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From the President and Provost: Creating Office of Penn First Plus

As part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring that all Penn students have access to the tools and supports they need to thrive during their study at Penn, we are pleased to preview a series of initiatives designed to further enhance the success of our growing community of first generation and low income students.

Since 2004, increased access to the transformative power of a Penn education has been one of our University’s highest priorities. In 2007, we were proud to become the largest school in the U.S. to pioneer all-grant financial aid. By 2017, 45 percent of Penn undergraduate students received financial aid, with an average award of $47,046. Our undergraduate financial aid budget for FY19 is slated at $237 million, an increase of more than 180 percent since 2005. And during this same period, the number of first generation students attending Penn has increased from 1 in 20 students to 1 in 8 students in the class that entered last fall.

 Over the past few years, to support our first generation and low income students, we have seen the founding of the Penn First student organization and the opening of the First Generation Low Income Program in the Greenfield Intercultural Center. This year, to further support our first generation and low income students, a group of faculty and campus leaders has been assessing new ideas and best practices in this area, doing extensive research and consulting widely with students and staff across the University. As a result of their efforts, we will take the following steps.

 We will create an Office of Penn First Plus Students, providing expanded programs and financial support for our First Plus undergraduates. The Penn First Plus Office will offer a central, supportive home at Penn where undergraduate students can form a vibrant community, learn more about resources and connect with faculty and alumni. Leading this office, a new Executive Director for Penn First Plus Students will further enrich the educational success and campus life of our undergraduates. The Executive Director will implement new programs, strengthen connections to faculty and alumni and provide a central hub and strategic vision to sustain these efforts. Two Faculty Directors, one from a humanities/social science discipline and one from a STEM discipline, will further our students’ academic development. Designated First Plus liaisons in each undergraduate school will also work closely with our undergraduates to understand their specific needs and goals. We look forward to sharing more details about Penn First Plus in the fall semester.

 We are grateful to the many members of the Penn community who over the past six months shared their perspectives and ideas. Penn First Plus is the latest step in our comprehensive efforts toward an ever-better, more inclusive and vibrantly diverse academic community. The very highest priority of this University has been and continues to be the success and well-being of all Penn students.

—Amy Gutmann, President
—Wendell Pritchett, Provost

Faculty Senate Leadership 2018-2019

The Faculty Senate announced its new leadership for the upcoming academic year:

caption: Past Chair: Santosh Venkatesh (SEAS)caption: Chair: Jennifer Pinto-Martin (SON)caption: Chair Elect: Steven Kimbrough (Wharton)

See the 2017-2018 Annual Reports of the Faculty Senate in this week’s supplement.

Doris Wagner: Robert I. Williams Term Professor

caption: Doris WagnerDoris Wagner, professor of biology, has been named Robert I. Williams Term Professor of Biology. A leader in the fields of plant biology, chromatin modification and epigenetics, Dr. Wagner’s research focuses on understanding at the molecular level the complex changes that occur when an organism switches developmental programs. Specifically, she and her team investigate the vital transition from vegetative to reproductive development in the plant model system Arabidopsis thaliana. Her work has revealed how environmental and developmental cues are integrated to modulate the activity of select master regulator proteins and how this subsequently directs chromatin reprogramming to enable establishment of new cell identities.

Dr. Wagner is the recipient of numerous grants from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, including serving as the lead Principal Investigator on the National Science Foundation Research Collaborative Network Initiative “EPIC: Epigenomics of Plants, International Consortium.”

She is committed to science education, undergraduate research and innovation in teaching, participating annually in the Biomedical Research Academy for high school students and leading several workshops at Penn’s Center for Teaching and Learning. In addition to her service as Graduate Chair of Biology, she has served on the Penn Arts and Sciences Curriculum Committee, the Penn Women’s Biomedical Society, the Penn Epigenetics Program Executive Board, the Penn Genome Frontiers Institute Executive Board, the University Genomic Initiative Committee and the University Graduate Council.

The Robert I. Williams Endowed Term Chair was established in 2006 by Paul C. Williams, W’67, PAR’03, in memory of his father. Mr. Williams recently retired from Nuveen Investments, LLC, where he was managing director of new product development for Nuveen’s complex of closed-end, exchange-traded funds. He previously directed Nuveen’s municipal bond research and investment banking departments and served on the firm’s Management Committee.

At Penn, Mr. Williams has been an engaged and effective volunteer leader and has served in a variety of roles. He is an emeritus trustee of the University, an emeritus member of the Board of Overseers at Penn Arts and Sciences and a former president of Penn Alumni. In 2011, he earned the University’s Alumni Award of Merit. He also served on the former Biology Department Advisory Board. In addition to his volunteer engagement, Mr. Williams has been a generous supporter of faculty, students, capital projects and programs across the University.

Wharton School Faculty Teaching Awards 2018

caption: Gad Alloncaption: David Bardcaption: Nazli Bhatiacaption: Eric Bradlowcaption: Peter Conti-Browncaption: Guy Davidcaption: Stephan Dieckmanncaption: Peter Fadercaption: Clayton Featherstonecaption: Adam Grantcaption: Exequiel Hernandezcaption: Richard Herringcaption: Kartik Hosanagarcaption: Robert Inmancaption: Cade Masseycaption: Simone Marinesicaption: Jerrilyn Green Marstoncaption: Antoinette McDermottcaption: Asuka Nakaharacaption: Michael Plattcaption: Emil Pitkincaption: Jason Riiscaption: Diana Robertsoncaption: Gizem Sakacaption: Rom Schriftcaption: Nicolaj Siggelkowcaption: Ronald Sarachancaption: Hummy Songcaption: Natalya Vinokurovacaption: Jules van Binsbergencaption: Maisy Wongcaption: Tyler Wry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Helen Kardon Moss Anvil Award

This year’s recipient of the Helen Kardon Moss Anvil Award is Emil Pitkin, lecturer and research scholar in statistics. The award is presented annually to a member of the Wharton MBA faculty who exemplifies outstanding teaching quality in the classroom.

The Class of 1984 Award

The Class of 1984 Award is presented annually to the member of the Wharton MBA faculty with the highest average instructor rating on his or her course evaluations over the previous two semesters (Fall 2016 and Spring 2017). This year’s recipient is once again Adam Grant, Saul P. Steinberg Professor of Management and professor of psychology. This is his seventh consecutive year winning this award.

MBA Excellence in Teaching

Gad Allon, Jeffrey A. Keswin Professor, professor of operations, information and decisions, director, Jerome Fisher Program in M&T

David Bard, senior fellow and lecturer, finance

Richard Herring, Jacob Safra Professor of International Banking, professor of finance

Cade Massey, practice professor, operations, information and decisions

Antionnette McDermott, lecturer, senior associate director, Wharton Communication Program

Asuka Nakahara, lecturer, real estate

Emil Pitkin, lecturer and research scholar in statistics

Nicolaj Siggelkow, David M. Knott Professor, professor of management

Teaching Commitment and Curricular Innovation

Michael Platt, James S. Riepe University Professor, professor of psychology, professor of marketing

Tyler Wry, assistant professor of management

Core Curriculum Awards: “Goes Above and Beyond the Call of Duty”

Peter Conti-Brown, assistant professor of legal studies and business ethics

Stephan Dieckmann, deputy vice dean of Academic Affairs–MBA Program, adjunct associate professor of finance

Adam Grant, Saul P. Steinberg Professor of Management and professor of psychology

Exequiel Hernandez, assistant professor of management

Hummy Song, assistant professor of operations, information and decisions

Core Curriculum Awards: “Tough, But We’ll Thank You in Five Years”

Eric Bradlow, The K.P. Chao Professor of Marketing, professor of marketing, professor of education, professor of statistics

Clayton Featherstone, assistant professor of business economics and public policy

Simone Marinesi, assistant professor of operations, information and decisions

Jules van Binsbergen, The Nippon Life Associate Professor of Finance

Natalya Vinokurova, assistant professor of management

Undergraduate Excellence in Teaching

Gad Allon, Jeffrey A. Keswin Professor, professor of operations, information and decisions, director, Jerome Fisher Program in M&T

Peter Conti-Brown, assistant professor of legal studies and business ethics

Guy David, Gilbert and Shelley Harrison Associate Professor of Health Care Management and associate professor, medical ethics and health policy, Perelman School of Medicine

Peter Fader, Frances and Pei-Yuan Chia Professor of Marketing

Adam Grant, Saul P. Steinberg Professor of Management and professor of psychology

Kartik Hosanagar, John C. Hower Professor, professor of operations, information and decisions

Robert Inman, Richard King Mellon Professor of Finance and Economics

Diana Robertson, James T. Riady Professor, professor of legal studies and business ethics

Rom Schrift, assistant professor of marketing

Maisy Wong, associate professor of real estate

William G. Whitney Award for Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching

Nazli M. Bhatia, senior lecturer

Jerrilyn Green Marston, senior lecturer in legal studies and business ethics

Jason Riis, lecturer in marketing

Gizem Saka, senior lecturer in behavioral economics and art markets

Ronald Sarachan, senior lecturer in legal studies & business ethics

PennDesign and SP2: Dual Master’s in Fine Arts & Social Work

Beginning this fall, PennDesign and the School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) will offer a dual master’s program in fine arts and social work. The program will offer students the opportunity to earn both a master of fine arts degree and a master of social work degree over three years of study. It will be the first dual degree program in the country to train students as professional studio artists and social-work practitioners, with a focus on the integration of art and social justice.

The MFA/MSW curriculum addresses the needs of two sets of students: those in the arts who are looking for professional credentialing and a career in social justice, and those in social work who are seeking to integrate the arts into their practice as MSW-credentialed service providers. The creators of the program seek to attract artists and community activists and expect the program to generate new scholarship and research opportunities and enhance the ability of both schools to recruit students from underrepresented communities.

“I’ve had tons of students through the years who have had to kind of choose between a social work career and an art career,” said Toorjo Ghose, SP2 associate professor and founding director of the Center for Carceral Communities. “Disciplinarily, we have really kind of bifurcated that in the academy.”

“The program sprung out of collaborative work that was already being done between faculty in the two schools,” he said. The proposed curriculum utilizes current classes and current faculty in both SP2 and PennDesign. No new administrative staff, faculty hires or faculty overloads will be necessary to launch the program. The program expects to launch with three students.

The development of the dual MFA/MSW program overlaps with an “ethnographic turn” in contemporary art, said Ken Lum, professor and chair of the department of fine arts at PennDesign. At the same time, a reciprocal shift is also underway in social work.

“These disciplines have been turning to aesthetic practices in order to question the operations they’ve been under for a long time,” says professor Lum, who co-curated the public art and history project Monument Lab in Philadelphia in 2015 and 2017.

In spring 2018, for the first time, students at Penn had a chance to take an elective class called Art and Social Work: Art and the Ecology of Justice, co-taught by three faculty members from PennDesign, SP2 and the School of Arts and Sciences. Integrating scholarship and material from multiple disciplines, the class sought to engage MFA and MSW students in the theories, histories and practices of social change that shape—and are shaped by—art practices. The class will serve as an integrative seminar for students in the dual degree program, laying the groundwork for a multidisciplinary approach to social change through art.

“There’s always been kind of a bridge between the two schools, and so it seemed like a very natural way to move forward,” said Dr. Ghose. “As natural as the fit seems, I doubt that most universities have seen it yet … I think we will start a trend. It just seems obvious, given the amount of interest I’ve heard in this program from students.”

Deaths

Kenneth Fegley: SEAS

caption: Kenneth FegleyKenneth A. Fegley, professor emeritus of electrical and systems engineering in Penn’s School of Engineering and Applied Science, died January 15. He was 94.

Dr. Fegley earned his bachelor’s degree in 1947, his master’s in 1950 and his PhD in 1955, all in electrical engineering at Penn. During his graduate studies he worked as a researcher, then as an instructor, and he published several reports and papers. In 1955, Dr. Fegley became an assistant professor in what was then known as the University’s Moore School of Electrical Engineering. He spent a year as visiting assistant professor at MIT before his promotion to associate professor at Penn in 1958. He was promoted to full professor in 1966.

He taught many courses, performed groundbreaking research, some in cooperation with industry, and published papers on complex interdisciplinary projects. When the Moore School was reorganized into four departments, he and Nelson Dorny, now emeritus professor of systems engineering, were charged with developing the program for the department of systems engineering, one of the country’s first. They developed several new courses with manuals, such as systems optimization and a system integration lab course, including a management structure.

In 1986, the civil engineering department and the systems engineering department merged, and the new department was broadened to include not only electrical but also transportation, manufacturing and environmental systems engineering. Dr. Fegley was appointed chairman of the new department. In 1990, he was named the Joseph Moore Professor of Systems.

A Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and former chairman of the Philadelphia section, Dr. Fegley was the single or leading author of about 30 papers and numerous technical reports and co-author on many others by his graduate students.

Dr. Fegley retired in 1994. He is remembered by alumni, faculty and professional colleagues as an innovative and dedicated professor, an excellent administrator and a dear friend.

Dr. Fegley is survived by his sons, Alan (Claire), John and Paul (Gail); his grandchildren Devon Adams (Douglas), Erin Kaplan (Ari), and David; and great-grandchildren Avery and Grayson Adams and Chase Kaplan.

To Report A Death

Almanac appreciates being informed of the deaths of current and former faculty and staff members, students and other members of the University community. Call (215) 898-5274 or email almanac@upenn.edu

Supplements

Policies

CCTV Locations

The Division of Public Safety is committed to enhancing the quality of life for the campus community by integrating the best practices of public and private policing with state-of-the-art technology. A critical component of a comprehensive security plan using state-of-the-art technology is Closed Circuit Television (CCTV).

As prescribed by the University Policy “Closed Circuit Television Monitoring and Recording of Public Areas for Safety and Security Purposes” (Almanac April 29, 2008), the locations of all outside CCTV cameras monitored by Public Safety are to be published semi-annually in Almanac. The locations and descriptions of these cameras can also be found on the Division of Public Safety website: https://www.publicsafety.upenn.edu/about/security-technology/closed-circuit-television-cctv/

The following existing cameras meet those criteria:

University of Pennsylvania Cameras

39th St. & Baltimore Ave.
(Vet School—Hill Pavilion)

40th St. & Baltimore Ave.

41st St. & Baltimore Ave.

42nd St. & Baltimore Ave.

43rd St. & Baltimore Ave.

31st & Chestnut Sts. (Left Bank)

33rd & Chestnut Sts.

34th & Chestnut Sts.

36th & Chestnut Sts.

38th & Chestnut Sts.

40th & Chestnut Sts.

4040 Chestnut St. (front)

41st & Chestnut Sts.

46th & Chestnut Sts.

Steve Murray Way & Chestnut St.

38th St. & Hamilton Walk

36th St. & Locust Walk

37th St. & Locust Walk (1&2)

38th St. & Locust Walk

39th St. & Locust Walk

40th St. & Locust Walk

41st & Locust Sts.

42nd & Locust Sts.

43rd & Locust Sts.

39th & Ludlow Sts.

40th & Ludlow Sts.

34th & Market Sts.

36th & Market Sts.

38th & Market Sts.

40th & Market Sts.

40th & Pine Sts.

41st & Pine Sts.

42nd & Pine Sts.

36th & Sansom Sts. (Franklin Bldg.)

38th & Sansom Sts.

4040 Sansom St. (rear)

Steve Murray Way & Sansom Sts.

33rd St. & Smith Walk

34th & Spruce Sts.

36th & Spruce Sts.

37th & Spruce Sts.

38th & Spruce Sts.

39th & Spruce Sts.

40th & Spruce Sts.

41st & Spruce Sts.

42nd & Spruce Sts.

43rd & Spruce Sts.

31st & Walnut Sts. (Left Bank)

33rd & Walnut Sts.

34th & Walnut Sts.

36th & Walnut Sts.

37th & Walnut Sts.

38th & Walnut Sts.

39th & Walnut Sts.

40th & Walnut Sts.

43rd & Walnut Sts.

4119 Walnut St.

100 Block of S. 37th St.

Blockley Hall (bike racks 1-8)

Blockley Hall (roof)

BRB II (loading dock–exterior)

BRB II (roof – rear and front)

Caster Building (rear entrance)

Caster Building (bike racks 1&2)

Chemistry Building (bike racks 1-4)

CineMark

CRB (roof)

College Green (1&2)

College Green (lower)

College Hall (exterior basement)

CRB-Stemmler Hall (main entrance)

CRB-Stemmler Bridge (interior)

CRB-Stemmler Bridge (main entrance hall)

English House (Law School bike rack)

Fels Institute of Government

Fisher-Bennett Hall (overseeing Levine Bldg.)

Franklin Field

Garage 40 (rooftop)

Generational Bridge (1&2)

Gregory College House (bike rack)

GSE on Plaza 1

GSE on Plaza 62

Harnwell

Harrison (1&2)

Hayden Hall (east door & west door)

Hilton (Homewood Suites–1&2)

Hollenback (lower level rear parking)

Hollenback (rooftop)

Houston Hall/Wynn Commons

Irving & Preston Sts.

Jerome Fisher (main entrance)

John Morgan Building (Hamilton Walk)

Jon M. Huntsman Hall (NE corner)

Kane Park (Spruce Street Plaza)

Law School (Sansom St.)

Left Bank (loading dock)

Levy Dental (loading dock)

Meyerson Hall (bike racks 1&2)

Mod 7 (North)

Mod 7 (Southeast)

Mod 7 (West)

Museum (33rd St.–exterior)

Museum (Kress entrance–exterior)

Museum (Kress entrance–interior)

Museum (loading dock –exterior)

Museum (upper loading dock–exterior)

Museum (Warden Garden–main entrance)

Museum (Stoner Courtyard–lower courtyard)

Osler Circle Courtyard

Palestra (1&2)

Pennovation Works

Pennovation Works (gate)

Pottruck (bike racks 1&2)

Public Safety Annex Building (2-5)

Richards Labs (rear door)

Ringe Squash Court Parking

Rodin (bike rack)

Schattner (coffee shop)

Schattner (bike rack)

SEAS (Courtyard)

Shoemaker Green (1-8)

Singh Center (courtyard)

Singh Center (east loading dock)

Singh Center (Nano roof terrace north)

Singh Center (nitrogen loading dock)

Singh Center (roof terrace south)

Singh Center (west loading dock)

SLC (roof, rear)

Solomon Labs (1-4)

Steinberg Conference Center

Steinberg Hall-Dietrich Hall (Joe’s Café)

Steinberg Hall-Dietrich Hall (trolley)

Stellar-Chance Labs (loading dock)

Stellar-Chance Labs (main entrance)

Stellar-Chance Labs (roof–rear)

Stellar-Chance Labs (roof–front)

Tandem Accelerator Laboratory

Translational Research Labs, 31st St.

Translational Research Labs, 31st St. (upper level)

Translational Research Labs, 30th St. (lower level South)

Translational Research Labs, 30th St. (lower level North)

VHUP (bike rack)

VHUP (dog walk 1&2)

Van Pelt-Dietrich Library (Button)

Van Pelt-Dietrich Library (Ben Statue)

Van Pelt-Dietrich Library (Mark’s Café 1&2)

Van Pelt Manor (bike rack)

Weiss Info Commons (front door)

Weiss Info Commons (rear door)

Wharton EMBA (loading dock)

Williams Hall (bike racks 1-3)

WXPN/World Café Live

WXPN/World Café Live (SW side – lower level)

1920 Commons (Spruce 38 rooftop)

Penn Park

Field 1

Field 1 (bike rack)

Field 2

Field 2 (bike rack)

Field 2 (NE corner)

Field 2 (SW corner)

Field 2 (north bike rack)

Field 4 (South Street Bridge)

Lower 30th & Walnut Sts. (1&2)

Paley Bridge (1&2)

Paley Bridge (entrance walkway)

Paley Bridge (walkway to Penn Park)

Parking Lot (SW corner)

Parking Lot (NE corner)

Penn Park (NE corner)

Penn Park (North)

Penn Park (Plaza)

Penn Park Drive (entrance)

River Field

Ropes Course

Ropes Course Maintenance Bldgs.

Softball Stadium (bike racks 1&2)

Softball Stadium (men’s restroom)

Softball Stadium (women’s restroom)

Tennis Center

Tennis Center (Field 4)

Tennis Center (Field 4 walkway)

Tennis Center (Transit Stop)

Utility shed

Walnut St. Bridge (Upper)

Walnut St. Bridge (Pedestrian Walkway)

Weave Bridge (East)

Weave Bridge (Hollenback)

Weave Bridge (Bower Field)

Weave Bridge (Penn Park ramp)

Penn Medicine Cameras

Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

34th St. Pedestrian Bridge

Dulles Bldg. (bike racks–Spruce St.)

Emergency Department (Driveway 1-4)

Gates Bldg. (fire exit door–Spruce St.)

Maloney Bldg. (entrance—36th & Spruce Sts.)

Miller Plaza (adjacent to Stemmler)

Penn Tower/HUP Bridge/Civic Center

Penn Tower Bridge (Hospital side)

Ravdin Bldg. (Driveway–Civic Center Blvd.)

Rhoads Bldg. (1st floor–Hamilton  Walk)

Rhoads Bldg. (1st floor–patio)

Rhoads Bldg. (basement–dock ramp)

Rhoads Bldg. (loading docks 1&2)

Rhoads Bldg. (loading dock ramp)

Rhoads/Stemmler bike rack

Spruce St. between 34th & 35th Sts. (facing east)

Spruce St. between 34th & 35th Sts. (facing west)

Spruce St. (Maloney entrance & morgue driveway)

Spruce St. (Morgue, Maloney Ground –36th St.)

Spruce St. (west fire tower door)

White Bldg. courtyard

White Bldg. (entrance – Spruce St.)

Perelman and Smilow

Civic Center Blvd. at East Service Dr.

Convention Ave & Health Science Dr.

East Service Dr. and Health Sciences Dr.

Health Sciences Dr. (outside loading dock–1& 2)

Perelman (front door)

Perelman (loading dock)

Perelman Parking garage entrance (Health Sciences Dr.)

PCAM staff entrance (Convention Ave.)

Penn Presbyterian

Medical Center

3910 Bldg. (entrance)

3910 Bldg. (loading dock)

3910 Bldg. (parking lot)

Advanced Care Canopy (bench)

Advanced Care Canopy (ED 1&2)

Advanced Care Canopy (Trauma 1-4)

Cupp Lobby (entrance)

Garage (front & side)

Heart and Vascular Pavilion (front entrance)

Heart and Vascular Pavilion (rear entrance)

Helipad

Mutch Bldg. (roof)

Powelton Ave.

Powelton Ave. (dock)

Powelton Lot

Scheie Eye Institute (north door)

Wright/Saunders Bldg. (main entrance)

38th St. (Healing Garden)

38th St. (Advanced Care Building)

Honors

Shelley Berger, Karen Goldberg: NAS

caption: Shelley BergerTwo Penn faculty have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences: Shelley Berger and Karen Goldberg. Dr. Berger is the Daniel S. Och University Professor and Penn Integrates Knowledge Professor, with appointments in Perelman and SAS and founding director of the Penn Epigenetics Program. Dr. Goldberg is the Vagelos Professor of Energy Research in the department of chemistry in SAS and inaugural director of the Vagelos Institute for Energy Science and Technology.

Dr. Berger studies mechanisms linked to aging, neurodegenerative disease, cancer and fertility. Her research focuses on complex on-off switches on DNA’s packaging material that control how cells form genetically identical yet diverse tissues in an organism, and how those switches respond to environmental factors such as diet, exercise and stress to create heritable traits without changing the underlying genetic code.

caption: Karen GoldbergDr. Goldberg leads research focused on the development of new catalytic systems to efficiently produce chemicals and fuels from a range of available feedstocks. Her group is interested in transforming both highly saturated feedstocks, such as natural gas and alkanes, as well as highly oxygenated materials like CO2 and those found in biomass. Using catalysis, her group seeks to develop new environmentally responsible and economically viable methods to convert these feedstocks to more valuable organic products.

Julie Fairman: Garrison Lecturer

Julie Fairman, the Nightingale Professor in Honor of Nursing Veterans and chair of the department of biobehavioral health sciences in Penn Nursing, will deliver the Garrison Lecture as part of the 91st gathering of the American Association for the History of Medicine (AAHM) in Los Angeles May 10-13 at the UCLA Meyer & Renee Luskin Conference Center.   

The Garrison Lecturer is a scholar distinguished for contributions to medical history or other fields of science and learning, who presents original and previously unpublished research. Dr. Fairman’s lecture “We Went to Mississippi: Nurses and Civil Rights Activism of the mid-1960s,”will be the first Garrison Lecture delivered by a nurse.

Christina Frei: NEH Grant

caption: Christina FreiChristina Frei, executive director of language instruction for SAS, academic director for the Penn Language Center and GSE adjunct associate professor, received  an NEH Digital Humanities Advancement Grant to study how four indigenous communities, with whom her team collaborated on a Digital Humanities Start-Up Grant to digitally repatriate archival materials, have used those materials in culture and language revitalization efforts.

Penn Medicine: 2018 CIO 100 Award

Penn Medicine has received a 2018 CIO 100 Award from the CIO division of IDG Communications, Inc. The 31st annual program recognizes organizations around the world that exemplify the highest level of operational and strategic excellence in information technology. Penn was selected for becoming the first academic medical center in the U.S. to deploy an integrated electronic patient health record (PennChart) across the ambulatory, inpatient and homecare/hospice settings—moving from paper-based patient charts and records. The project started in 2008 using a phased deployment approach. Over time, nearly 28,000 employees were trained to prepare for full implementation. The project was completed in 2017.

Among their benefits, electronic records promote a team-based approach to care and provide decision-making support, including warning of potential problems, such as inappropriately combining medications, and providing suggestions for the clinical team and patient to consider.

In part as a result of successfully implementing PennChart, Penn Medicine is being evaluated for Level 7, the highest electronic-medical-record adoption level issued by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, a nonprofit organization that promotes the best use of information technology and management systems in the health care industry. Additionally, in 2017 Penn Medicine was awarded “Most Wired” status by Hospitals & Health Networks magazine (for the ninth time) for the successful deployment of technology to support patient care.

Penn Medicine Among Nation’s Top 10 Employers

Penn Medicine has been named #6 on Forbes’ magazine’s annual “Best Employers in America” list ranking large employers across the nation, up from #7 in 2017. Other organizations listed in the top ten include Google, Trader Joe’s, and the Michelin Group, placing Penn Medicine among some of the most prominent companies in the nation–and first both in Pennsylvania and among all health care employers.

Penn Medicine–which includes the University of Pennsylvania Health System and Perelman School of Medicine–offers a culture dedicated to teamwork and professional development, with wide-ranging career opportunities for physicians, nurses, researchers, many other health professionals, administrative and support staff. A suite of best-in-class benefits offered to Penn Medicine’s workforce includes a generous employer-matching retirement plan, a robust tuition assistance program that has provided millions of dollars in assistance benefits to employees, and a top-tier health care plan that offers access to the same cutting-edge care that makes Penn Medicine a national leader in patient care.

“We are deeply committed to recruiting the most talented people, training the next generation of health care providers, and operating excellent facilitates that support patient-centered care,” said Ralph W. Muller, CEO of UPHS. “These efforts come together each day to allow our staff to succeed in their careers at Penn Medicine.”

 Penn Medicine faculty, staff, and students are also encouraged to share their knowledge and skills to benefit the community through free health clinics and screenings, disease prevention and treatment education, support groups for patients and their families, and health care career development. Through its unique CAREs Grant program, Penn Medicine employees can receive financial support for the purchase of supplies and other resources needed to perform this important work in the community, which is a key pillar of Penn Medicine’s mission.

“All of our staff work closely together with compassion and concern to advance the missions of Penn Medicine,” said J. Larry Jameson, dean of the Perelman School of Medicine and EVP of UPHS. “It is truly the people at Penn Medicine who are the foundation of our success and strength in all we do.”

Beginning in 2017, Forbes partnered with research firm Statista, of Hamburg, Germany, to build its list of best employers. Statista surveyed 30,000 Americans who work for businesses with 1,000 or more employees, asking how likely they would be to recommend their employer to others.

Today, with more than 39,000 employees, Penn Medicine, in combination with the University of Pennsylvania, is the largest private employer in Philadelphia. The health system includes six hospitals—the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Pennsylvania Hospital, Chester County Hospital, Lancaster General Health, and Penn Medicine Princeton Health—and many outpatient locations throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

2018 Sachs Grant Awards

In its inaugural year, The Sachs Program was able to support 23 projects, distributing a total of $123,000 in arts funding to a diverse spectrum of artists, scholars and cultural centers at Penn. These grants are the first steps in their long-term plans to advocate for the arts across the University.

Teaching Art

Arts Course Development Grants:

David Comberg, PennDesign: The People’s Press

Herman Beavers and Suzana Berger, SAS: August Wilson & Beyond

Rachel Zolf, SAS: Community Writing Course

Arts Integration Grants:

Amitanshu Das, GSE: Fiction Filmmaking with Trauma-informed Practice

Claudia Lynn and Sibel Sayili-Hurley, SAS: Language, Culture and Contemporary Art

Making Art

Sachs Visiting Artists Grants:

Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts: Vessels

Creative Writing Program, SAS: Janice Lowe 2018-2019 Fellow in Poetics

Independent Creative Production Grants:

Bea Huff Hunter, Wharton: Reflexive Writing Strategies In and Around Moyra Davey’s Work

Cary Mazer, SAS: New Play Development

Paul Swenbeck, ICA: Out, Out, Phosphene Candle

Presenting Art

Student Arts Engagement Grants:

Fred Schmidt-Arenales, PennDesign: Group Relations Conference

Institute of Contemporary Art: Visual Thinking Strategies Training

Kevin Laskey, SAS: Almanac, an Evening-Length Work for Classical Musicians & Improvisers

Ramey Mize, SAS: The Incubation Series

Saif Khawaja, Wharton: Electroluminescent Interactive Art & Music

Provosts Interdisciplinary Grants:

Aaron Levy, SAS: Photographies of Conflict

Creative Writing Program, SAS: Community Creative Writing Workshops

Eugene Lew, SAS: Musica Practica/Elettronica Viva

Institute of Contemporary Art: VIP Hours at ICA (Visiting with Infants and Parents)

Kevin Platt, SAS; Kelly Writers House: Your Language—My Ear

Latin American and Latino Studies Program, SAS: The Other 9/11

Marion Leary, Penn Nursing: Nursing Story Slam

Undergraduate Fine Arts, PennDesign: Immersive Studio Project: A Fine Arts Satellite Space

Beth Linker: NEH Fellowship

caption: Beth LinkerBeth Linker, graduate chair and associate professor of history and sociology of science, has received an NEH Fellowship for her project Slouch: The Hidden History of America’s Poor Posture Epidemic. As previously published, she was also awarded an ACLS Fellowship for the same project (Almanac May 1, 2018).

Class of 2018 Ivy Stone

The Class of 2018 Ivy Stone was designed by Jieun Yoon, C’17, and was made from Vermont gray granite. The stone will be installed in the Penn Commons Plaza.

The following awards will be presented during the Ivy Day ceremony on May 12.

Senior Honor Awards

Althea K. Hottel Shield Award: Makayla C. Reynolds, C’18

Gaylord P. Harnwell Flag Award: Silicia I. Lomax, C’18, GR’20

David R. Goddard Loving Cup Award: Alexandra P. Rubin, C’18

R. Jean Brownlee Skimmer Hat Award: Madeline G. Gelfand, ENG’18

Spoon Award: Kayvon Asemani, W’18

Bowl Award: Jerome B. Allen, W’18

Cane Award: Dawit L. Gebresellassie, W’18

Spade Award: Nicholas D. Silverio, W’18

Leadership Awards

Association of Alumnae Fathers’ Trophy: Alexa T. Hoover, C’18; Michelle O. Nwokedi, C’18

Class of 1915 Award: Justin Watson, W’18

James Howard Weiss Memorial Award: Bryan C. Rodriguez, C’18

Penn Student Agencies Award: Sangmin S. Oh, W’17, EE’18, ENG’18

Penn Alumni Student Awards of Merit: Christopher J. D’Urso, C’18, LPS’18; Mariana R. Franca, W’18; Michelle O. Nwokedi, C’18; Kanishka R. Rao, ENG’18, W’18; Jeffrey B. Wiseman, C’18

Sol Feinstone Undergraduate Awards: Sonari Chidi, C’20; Stephen G. Damianos, C’19; Nicholas B. Escobar, C’18; David G. Thai, C’18

The following awards were presented at different award ceremonies this semester.    

Trustees’ Council of Penn Women Leadership Award: Nicole D. Weldon, NU’18

William A. Levi Kite & Key Society Award for Service and Scholarship: Sophia Griffith-Gorgati, C’18; Talya S. Kramer, C’18

Christine Chung: LAF Scholarship

Christine Chung, MLA’18, has been awarded a 2018 LAF Honor Scholarship in Memory of Joe Lalli, FASLA, by the Landscape Architecture Foundation. Her interest in cultural landscapes and urban communities was inspired during an undergraduate research project that questioned heritage preservation practices in Vancouver’s historic Chinatown. It advocated for place to be perceived not merely as a collection of physical artifacts, but also taking the form of oral histories, social practices and street life in between buildings. Ms. Chung intends to continue her engagement with on-the-ground projects designing for community heath, providing opportunities for civic participation in design processes, inspiring dialogue and tools for environmental stewardship and designing urban landscapes that allow for culture to live and breathe.

Sanguis: 2018 Startup Challenge Grand Prize

caption: Left to right: Daniel Zhang, Divyansh Agarwal, and Prateek Agarwal

Sanguis—founded by Divyansh Agarwal, GR’23, M’23; Prateek Agarwal, M’19, WG’20; and Daniel Zhang, GR’23, M’23—won the second annual Penn Wharton Entrepreneurship Startup Challenge on April 27. Sanguis has developed the world’s first hand-held, portable and inexpensive blood cell counting device, allowing patients to monitor their health during chemotherapy treatment and detect life-threatening conditions. The grand prize awards $30,000, plus $15,000 in legal, accounting and strategy services.

The medical device measures neutrophil levels, the body’s primary infection fighting cells. When neutrophil counts go down, the body loses its ability to fight infections. With Sanguis, patients can easily test their neutrophil levels at home.

Nearly 15,000 chemotherapy patients die each year from infections and other complications that rush in when the body is unable to defend itself, and Sanguis aims to reduce that number drastically. Previously, Sanguis was a member of VIP-Xcelerate, Penn Wharton Entrepreneurship’s three-month accelerator program for the most advanced startups and recipients of the Penn Wharton Innovation Fund.

Features

University of Pennsylvania Three-Year Academic Calendar, 2018-2019 through 2020-2021

Fall 2018 Fall Term 2019 Fall Term 2020 Fall Term

Move-in for First Year Students         Wednesday

August 22

August 21

August 26

New Student Orientation         Wednesday-Monday           

August 22-27

August 21-26

August 26-31

Opening Exercises and Freshman Convocation         Monday

August 27

August 26

August 31

First day of classes         Tuesday

August 28

August 27

September 1

Labor Day (no classes)         Monday

September 3

September 2

September 7

Course Selection Period ends         Monday

September 17

September 16

(to be decided)

Fall Term Break         Thursday-Sunday

October 4-7

October 10-13

October 1-4

Drop Period ends         Monday

October 8

October 7

(to be decided)

Classes resume         Monday

October 8

October 14

October 5

Family Weekend         Friday-Sunday

October 19-21 (Yale)

November 1-3 (Brown)

October 16-18 (Columbia)

Advance Registration for Spring Term         Monday-Sunday

October 29-November 11

October 28-November 10

(to be decided)

Last day to withdraw from a course         Friday

November 9

November 8

(to be decided)

Homecoming         Saturday

November 10 (Harvard)

November 9 (Cornell)

November 14 (Harvard)

Thur-Fri class schedule on Tue-Wed

November 20-21

November 26-27

November 24-25

Thanksgiving Break         Thursday-Sunday

November 22-25

November 28-December 1

November 26-29

Classes resume         Monday

November 26

December 2

November 30

Last day of classes

December 10 (Mon)

December 9 (Mon)

December 10 (Thur)

Reading Days

December 11-12 (Tues-Wed)

December 10-11 (Tues-Wed)

December 11-14 (Fri-Mon)

Final Examinations

December 13-20 (Thur-Thur)

December 12-19 (Thur-Thur)

December 15-22 (Tues-Tues)

Fall Term ends

December 20 (Thur)

December 19 (Thur)

December 22 (Tues)

Spring

2019 Spring Term

2020 Spring Term

2021 Spring Term

First day of classes (Monday class schedule on Wednesday)

January 16 (Monday classes)

January 15 (Monday classes)

January 13 (Monday classes)

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day observed (no classes)         Monday

January 21

January 20

January 18

Course Selection Period ends         Monday

February 4

February 3

(to be decided)

Drop Period ends         Friday

February 22

February 21

(to be decided)

Spring Term Break         Saturday-Sunday

March 2-10

March 7-15

March 6-14

Classes resume         Monday

March 11

March 16

March 15

Advance Registration for Fall Term and Summer Sessions         Monday-Sunday   

March 18-March 31

March 23-April 5

(to be decided)

Last day to withdraw from a course         Friday

April 5

April 3

(to be decided)

Last day of classes         Wednesday

May 1

April 29

April 28

Reading Days         Thursday-Sunday

May 2-5

April 30-May 3

April 29-May 2

Final Examinations         Monday-Tuesday

May 6-14

May 4-12

May 3-11

Spring Term ends         Tuesday

May 14

May 12

May 11

Alumni Day         Saturday

May 18

May 16

May 15

Baccalaureate         Sunday

May 19

May 17

May 16

Commencement         Monday

May 20

May 18

May 17

Summer 2019 Summer Term 2020 Summer Term 2021 Summer Term

11-Week Session classes begin

May 28 (Tue)

May 26 (Tue)

May 24 (Mon)

Session I classes begin                 

May 28 (Tue)

May 26 (Tue)

May 24 (Mon)

Memorial Day observed (no classes)         Monday

May 27

May 25

May 31

Session I classes end         Wednesday

July 3

July 1

June 30

Session II classes begin

July 5 (Fri)

July 2 (Thurs)

July 1 (Thur)

Independence Day observed (no classes)

July 4 (Thurs)

July 3 (Fri)

July 5 (Mon)

Session II & 11-Week Session classes end         Friday

August 9

August 7

August 6


Notes:

 

Graduate and professional programs follow their own calendars with different registration/drop deadlines, which are typically available on the website of the school or program. The College of Liberal and Professional Studies may have different registration/drop deadlines. Please visit the LPS website, www.sas.upenn.edu/lps/  for more information.

Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, the first two days of Passover and Good Friday are religious holidays that affect large numbers of University community members and that fall during the academic year. To view the University’s policy regarding these and other holidays, please visit http://provost.upenn.edu/policies/pennbook/2013/02/13/policy-on-secular-and-religious-holidays

The University’s Three-Year Academic Calendar is subject to change.

In the event that changes are made, the latest, most up-to-date version will be posted to Almanac’s website, almanac.upenn.edu/penn-academic-calendar

Events

Celebrating Bike to Work Day at Penn: May 18

Come celebrate Bike to Work Day at Penn on Friday, May 18 from 7:30-9:30 a.m. Penn bicyclists are invited to stop by the Energizer Station at the Penn Museum Indego Bike Share Station, near the corner of 33rd and South Streets, to learn about various bike resources found on or near Penn’s campus. 

Mixing fun with learning, attendees will be able to:

  • Learn how to use the Penn Bus bike rack
  • Register their bike with Division of Public Safety
  • Receive Be in the Know bonus credit
  • Obtain information about the University’s Bike Commuter Expense Reimbursement Program
  • Explore campus bike maps that show the locations of bike corrals and bike repair stations on campus

Cyclists who stop by the #BikePenn event can take a selfie with fun props. There will be giveaways from many of the participating organizations such as snacks and beverages along with bike lights and bike checks. There are even chances to win cool bike gear!

Bike to Work Day at Penn is a collaboration between the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia; Penn’s Divisions of Business Services; Facilities and Real Estate Services; Public Safety; Penn Museum, and the Office of Student Health Service. More information about the event is available at bit.ly/BikePenn

Update: May AT PENN

Fitness and Learning

20  Springfield Mills at Morris Arboretum; Opening Day celebration with grist mill demonstrations; 1-4 p.m.; Bloomfield Farm; info: www.morrisarboretum.org (Arboretum).

Thinking About Retirement Event: May 22

On Tuesday, May 22 on the second floor of the Inn at Penn, Penn Human Resources is hosting its semi-annual Thinking About Retirement event for faculty and staff. There will be presentations by Social Security, Medicare/Penn Benefits and Vanguard. 

Information sessions:

  • Income in Retirement; 10:30 a.m.-noon; 1-2:30 p.m.; Woodlands Ballroom C.
  • Social Security; 10:30 a.m.-noon; 1-2:30 p.m.; Woodlands Ballroom B.
  • Penn Benefits & Medicare; 10 a.m.-noon; 1-3 p.m.; Woodlands Ballroom A.

To register for these presentations, visit www.hr.upenn.edu/thinkretirement

If you have any questions, contact Lou Caccamo at lcaccamo@upenn.edu or (215) 898-4436.

Penn Supplier Diversity Forum & Expo: May 23

Make plans to attend the Penn Supplier Diversity Forum & Expo on Wednesday, May 23. This event will bring together suppliers, University buyers, local agencies and organizations from across campus and throughout Philadelphia to celebrate supplier diversity; showcase the resources available to local, diverse and small businesses; and provide an excellent opportunity for business networking.

The event begins with the Forum at 11 a.m, in Room 200 College Hall. The Forum’s host and panel moderator will be Penn’s Executive Vice President Craig R. Carnaroli. He will facilitate a conversation among local business and community leaders who are regarded as agents of change and are driving community and economic development across Philadelphia neighborhoods.  Panelists include:

Celeste Corrado—director, Wharton Small Business Development Center; instructor, Wharton School;

Harold T. Epps; director of commerce, City of Philadelphia;

Lin Thomas; chairman & CEO, SUPRA Office Solutions, Inc. and Chairman and CEO, EMSCO Scientific Enterprises, Inc.; and,

Evan Urbania; CEO and Co-Founder, ChatterBlast Media.

Poster Sessions by several community organizations will be conducted prior to the Forum from 10:30-11 a.m.

From noon-2 p.m., members of the Penn buying community are also invited to visit the outdoor Expo celebration on College Green along Locust Walk between 34th and 36th Streets.  Local and diverse suppliers will be in a large tented area where they will showcase their services and answer questions from event-goers.  A variety of tasty samples also will be available from many local caterers.

Advance registration is required to gain access to the Forum and the Expo’s tented area to visit with the suppliers. Registration is available at www.upenn.edu/purchasing in the “Purchasing Events” section.

The Penn Supplier Diversity Forum & Expo is hosted by the University of Pennsylvania under the auspices of the Offices of the President, EVP, Government & Community Affairs and Division of Business Services.

PHOS Spring Housing Fair at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center: May 23

Members of the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Pennsylvania Health System communities are invited to the 2018 Spring Housing Fair hosted by Penn Home Ownership Services (PHOS). This annual event will be held on Wednesday, May 23 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, W-86, located at 51 N. 39th Street.

The fair is a convenient one-stop resource for attendees to meet face-to-face with representatives from PHOS, its featured lenders and other exhibitors who will be on premises to address questions about the home buying process, along with the Forgivable Loan and Closing Cost Reduction Programs provided through the PHOS office.

Admission to the event is free.  Please visit www.upenn.edu/homeownership or call (215) 898-7422 for more information.

Crimes

Weekly Crime Reports

The University of Pennsylvania Police Department Community Crime Report

Below are the Crimes Against Persons, Crimes Against Society and Crimes Against Property from the campus report for April 23-29, 2018View prior weeks' reports. —Ed.

This summary is prepared by the Division of Public Safety and includes all criminal incidents reported and made known to the University Police Department between the dates of April 23-29, 2018. The University Police actively patrol from Market St to Baltimore from the Schuylkill River to 43rd St in conjunction with the Philadelphia Police. In this effort to provide you with a thorough and accurate report on public safety concerns, we hope that your increased awareness will lessen the opportunity for crime. For any concerns or suggestions regarding this report, please call the Division of Public Safety at (215) 898-4482.

04/24/18         8:56 AM           3820 Locust Walk       Unwanted contact made

04/24/18         1:44 PM           140 S 36th St              Credit cards stolen and used

04/24/18         2:52 PM           3025 Walnut St           Packages taken from mail room

04/24/18         5:12 PM           3736 Spruce St           Wallet taken from purse

04/25/18         2:24 PM           3330 Walnut St           Contents of book bag taken

04/25/18         3:08 PM           240 S 40th St              Items taken from book bag

04/25/18         3:51 PM           3735 Walnut St           Unknown male robbed bank

04/26/18         12:27 PM         3400 Spruce St           Currency taken from backpack

04/26/18         3:19 PM           3733 Spruce St           Property taken from office

04/27/18         3:30 AM           3900 Filbert St             Property taken from autos/Arrest

04/27/18         10:43 AM          231 S 34th St             Laptop taken from desk

04/27/18         8:42 PM           4012 Walnut St           Female causing disturbance/Arrest

04/28/18         6:28 AM           3400 Spruce St           iPhone taken

04/28/18         11:30 AM         3802 Chestnut St        Unknown male robbed bank

04/28/18         11:56 AM         4044 Walnut St           Items taken from apartment

04/28/18         6:59 PM           3700 Spruce St           Laptop taken from dining hall

04/29/18         3:40 PM           3700 Ludlow St           Backpack and laptop stolen from auto

Below are the Crimes Against Persons from the 18th District: 8 incidents (1 aggravated assault, 1 indecent exposure, 6 robberies) were reported between April 23-29, 2018 by the 18th District covering the Schuylkill River to 49th Street & Market Street to Woodland Avenue.

04/24/18         8:58 PM           3600 Sansom St           Indecent Exposure

04/25/18         4:41 PM           3735 Walnut St            Robbery

04/25/18         9:25 PM           4741 Walnut St            Aggravated Assault

04/27/18         2:18 AM          1011 S 46th St              Robbery

04/27/18         9:35 AM           4307 Locust St            Robbery

04/28/18         1:10 AM           4815 Hazel Ave            Robbery

04/28/18         11:35 AM         3802 Chestnut St         Robbery

04/28/18         8:08 PM           Farragut/Market Sts     Robbery

Bulletins

Almanac Publication Schedule

There will be no issue on May 15 due to Commencement. There are two more issues after that, on May 22 and May 29. Almanac will then have one mid-summer issue on July 17.

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