Welcome Penn Class of 2024!

Greetings,

We’re delighted to welcome you to the exciting world that awaits you at the University of Pennsylvania, while of course knowing that this year presents unique challenges. Penn’s Office of New Student Orientation & Academic Initiatives (NSOAI) is committed to make this the best experience we can. Your health and well-being is a primary concern, as we also want to help you join and build the community that is such a fundamental part of our beautiful campus. While the specifics of the situation are continually evolving, we strive to serve as a source of information and support.  

At this time, NSOAI is planning to hold all orientation activities for incoming undergraduate first-year and transfer students online through Thrive at Penn (TAP), which is found on Canvas. In doing this, we can best provide the necessary tools to access important information, which will remain online as a continuing resource. Most of this content will be asynchronous, allowing students to access it at their convenience.

A significant tradition for incoming first-year students is the Penn Reading Project (PRP) and the Academic Theme Year, which for 2020-21 is the Year of Civic Engagement. Through PRP, students will participate in small group discussions, beginning before they arrive on campus. Programming will continue through the year. Participation in PRP is required for all incoming first-year students. More information about this will be announced in August.   

In this initial email, you will find an overview of your NSO experience including the Year of Civic Engagement and the Penn Reading Project, Thrive at Penn, and more. Canvas will continue to grow and adapt to include more orientation modules, as we get closer to move-in and into the academic year. 

Social and cultural life on campus is, of course, also important. Working with Penn’s College Houses, we are exploring options to connect students while following the University and State Guidelines located in the Student Campus Compact. Different houses will take different approaches, depending on their specific communities; most in-person interaction in the early days of Fall will come in very small groups. Again, we are committed to make this the best experience it can be, within the limits that COVID-19 protection has imposed.

Students can also connect with fellow class members through the Official Class of 2024 Facebook page at www.penn2024.com.

Sincerely, 

David Fox
Director, Office of New Student Orientation & Academic Initiative

Student Campus Compact 

Students who choose to learn on campus are required to follow State and University guidelines to ensure the safety of our students, staff, faculty, and community. Read through the Student Campus Compact as you prepare your move to campus.

By taking these ten key actions, students will be on top of everything they need to start their Penn experience either on campus or remotely.

Pre-Orientation Programs

Applications Are Now Live

University Life at Penn offers five programs for incoming students in advance of New Student Orientation: PENNacle, PennArts, PennCORP, PennGreen, and PennQuest. Each program offers new students opportunities to learn, engage with upperclass student leaders, make lasting friendships with other incoming students, and have FUN! 

Thrive at Penn 

Coming in Early August

Thrive at Penn (TAP) is the University's online orientation program that readies incoming students for their Penn experience. TAP prepares students to make healthy choices as they begin their university experience and provides information about resources available to support student success. Completion of TAP is mandatory.

Penn Reading Project & The Year of Civic Engagement

Coming in Early August

The Penn Reading Project (PRP) 2020 will include works by James Baldwin, Martin Luther King Jr., Benjamin Franklin, Toni Morrison, and Amy Schatz. After reading/watching the assigned materials, students will engage in insightful conversations with their Group Facilitators and develop ideas for active participation in an organization or specific project.

Still have questions about NSO?

We’re happy to help with any questions you might have about NSO activities and programming. Please feel free to contact us at provost-nso-ai@pobox.upenn.edu. We look forward to getting to know you throughout the year.