Penn's Response to Natural Disasters

Penn offers enrollment to students displaced by Hurricane Katrina

The University of Pennsylvania will offer academically-qualified Philadelphia-area undergraduates enrolled at colleges and universities in hurricane stricken areas the opportunity to take fall semester classes at Penn on a space-available basis, President Amy Gutmann announced. In addition, Penn faculty and staff interested in serving as volunteers with the organizations involved in hurricane relief efforts may be given up to three weeks of paid time off.

" We mourn the victims of this terrible tragedy and commit ourselves to finding solutions to help the survivors rediscover hope and rebuild shattered lives," said Dr. Amy Gutmann, Penn president.

“ We felt it important to offer students from the Philadelphia area as much continuity as we can until they can resume studies at their home institution. In addition, many of our faculty and staff have expressed interest in volunteering their services in New Orleans and other areas needing assistance. We will give Penn faculty and staff up to three weeks of paid time off to work as volunteers with the various organizations involved in hurricane recovery efforts."

Penn expects to be able to accommodate as many as 100 undergraduate students. In addition, graduate and professional students will be considered on an individual basis, depending on available space.

Penn will not be charging tuition to the displaced students, instead allowing tuition dollars to continue to be directed towards the students’ “home” school. If students have already paid their fall semester tuition to another college or university, Penn will provide available space in classes at no additional cost and will work with students to assure they remain eligible for federal financial aid.

Campus housing is already full and will not be available to the additional students. The expectation is that the emergency program would serve students within commuting distance. At the end of the fall semester, Penn will give students in the program transcripts for the courses they complete.

Enrollment Information

There are other schools in the Philadelphia area that may be enrolling students affected by the hurricane. Please visit their web sites for additional information.

Drexel University
Penn State
Rutgers University -- Camden campus
Temple University

Graduate students seeking enrollment at Penn should click here.