After consulting with the Provost, gauging preliminary thinking on the part of colleagues at other institutions, and monitoring preventative measures related to coronavirus (COVID-19), Penn Admissions has made the decision to cancel all large-scale, on-campus admitted student programming scheduled for April. This includes all Quaker Day events scheduled for April 6 and April 15, and Multicultural Scholars Preview programming scheduled for April 14.
Though we share your disappointment that we are not able to welcome our admitted students in our traditional fashion, social distancing and avoidance of unnecessary travel are both strong counters to the coronavirus. Cancelling our on-campus Quaker Days events is a proactive measure that supports the well-being of the new members of the Penn community, as well as the faculty, staff, and students who already call our campus home.
Penn Admissions is excited—and well equipped—to support our admitted students with web-based programming that showcases our vibrant community. We feel confident that the Class of 2024 will be able to explore, learn, ask questions, and connect to our campus without needing to take on the burden of unnecessary travel. In particular, our recently launched virtual campus tour (which many of you helped us to create) will be a tremendous asset. For the past several years, we have also been innovating in the virtual event space and we are prepared to expand that framework for our admitted students this April.
My colleagues will be reaching out with more information on next steps and revised plans in the coming weeks, and we appreciate your continued responsiveness as we work to pivot to this alternate plan before decision release in late March. At that time, with your assistance, we expect to have a complete outline to provide admitted students on how to engage with our community in April.
In the weeks ahead, Penn Admissions will continue to rely on our campus partners and current undergraduate student volunteers to help welcome the new class; though the medium will change, we are grateful to those who will offer their time and support so that we can share our inimitable Quaker spirit.