Welcome to the Penn First Plus family!
The Office of New Student Orientation & Academic Initiatives (NSOAI) would like to officially congratulate you on your admission to the University of Pennsylvania! Although New Student Orientation will take a virtual approach this year, the familial feeling that is experienced during those days will not fade. In conjunction with the Greenfield Intercultural Center, the FGLI Program, and Penn First Plus, there will be a variety of programming catered to you and your needs, as we adjust to a brand-new academic year.
Following this welcome, you will find a letter from the aforementioned campus partners who are looking forward to supporting you in your transition to Penn. All of our offices are committed to creating a close-knit environment for all of our Penn First Plus students.
Although we are amid a pandemic, your admission is still something to celebrate. Unfortunately, we aren’t able to physically celebrate your achievement together, but we are looking forward to virtually meeting and celebrating you in the upcoming weeks. In the meantime, please refer to Campus Express, as that is your one-stop-shop for your dietary, housing, and academic necessities. Once again, welcome to the University of Pennsylvania and your new extended family!
Sincerely,
Melissa J. Perez
NSOAI Team Coordinator, C’20
Dear Penn First Plus Students,
We know that as a student who might be the first in their family to attend college and/or a student whose family might not have significant financial resources, coming to Penn is an amazing accomplishment but one that comes with unique challenges. We are excited that you chose to join us at Penn and invite you to become involved in our community, where you will find welcoming peers and tremendous support.
Penn First, one of several FGLI student groups on campus, is a vital resource for all FGLI students at Penn. Penn First helps to create a unified community and connects students to resources that have helped students thrive at Penn. For more information, please like the Facebook page, “Penn First,” and join the Facebook group, “Penn First Members.” Once on campus, Penn First will help introduce you to other organizations designed to support our community.
In addition, there are two offices that serve our community.
The FGLI Program, housed in the Greenfield Intercultural Center, has dedicated advisers who support student organizations, help build community and support student leadership activities. We encourage you to get to know the caring staff there early in your Penn career, as they will be one of your most valuable resources. You can learn more about the program at www.vpul.upenn.edu/fgli.
Penn First Plus (P1P), is the hub on campus for all academic related resources P1P undergraduates. They provide guidance to faculty and staff on how to be more inclusive of this population while also advocating on behalf of the community and individual students. To join P1P’s newsletter, please submit your Penn email address to Executive Director of P1P, Dr. Marc Lo (lomarc@upenn.edu).
Our virtual NSO programs are designed to help you meet peers and important mentors, as well as gather valuable tips on navigating the Penn experience. We know that your journey through Penn and Philadelphia will be filled with exciting discoveries and life-changing experiences. No matter what your interests are, we hope you know that you have a place in our community.
We look forward to meeting you!
Sincerely,
2020 FGLI PHINS Coordinators
Ixdel Villarreal - ixdelv@nursing.upenn.edu
Jihan Davis - djihan@sas.upenn.edu
Kaitlin Torres - torresky@wharton.upenn.edu
Omaya Torres - omayat@sas.upenn.edu
Sakshi Sehgal - sakshis@sas.upenn.edu
Trinity India Allen - trinitya@sas.upenn.edu
Valerie de Cruz Director, Greenfield Intercultural Center (GIC) | FGLI Program - decruz@upenn.edu
Dr. Marc A. Lo Executive Director, Penn First Plus - lomarc@upenn.edu
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.
