A Message to the Penn Community
From
Amy Gutmann, President
Wendell Pritchett, Provost
Craig Carnaroli, EVP

‍‍‍‍‍‍We are writing to update you about our efforts in response to proposed changes in tax policy impacting higher education that are currently being discussed in the US House of Representatives and other changes that will soon be discussed in the US Senate.

We believe strongly that many of these changes would have a detrimental impact on our students, on Penn families, on our institution, and on the mission of higher education.

These regressive changes, among other things, could eliminate the tax deduction for student loans; force graduate students to include tuition waivers as taxable income; tax part of universities’ endowment income, which is otherwise invested and spent on advancing university programs; and reduce the value of the charitable deduction, which helps sustain not only universities but also all non-profit and charitable organizations. 

We are engaging vigorously and proactively on these proposals. We are working closely with our peer universities and professional groups to inform elected officials of our concerns and to emphasize the value to our country of support for higher education. Our efforts are coordinated through Penn’s Office of Government and Community Affairs and its representatives in Washington, using a wide range of resources and contacts across campus.

At this pivotal moment, we urge you to express your views through social media and directly to elected officials in the House of Representatives and the Senate. You can find contact information for all federal officials at: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials.

Thank you for your help in this important cause – and, as always, for the amazing work that you do every day, creating a more vibrant and powerful future across our nation and the world. 

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