Penn Engineering Graduate Newsletter 03-02-2026
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Announcement for the Month| Registrar Reminders |Grants, Scholarships, & Fellowships |Events| Career & Networking| Previous Issue
Important Dates: 
| Date | Event |
| March 7th-15th | Spring Term Break (No Classes) |
| March 16th | Classes resume |
| March 30th | Last Day to Withdraw from a Course |
| April 29th | Last day of Classes |
| April 30th – May 3rd | Reading Days |
| May 4th – 12th | Final Exams |
| May 12th | Spring Term Ends |
| May 14th | Ph.D. Ceremonies |
| May 15th | Master Ceremonies |
| May 18th | Commencement |
Spring 2025 Semester Advising Hours
| Day of the week | Time | Location |
| Mondays | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm (EST) | Virtual |
| Tuesdays | 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (EST) | In-Person, Towne 107 |
| Wednesdays | 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (EST) | In-Person, Towne 107 |
| Thursdays | 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (EST) | Virtual |
| Fridays | No Advising |
* Information with Zoom links for virtual advising days (Monday/Thursday) is emailed to students throughout the semester. If you are unable to attend scheduled advising hours, additional times may be available by appointment only. Please email to request an appointment.
Announcements for the month
Important Federal Loan Changes Effective July 1st
Beginning July 1, new federal student loan regulations will take effect, and it is important that you understand how these changes may impact the financing of your graduate degree at Penn.
To help you prepare, we will be hosting a variety of information sessions—both virtual and in person—designed to ensure you are well informed before these changes go into effect. These sessions will cover what’s changing, how it may affect your eligibility and borrowing limits, and what options are available to you.
Students who will continue their program past May 2026 and have borrowed loans are required to attend one session. Attendance will be taken. Registration can be found here.
For those who do not currently borrow student loans, we strongly encourage you to register for a session that fits your schedule so you can feel informed if you need to consider loan funding in the future.
Food will be provided at all in-person sessions.
TIME TO GET YOUR CAP AND GOWN!
The Penn Bookstore is pleased to serve as the University’s academic regalia provider for all
current and alumni graduates, as well as participating faculty, marshals, and trustees. If you choose to order online, it’s recommended to do so by March 20 to ensure delivery prior to Commencement ceremonies. If the above deadlines pose significant challenges for you, please call the Bookstore at 215-898-7595 or email capandgown@upenn.edu as soon as possible to explore alternative options.
TIME TO GET YOUR CAP AND GOWN!
The Penn Bookstore is pleased to serve as the University’s academic regalia provider for all current and alumni graduates, as well as participating faculty, marshals, and trustees. If you choose to order online, it’s recommended to do so by March 20th to ensure delivery prior to Commencement ceremonies. If the above deadlines pose significant challenges for you, please call the Bookstore at 215-898-7595 or email capandgown@upenn.edu as soon as possible to explore alternative options.
Registrar Reminders
–Advance Registration for Fall 2026 begins Monday, March 23rd, and runs through Monday, April 6. Summer 2026 registration opens on Monday, March 23rd.
-The last day to withdraw from a course is Monday, March 30th.
Grants, Scholarships & Fellowships
The 2026-2028 Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship for Public Service
The Obama Foundation is looking for current college sophomores and community college transfer students interested in pursuing a career in public service. If you are seeking a transformative leadership development and scholarship program that includes financial aid to ease the burden of college debt, an immersive work-travel experience, and access to a powerful network of mentors, then this program is for you! The application closes on March 17, 2026, and we need your help to spread the word! Click here to learn more and apply.
2026 ShanghaiTech Summer Lab Program
This non-credit and tuition-free program is designed exclusively for international undergraduates from our partner institutions. It offers a unique opportunity for participants to join a research lab of their choice, utilizing world-class facilities and national science platforms rarely accessible to external students. Application Deadline: April 30, 2026. Click here to learn more and apply.
Events
Researcher Cold-Emailing Workshop
Join Research Peer Advisors (RPAs) for a Cold-Emailing Workshop designed for students looking to get started in research, especially those hoping to secure a summer research position. Learn how to identify labs, reach out to professors, and craft compelling cold emails. We’ll cover how to position yourself even with no prior experience, what faculty look for in summer students, and how to follow up effectively. Whether you’re unsure where to begin or just need guidance on writing that first message, this session will give you the tools to take concrete steps toward landing a research opportunity. Perfect for students exploring research for the very first time. No experience needed. Click here to learn more.
Monday, March 2nd
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
JMHH (Huntsman) Room F60
Registration is not required.
Research Peer Advisor Data Science Workshop: R
Join the CURF RPAs for a series of data science workshops to learn essential coding skills for modeling, data analysis, and visualization. Whether you’re new to programming or looking to refine your skills, these workshops will introduce key tools in scientific research. No prior experience is required – attend all sessions or choose the ones most relevant to your research area of interest! This session will focus on R. Click here to learn more.
Wednesday, March 4th
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
JMHH (Huntsman) Room F60
Registration is not required.
iCare
“i care” is an interactive training for students, faculty, and staff that builds a caring community with the skills and resources to intervene when someone is dealing with stress, distress, and crisis.
Sunday, March 29th
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Houston Hall|Hall of Flags
Click here to learn more and register
The Peking Acrobats
The Peking Acrobats push the limits of human ability, wowing audiences with spellbinding trick-cycling, precision tumbling, juggling, somersaulting, and gymnastics. With a three-decade legacy of elite talent, this world-record-setting troupe takes ancient Chinese traditions to new heights, pairing artful athleticism with live music and festive pageantry. Bring the whole family–these masters of agility and grace are, quite literally, defying gravity. Student tickets are only $10.
Sunday, March 15th
3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Annenberg Center| 3680 Walnut Street
Global Health at Penn
This year marks the 10th anniversary of PSOM’s Center for Global Health (CGH). Over the past decade, CGH has built a vibrant global health community at Penn grounded in partnership, rigorous scholarship, and a shared commitment to health equity. Today, our faculty, staff, and trainees are engaged in research, clinical care, and capacity-building in more than 80 countries.
To celebrate this milestone, the CGH Penn Global Health Day will be held on March 6, 2026, 8:00 am – 2:30 pm, Rubenstein Auditorium. The event will highlight the breadth and impact of global health work across Penn with a look toward the future of our field.
We are honored to welcome Jim Yong Kim, MD, PhD, as our keynote speaker. A co-founder of Partners In Health, Dr. Kim’s leadership roles include President of the World Bank Group and President of Dartmouth College. Dr. Kim is currently Chancellor of the University of Global Health Equity in Rwanda and Vice Chairman of the Board of Global Infrastructure Partners. His career reflects a deep commitment to equity and systems-level change.
Friday, March 6th
8:00 am -2:30 pm
Rubenstein Auditorium
Click here to register
Explore. Reflect. Become. Lunch Series with Speaker Areebah Ahmed C’26
PAACH is back with the Explore. Reflect. Become. Lunch Series for spring 2026! Come join us for a catered lunch and learn from our exciting group of speakers.
The Explore. Reflect. The Become Lunch Series focuses on the deep reflection of our personal experiences and the becoming of ourselves. We will invite individuals from Penn and the Philadelphia community to share their intimate histories and backgrounds, and how they’ve explored, reflected, and become the person that they are.
Wednesday, March 25th
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
ARCH Room 108 |3601 Locust Walk
Click here to register
Career & Networking
Job Search & Professional Digital Presence
As the job search moves more and more into the digital space, it is imperative that job seekers not only be aware of their digital presence but also leverage it. Join Career Services staff as they showcase how you can best use platforms like LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, Handshake, and more to reach your career goals.
This session is open to the Penn Community and will include students from the Hoesley Fellowship Program. Registration is required to get an accurate headcount for attendance and food.
Friday, March 20th
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Van Pelt Library, Room 124
Click here to register
