conversations. This series showcases music intended to ease people into sleep.

Printing & Postcards Workshop
Wednesday, September 1 at 5:00 PM; Kelly Writers House
Want to learn about letterpress printing? Mary Tasillo and members of Common Press for a hands-on event. Pull a print from our mobile press, snag a letterpress printed postcard for mailing to a friend, and view a retrospective of Common Press prints made by Penn students and other artists. Not sure what letterpress printing is? Come by and find out how we set blocks of old type to create new art, and find out how to get involved. We’ll provide all supplies -- including postcard stamps! Co-sponsored by Kelly Writers House, the Brodsky Gallery, and Common Press

Celebration of Rachel Zolf’s No One’s Witness: A Monstrous Poetics
With Rachel Zolf reading and in conversation with Airea D. Matthews; special guest Sofia Sears
Thursday, September 9 at 6:00 PM; on YouTube and at the Kelly Writers House
The Creative Writing Program presents a celebration of Artist in Residence Rachel Zolf's new book, No One's Witness: A Monstrous Poetics (Duke, 2021). Drawing on black studies, continental philosophy, queer theory, experimental poetics, and work by several writers and artists, Zolf asks what it means to witness from the excessive, incalculable position of No One. 

Momentum 2021: The Power of Penn Women
Friday, October 1 – Sunday, October 3 
Momentum 2021: The Power of Penn Women is a virtual conference celebrating the power of Penn women. Join us online as alumni and Penn community members of all backgrounds and generations come together to learn, connect, and share how we are making an impact locally and globally. Momentum 2021 is an inclusive and trans-affirming conference. We embrace the identities and histories of all who attend. Registration is FREE for current graduate & professional students with student promo code M21Student.

 

Ongoing

Weekly Virtual Meet-Ups hosted by Penn Student Centers

• LGBT Center LGBTQ+ Student Kiki: Mondays at 5:00 PM (ET)
• Tuesday Tea with the Penn Women’s Center: Tuesdays at 11:00 AM (ET)

Family Resource Center Science Saturdays
Science Saturdays are back! Follow the Family Resource Center on Facebook or Instagram for weekly posts featuring science experiments with simple step-by-step instructions that you and your children can do as a family.

To see additional events and activities for graduate and professional students, visit the Grad Center’s Events Calendars page and sign up for the Grad Center newsletter.

 

Tips for Success in Graduate & Professional School

Why Ph.D. Students Should Think Like Entrepreneurs

Important Lessons for Success in Graduate School 

Where Do You Do Your Best Writing?

How to Finish Disparate Tasks Without Cloning Yourself

 

Grad Students Making News

Two Penn GSE doctoral students have won National Academy of Education/Spencer Dissertation Fellowships: Irteza Binte-Farid, a joint PhD candidate in Penn GSE’s literacy, culture, and international education division and SAS’s department of sociology, and Gareth Smail, a PhD candidate in educational linguistics.

The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) at Penn has awarded Annenberg doctoral candidate Lauren Bridges a 2021-22 Graduate Fellowship for Teaching Excellence. 

Law student Amani Carter has developed a new study that identifies bias and stereotype threat in artificial intelligence and creates new mitigation tools to share with industry leaders and policymakers. 

Ph.D. candidate Nakul Deshpande, of SAS’s Earth & Environmental Science program, was quoted in the NY Times about discoveries about natural landscapes.

In an upcoming article, Law student Raymond Magsaysay says Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have been largely left out of recent conversations about race and criminal justice, perpetuating both the model minority stereotype and anti-Blackness. 

Two graduate students are part of teams which have won Penn’s inaugural Projects for Progress prize. Each team will receive up to $100,000 to implement an initiative that will make a positive impact on the city of Philadelphia by working towards one or more of the following objectives: eradicating or reducing systemic racism, achieving educational equity, or reducing health disparities based on race, gender, sexual orientation, and/or social determinants of health.  

• Ian McCurry, Perelman School of Medicine 2022—doctor of medicine program is part of the Shelter Health Outreach Program—Community Family Care Clinic team. 
• Cooper Yerby, School of Arts & Sciences 2023—doctoral program in Earth and environmental science is part of the Collaborative Initiative to Renovate and Optimize the Cobbs Creek Community Environmental Center team. 

 
Gianni Morsell, Paloma Brand, and Skye Horbrook make up the first cohort of SP2 Social Justice Scholars. 

Kamen Simeonov, an MD/PhD student, is part of the team pinpointing how cancer cells turn aggressive.

Leniqueca Welcome, a doctoral candidate in cultural anthropology, uses photography to explore the human experience. 

 

Fellowships and Opportunities

Penn Career Services PhD Professionalism Fellow
Deadline: August 11
Penn Career Services is seeking a PhD student from any discipline to coordinate a career exploration program for PhDs at Penn as the 2021-2022 PhD Professionalism Fellow. The ideal candidate is a PhD student who would like to take an active role in learning about and highlighting career options for PhD students at Penn as part of a one-year fellowship opportunity.

Apply to be a Grad Center Fellow!
Deadline: August 13
The Graduate Student Center is seeking creative and motivated graduate students to serve as Graduate Fellows for the 2021-22 academic year. Fellows work as part of the Grad Center team to develop programs and resources that enhance the quality of personal development, social and cultural life, and to foster the graduate and professional student community at Penn.

Volunteer as a Penn Reading Project (PRP) Group Facilitator
Deadline: August 17
Help us welcome first-year undergraduate students to Penn by serving as a Group Facilitator for the 2021 Penn Reading Project (PRP). Small groups of students will meet on campus the afternoon of Friday, August 27 for a 60-minute discussion of August Wilson’s landmark play, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Ma Rainey explores connections between generations of Black families and their neighborhoods and communities. A particular thematic focus this year will be interaction with the Philadelphia community and beyond on projects that unite and enrich us all. Register here. 

Fulbright U.S. Student Program Grants
University endorsement deadline: August 30 
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 applicant support is available at: www.curf.upenn.edu/content/fulbright

Schwarzman Scholarship (for Fall 2022 start)
Deadline: Sept 21 (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.

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
Deadline: October 18 - 22 (varies by field)
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) recognizes and supports promising students in NSF-supported STEM and social science disciplines who are pursuing research-based graduate degrees. For information about applying for the NSF GRFP at Penn, visit: www.curf.upenn.edu/content/nsf.

Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowships
Deadline: October 27
Supports a year of research and writing to help advanced graduate students in the humanities and related social sciences in the last year of PhD dissertation writing. The program encourages timely completion of the PhD and is open to scholars pursuing humanistic research on topics grounded in any time period, world region, or methodology. Applicants must be prepared to complete their dissertations within the period of their fellowship tenure and no later than August 31, 2022. 

Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans 
Deadline: October 28 
Prestigious national fellowship provides up to two years of support for graduate study for new Americans - permanent residents or naturalized citizens if born abroad; otherwise children of naturalized citizen parents - in any field and in any advanced degree-granting program in the US. Learn more about the application process and access the schedule for upcoming information sessions on applying for the fellowship at www.pdsoros.org/apply/information-sessions.

American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF) Fellowship 
Deadline: November 1
Fellowships (up to $23,000) and grants (up to $5,000) to individuals to pursue research, study or creative arts projects in one or more Scandinavian country for up to one year.

National Research Council (NRC) of the National Academies Research Associateship Program (RAP) 
Deadline: November 1
Graduate and postdoctoral research opportunities in science and technology at sponsoring federal laboratories and affiliated institutions.

American Association of University Women (AAUW) Fellowships and Grants 
Deadline: November 1
Supports women scholars who are completing dissertations, planning research leave from accredited institutions, or preparing research for publication. Funds research in a variety of disciplines that helps to improve communities. Eligibility: Women PhD candidates in all fields of study

SSRC International Dissertation Research Fellowship (IDRF)
Deadline: November 2
9-12 months of support to graduate students in the humanities and humanistic social sciences who are enrolled in PhD programs in the US and conducting dissertation research on non-US topics.

Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future Program   
Deadline: November 5
Fellowships for women from developing and emerging economies to pursue PhD or post-doctoral studies in the physical sciences, engineering and technology.

Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship
Deadline November 15
Fellowships of $25,000 will be awarded for 12 months of full-time dissertation writing to encourage original and significant study of ethical or religious values in all fields of the humanities and social sciences, and particularly to help Ph.D. candidates in these fields complete their dissertation work in a timely manner. Eligibility: PhD candidates are who writing on topics where ethical or religious values are a central concern, and who expect to complete the dissertation between April 1 and August 31, 2021

Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program
Deadline: November 16
Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) institutes provide fully-funded group-based intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment experiences for 7-10 weeks for U.S. citizen undergraduate, Master ’s and Ph.D. students. Countries may include: Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Morocco, Oman, Russia, South Korea, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, or others where the target languages are spoken. Apply in November for a fellowship the following summer.

National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowships
Deadline: November 30
1-3 year fellowships awarded to applicants who will pursue a doctoral degree in, or closely related to, an area of DoD interest within one of their fifteen prioritized disciplines in science and engineering. Fellows receive full tuition & fees, a monthly stipend, and up to $1000 for medical insurance.

Alfa Fellowship Program 
Deadline: December 1
High-level professional development program for American and British citizens at leading Russian organizations in business, economics, journalism, law, and government. The program includes intensive Russian language training, seminar series, and extended professional experience. Fellows receive a monthly stipend, language training, program-related travel costs, housing and insurance.

Graduate Fellowships for STEM Diversity  
Deadline: December 15 
Supports seniors and graduate students in the physical sciences and related engineering fields, for 2-6 years. Awards include $20,000 stipend; tuition & fees; paid summer government internships & mentoring.    

DOD Science, Mathematics And Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service Program
Deadline: December 1
The Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service Program is an opportunity for students pursuing a graduate or doctoral degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines and conducting research relevant to the U.S. Department of Defense. Includes full tuition, annual stipend of up to $38K, and other benefits. Awardees are matched with a DoD research laboratory where they will be expected to serve as a summer intern and complete a period of post-graduation employment service as a civilian.

Ford Foundation Graduate Fellowships
Deadlines: December 9 (dissertation & postdoctoral); December 16 (predoctoral)
Predoctoral and dissertation awards to students who plan to pursue careers in teaching and research at the college or university level and demonstrate a commitment to using diversity to enrich the education of all students.

 

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.