First Generation Students

Penn president Amy Gutmann sits in a lounge with four students.

Penn receives pivotal gift to expand support for first-generation to college and modest-income undergraduates

The gift, from Scott and Elena Shleifer, will increase its support and critical resources for students who are in the first generation of their family to attend college and/or from households of modest or limited income.

Penn alum gives $18 million to support first-generation college students

Wharton alumnus Scott Shleifer and his wife, Elena Shleifer, have given Penn $18 million to support first-generation and “modest” or “limited-income” students. “This gift will enable our university to foster an ever more welcoming and inclusive learning environment to prepare all Penn students for successful lives,” said President Amy Gutmann.

As The Power of Penn concludes, a look into its big impact

Penn Today chatted with Development and Alumni Relations’ John Zeller, who shared highlights of the University’s most recent fundraising campaign, and much more.

University of Pennsylvania flag flying with campus and the city of Philadelphia in the background.

Penn concludes landmark fundraising and engagement campaign with extraordinary results

The Campaign exceeded its initial goal, making this fundraising and engagement effort the most successful in Penn’s history.

Student seated on a banquette works on a laptop

Support and inspiration for undergrads pursuing careers in health care

The three-day-long National Pre-Health Conference, the brainchild of rising senior Alejandra Bahena, begins Aug. 4.

Headshots of Silvia Hanks (left) and Jodi Wagner (right)

Counselors at Student Financial Services help find success, not stress

As grant-based aid packages—bolstered by named scholarships—have helped Penn welcome more students who come from lower-income households, Student Financial Services (SFS) has ramped up its ability to assist their academic journeys, especially during the pandemic when students needed more support than ever. That includes having two counselors—Silvia Hanks and Jodi Wagner—who specialize in serving highly aided students at Penn.

Two masked adult students in back of classroom discussing test results.

Systemic barriers to college for low-income and nontraditional students

The release of a higher education report reveals that nontraditional students have many risk factors and financial barriers to navigate to successfully complete their educational goals.

graduate close up with sunglasses and yellow color

Celebrating the ‘incomparable’ Class of 2021

Penn’s 265th Commencement honored students who are defined by their inspiring growth, unrivaled resilience, gracious appreciation, and undoubted ability to create a better future for us all.

Amy Gutmann meets with students virtually on Zoom

Increasing access for students on ‘Faculty Fridays’

For the past few years, PennCAP has hosted “Faculty Fridays” as a means to better connect first generation, lower-income students with the University’s professors. These efforts have continued virtually during COVID-19.

COVID communications and first generation students

Marcus Wright, undergraduate program manager and academic coordinator in the Department of Sociology and doctoral student at the Graduate School of Education, analyzes academic messaging to expose blind spots.

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