Penn Engineering Weekly 09-28-26
| Date | Event |
| October 5th | Drop Period ends |
| October 1st – 4th | Fall Term Break |
| October 5th | Drop Period ends |
| October 12th | Indigenous People’s Day (Classes in session) |
| October 23rd | Grade Mode Change Deadline |
| October 23rd – 25th | Family Weekend |
| October 26th – November 9th | Advance Registration for Spring Term |
| November 2nd | Last day to withdraw from a course |
| November 14th | Homecoming |
Registrar Reminders
Important Fall 2026 deadlines:
- Course Drop deadline: October 5 (11:59 pm ET)
- The Grade Mode Change Deadline: October 23.
December 2026 Graduation information:
- The December 2026 Engineering graduation application will open on September 11 for bachelor’s, master’s, and certificates within the Engineering school. Information will be distributed closer to that opening. The December 2026 PhD graduation application opened on August 25. Information will be distributed in the near future.
- Any students who need to update their expected graduation date can submit that request here. (This is especially important if you are a December graduate and your expected graduation date is incorrectly listed for the future.)
Academic Resources
OAS Academic Advising
Academic planning covers a wide range of topics, including choosing a major, registering for classes, and defining career goals. During the Fall semester, in-person walk-in advising takes place Monday–Thursday from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. at Towne 109. Please visit Staff-Advising Information and Hours for more information.
Weingarten Center – Study Tools and Strategies
Our learning specialists have developed helpful resources to support your learning. We’ve organized these tools and strategies based on their purpose so that you can select the resources that work for you. Read more here.
Announcements
Complete the National Health Assessment (NHCA) Survey
Check your email inbox for a personalized link with the subject “Wellness at Penn – Health Assessment” to complete the confidential NCHA survey. Your feedback on sleep, stress, mental health, and student life helps shape health and wellness resources across Penn. The survey takes 20–30 minutes, and progress can be saved to finish later. Complete it by October 11 for a chance to win a bag of Penn Bookstore merchandise!
VIPER Accepting Transfer Applications
Applications are now open for first-year Penn students interested in transferring into the Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research (VIPER). VIPER is a coordinated dual-degree program leading to a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering, preparing students to lead in sustainable energy science and technology. Selected students receive fully-funded summer research opportunities, conference travel funding, and dedicated faculty mentorship.
Review Transfer Policies & Apply by Tuesday, December 1
Penn Engineering Council (PEC) Individual Sponsorships
Attending a conference, tech trek, or hackathon this semester? The Penn Engineering Council (PEC) offers individual sponsorships of up to $300 per semester to support Penn SEAS undergraduates pursuing engineering- and STEM-focused professional development and career opportunities. Funding can help cover registration fees and travel expenses for events outside the Greater Philadelphia Area. View Guidelines & Apply Here.
Events (Engineering)
Getting to Know the Penn CRCs
Engineers build systems, but a community ensures connection. Join Penn Engineering and the Cultural Resource Centers (CRCs) for an interactive, dialogue-driven gathering designed to help you navigate campus support, build meaningful connections, and explore the wide array of resources available across Penn’s CRCs. RSVP Here.
Thursday, October 8, 2026 | 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm | Raisler Lounge (Towne 225)
Restorative Justice & Practices @ Penn
You’re invited to a special joint event with Restorative Practices @ Penn. Come curious and leave inspired! This session offers a welcoming introduction to the Restorative Practices @ Penn Program, along with a thought-provoking overview of Restorative Justice principles and practices, frameworks that center empathy, accountability, and community healing.
Whether you’ve heard of restorative practices before or are completely new to the concept, this is a fantastic opportunity to expand your perspective, connect with peers across the Penn Engineering community, and discover tools that go far beyond the classroom or lab. Light on lecture, rich in conversation! RSVP Here.
Wednesday, October 14, 2026 | 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Greenberg Lounge (Skirkanich Hall, Room 114)
Events (Penn)
Research GPS: Utilizing Work-Study to Conduct Research
Do you have work-study funding and an interest in research? Join CURF staff and Research Peer Advisors to learn about how to utilize work study to engage in undergraduate research! More information here.
September 29, 2026, 4:00 pm – 05:00 pm | CURF Office, College Hall G08/09
University of Cambridge Information Session
Learn about options for pursuing a graduate degree in the UK following your undergraduate studies at Penn. A representative from the Office of Student Admissions & Access at the University of Cambridge will host a presentation covering available master’s and doctoral programs, admission requirements, application procedures, costs, and student life. Register here.
Monday, October 5, 2026 | 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm | CURF Office (College Hall G08/09)
2026 Frontiers of Energy Poster Session
Join us for the 6th Annual Frontiers of Energy Research Poster Session, co-hosted by the Vagelos Institute for Energy Science and Technology (VIEST) and the Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research (VIPER). Discover amazing energy research presented by Penn undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral researchers.
Present a Poster: All Penn students and postdocs involved in energy research are invited to share their work, gain valuable feedback, and meet other energy researchers from across campus! Register here by Monday, October 5th to present a poster.
October 20, 2026, 4:30pm – 6:30pm | Singh Galleria, Singh Center for Nanotechnology
Quant Finance Academy
A five-park workshop series led by faculty from Wharton’s Dr. Bruce I. Jacobs Master of Science in Quantitative Finance Program (Jacobs MSQF), designed to introduce students to the ideas, tools, and ways of thinking used in quantitative finance. No prior finance background is required.
Five Weekly Sessions | Wednesdays at 6:00 pm | Steinberg-Dietrich Hall 1206 | Please RSVP here.
Event Dates:
October 21: Dr. Stephan Dieckmann (Fixed Income Securities)
October 28: Dr. Jessica Wachter (Foundations Of Asset Pricing)
November 4: Dr. Jules Van Binsbergen (Investment Management)
November 11: Dr. Winston Dou (Data Science & Ai In Finance)
November 18: Dr. David Musto (Capital Markets)
Career & Networking Opportunities
Grad School OnRamp 2026: Virtual Workshops for STEM Undergrads
Prepare for the upcoming graduate admissions cycle with Penn Career Services’ targeted virtual workshops this September. Designed for STEM undergraduates planning for advanced degrees, these sessions cover critical components of a competitive application. Register for the upcoming sessions on Handshake.
Clubs & Organizations
ESAC Club
The Engineering Student Activities Council (ESAC) is a student organization at the University of Pennsylvania that serves as the umbrella for all student groups within SEAS at Penn. ESAC coordinates the activities of the various undergraduate organizations and acts as a liaison among undergraduate engineering students, SEAS faculty, and administration. The application to join ESAC will open again in Fall 2025. Reach out to pennesac@gmail.com for questions.
Engineering Dean’s Advisory Board
The Engineering Deans’ Advisory Board at the University of Pennsylvania works directly with deans and faculty from Penn Engineering to implement initiatives that enrich the learning and welfare of Engineers. Want to learn more about the Engineering Dean’s Advisory Board? Check it out here.
Penn Engineering Council (PEC)
The Penn Engineering Council (PEC) is the pre-professional branch of the Engineering student government quad-board at the University of Pennsylvania. PEC’s role is to organize events in the domains of academic mentorship and professional development and to serve as a funding organization to its constituent clubs and pre-professional societies within the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Read more here.
Engineering Entrepreneurship
More information about Engineering Entrepreneurship
- Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, & X/Twitter.
- Tag on these platforms @PennEngEntrep with your own posts.
- Join their subscription-based semi-monthly email to notify you of entrepreneurship-related events, competitions, opportunities, and more. If you wish to receive this type of information, please visit their Google Group here and then click “ask to join the group.” You have the option to unsubscribe at any time as well, and this is completely optional. Emails will be sent on the second and last Wednesday of every month.
Penn Engineering Weekly – Submissions
Penn Engineering Weekly is published by the Student Affairs Team and the Office of Academic Services. To post an upcoming event or opportunity, complete the SEAS Weekly Request Form before noon on Wednesdays.