Graduate Student Center at the University of Pennsylvania

Welcome New Graduate & Professional Students!

Whether you're already on campus or will be joining us in the coming weeks, the Grad Center is excited to welcome you to Penn and to support you throughout your graduate experience!

Be sure to check out our New Student Welcome and Resources pages for resources, videos, and information to help you with your transition to graduate school.

www.gsc.upenn.edu/welcome

The Grad Center will be closed this Wednesday, the 14th, for staff training and development. We will reopen on Thursday with regular summer hours.

For all building hours, visit upenn-gsc.libcal.com/hours/

FYI: Our campus tours for grad students will be running twice a week through the month of August!

Are you a new graduate or professional student and want to learn more about Penn's campus? A current student looking for a refresher on where campus services are located? Join us for a guided tour of Penn's campus and learn more about the many resources and spaces Penn has to offer. The tour will provide an overview of important spaces on campus and will provide participants with a glimpse of Penn's history in the University City neighborhood of West Philadelphia.

Advance registration is required. To learn more and register, go to the link in our bio or visit gsc.upenn.edu/events

Give yourself a cool break from heated summer by joining us as we paint paper lanterns! During this crafting session, you will be guided through how to set up and paint your paper lanterns. All materials will be provided.

This event is open only to Penn graduate and professional students. Advance registration is required. Attendees must have a Penn GRADUATE ID.

Register at the link in our bio or at gsc.upenn.edu/events

Looking to explore some great local eats close to campus? Join your other graduate and professional students from across Penn for an afternoon stroll down Baltimore Ave. in West Philly as we explore the many cafes, restaurants, and bars in the area. Get a feel for the neighborhood and explore new favorites with us!

This tour will meet outside Renata's Kitchen (3940 Baltimore Ave.) and end at 50th Street.

On this walking tour, we will not stop inside any specific restaurants, but we will share a bit about some of our favorite spots along Baltimore Ave. in West Philadelphia.

Advance Registration is required. Students are welcome to bring up to two family members, including spouses/partners and children, as guests. Guest information must be provided in the registration form, and guests must agree to comply with University visitor policies.

Register at the link in our bio or at gsc.upenn.edu/events

If you’re planning to go on the faculty job market, either now or in the future, please join Penn Career Services for our Faculty Job Search Prep Camp to get a head start on planning your job search. Through a combination of workshops and faculty/alumni panels, we’ll help you understand how to best prepare for each step of the process, from evaluating different kinds of institutions and opportunities, to crafting your application materials, to preparing for interviews and job talks.

Attendees are also encouraged to make a one-on-one appointment with a Career Services advisor to receive targeted feedback on their documents. Check Handshake for available appointments!

View the full schedule and register at the link in our bio or at gsc.upenn.edu/events

Meet us at the Biopond in James G. Kaskey Memorial Park to pick up your free sweet treat! While you are there, be sure to stick around and meet other new graduate and professional students from across the university. We will have some games and activities set up for those who wish to bring their partners and children. Starting at 12:00 pm and lasting until supplies run out!

This event is for Penn GRADUATE & PROFESSIONAL STUDENTS, Family Center members, and their guests. This event is co-sponsored by the Family Resource Center.

Please register in advance!! Partners and children are welcome to attend but must be registered in advance as guests (please list guests in comments when you register). Register at the link in our bio or visit gsc.upenn.edu/events

Do you have questions about student health insurance or wellness resources on Penn's campus? Be sure to join us for a live Q+A session with Wellness at Penn on Monday, August 5, from 12:00-1:00 pm ET on Zoom. Following a short presentation about health insurance, we will open up the floor for a live question and answer (Q+A) session. Staff members from Wellness at Penn, including Insurance Navigators, members of the Grad Center, and a representative from Aetna, will be online to answer your questions. Attendees are encouraged to come prepared with any questions they may have.

This event is open to incoming and current graduate and professional students only. Register at the link in our bio or at gsc.upenn.edu/events

Beat the heat by stopping by the Grad Center to enjoy some afternoon baseball! We will be showing Wednesday's game featuring our hometown Philadelphia Phillies and the Minnesota Twins on the first floor.

Registration is not required. Complimentary snacks and Phillies coloring pages will also be provided.

Do you have questions about student health insurance or wellness resources on Penn's campus? Be sure to join us for a live Q+A session with Wellness at Penn on Wednesday, July 17 from 4:00-5:00 pm ET on Zoom. Following a short presentation about health insurance, we will open up the floor for a live question and answer (Q+A) session. Staff members from Wellness at Penn, including Insurance Navigators, members of the Grad Center, and a representative from Aetna, will be online to answer your questions. Attendees are encouraged to come prepared with any questions they may have.

This event is open to incoming and current graduate and professional students only.

Learn more and register at gsc.upenn.edu/events or at the link in our bio.

Today's Baltimore Bites has been cancelled due to the rain, BUT we have a makeup session scheduled for next Wednesday, July 17! Learn more and register at the link in our bio.

On this walking tour, we will not stop inside any specific restaurants, but we will share a bit about some of our favorite spots along Baltimore Ave. in West Philadelphia.

Advance Registration is required. Students are welcome to bring up to two family members, including spouses/partners and children, as guests. Guest information must be provided in the registration form, and guests must agree to comply with University visitor policies.

Please be sure to check the weather before arriving for your scheduled tour. In the event of rain, thunderstorms, excessive heat, or extreme weather, tours will be canceled. We encourage you to wear appropriate clothing and check weather forecasts in advance.

Do you have questions about finding off-campus housing? Swipe through for some helpful tips and read more at the blog post linked in our bio. Visit Penn's Off-Campus Services website for more resources!

Today is National Video Game Day, making it a great time to announce that our Nintendo Switch is now up and running! Simply come to the info desk to check out a controller and enjoy our library of pre-downloaded Switch games in Room 300.

🚨Attention trolley riders: SEPTA Trolley Tunnel Blitz starts this Friday!! 🚨

Dates: Friday, July 12 at 10PM through Monday, July 29 at 6AM
Trolley Routes affected: 10, 11, 13, 34, and 36
Impact: SEPTA Trolleys will NOT operate in the tunnel / underground. Routes will divert to 40th & Market for service to/from Center City

What is the SEPTA Trolley Tunnel Blitz?
Each year, SEPTA closes trolley tunnels for roughly two weeks to complete critical track and power maintenance, station upgrades, and intensive cleaning of the underground trolley infrastructure.

Navigating SEPTA during the Tunnel Closure:
Eastbound trolleys go to 40th and Market streets where riders can transfer to the eastbound Market-Frankford Line [L] for service to Center City
Westbound riders can take the westbound Market-Frankford Line [L] to the trolleys at 40th and Market streets for service to points west
For late-night travel, riders may transfer to Market-Frankford Line [L] Night Owl Bus Service
Bus routes 21 and 42 provide local east/west service between West Philadelphia and Center City

For more information, go to www.septa.org or visit the link in our bio.

Do you have questions about student health insurance or wellness resources on Penn's campus? Be sure to join us for a live Q+A session with Wellness at Penn on Tuesday, July 16 from 12:00-1:00 pm ET on Zoom. Following a short presentation about health insurance, we will open up the floor for a live question and answer (Q+A) session. Staff members from Wellness at Penn, including Insurance Navigators, members of the Grad Center, and a representative from Aetna, will be online to answer your questions. Attendees are encouraged to come prepared with any questions they may have.

This event is open to incoming and current graduate and professional students only.

Learn more and register at gsc.upenn.edu/events or at the link in our bio.

Are you an international student new to Penn? Interested in learning more about cultural practices in the U.S? We offer free workshops on a variety of topics related to transitioning to life at Penn and in the United States.

Register for one or all three of our upcoming chats at gsc.upenn.edu/events or the link in our bio. Advance registration & Penn Graduate ID are required.

Graduating from Penn doesn't mean you can no longer benefit from University resources! Swipe through to see some resources available to graduate alumni and visit the link in our bio for more information.

Come join your fellow graduate and professional students for an evening of friendly competition. Enjoy snacks and drinks as you earn bragging rights through bold risks and intelligent strategy, or just have fun exploring new games.

The Grad Center's first floor will be open for games, as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic refreshments, from 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. Play anything in the Grad Center's game library, or bring your favorite game from home.

This event is for Penn graduate & professional students only. You MUST be able to show a GRADUATE PennCard ID for event entry.

Learn more and register at gsc.upenn.edu/events or at the link in our bio.

📣Attention new and continuing students! 📣 Learn more about Penn annual wellness requirements and your options for health, dental, and vision coverage + discounted services for the 2024-25 academic year.

The deadline for ALL full time students to enroll in or request a waiver to avoid auto-enrollment in PSIP is AUGUST 31.

Learn more at the websites below:

Insurance requirements, plans, & waivers:
wellness.upenn.edu/inreq

Discounted dental and other services:
gsc.upenn.edu/funding

PhD insurance & family grants:
gsc.upenn.edu/insurancegrants

New & Incoming Student Wellness Requirements:
wellness.upenn.edu/immunization-insurance-requirements/new-and-incoming-students

Looking to explore some great local eats close to campus? Join your other graduate and professional students from across Penn for an afternoon stroll down Baltimore Ave. in West Philly as we explore the many cafes, restaurants, and bars in the area. Get a feel for the neighborhood and explore new favorites with us!

Registration is required. Learn more and sign up at gsc.upenn.edu/events or at the link in our bio.

In observance of Independence Day, the Grad Center will be Closed from from 1pm on Wednesday, July 3 through Friday, July 5. We will resume our summer hours on Monday, July 8.

Are you preparing to move to Philly for the first time, or maybe you are just looking to find a new apartment? Be sure to attend one of Off-Campus Services' info sessions before you make your move.

July info session dates are now live!

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3xHRmjs

This session, led by Judith Currano, the head of Penn’s Chemistry Library and former chair of the American Chemical Society’s Committee on Ethics, will examine ethical norms surrounding the reuse and documentation of your own and others’ previously-published work in your dissertation. This will be a hybrid session taking place at the Grad Center and online.

To learn more and register, visit the link in our bio or go to gsc.upenn.edu/events

Beat the heat this tomorrow and watch the Phillies at the Grad Center. Enjoy some light snacks and cheer on the Phillies as they take on the Detroit Tigers.

Registration is not required. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:10.

Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3RIq1ol

Looking for an opportunity to be creative and connect with other graduate and professional students who are already on campus? Join us this Wednesday for our first Crafternoon of the summer as we make origami.

Learn more and register: https://bit.ly/4cerfQo

Tomorrow we're celebrating Pride Month with a beaded bracelet station in the first floor of the Grad Center! Stop by to make a bracelet in the colors of a pride flag or any other design of your choice.

Happy Summer Solstice to all in the Global North! 😎

Happy Winter Solstice to our friends in the Global South! ❄️

Looking for fun FREE things to do around Philly for Fourth of July? Look no further than the events already underway for the Wawa Welcome America Festival!
https://july4thphilly.com/events/
From free museum days to concerts to fireworks, you can find activities for all ages!

The Grad Center and University are closed today in recognition of the Juneteenth holiday and to provide staff and students time to reflect on the meaning and significance of the day. To learn more about the history and celebration of Juneteenth, go to nmaahc.si.edu/juneteenth

Whether you're on or away from campus this summer, the Grad Center is committed to helping you stay informed, connected, and supported throughout your time as a graduate student at Penn.

Find information, resources, volunteer opportunities, and more for Penn grad & professional students at www.gsc.upenn.edu/resources