Alumni Benefits & Resources

Penn GSE alumni qualify for many benefits, and membership in the Education Alumni Association is completely free and available to you online and on campus.
Contact 215-746-0216 or alumni@gse.upenn.edu 

Legacy Admissions for Alumni of Penn?  
The Alumni Council on Admissions is a resource for all Penn alumni who have children or grandchildren going through the undergraduate admissions process at Penn.  For additional information, call 215-898-6888 or e-mail aca@ben.dev.upenn.edu.

Copy of Diploma?
To acquire a copy of your diploma, contact the Office of the Secretary at 215-898-7005.

Get In Touch – The Penn Online Community (OLC)
We often are asked by our alumni to “reconnect” them with friends and colleagues from the University of Pennsylvania.  We invite our alumni to access the PENN ONLINE COMMUNITY (OLC).

This access allows degree holders from Penn to find classmates and colleagues and also provides information on email forwarding. This is an immediate and effective way to contact old classmates and one that is available through the University. 

• Morris Arboretum: Alumni with a PennCard receive FREE admission
• Annenberg Center for Performing Arts: Discounted tickets are available for Alumni with a PennCard
• Institute of Contemporary Art: Alumni with a PennCard receive FREE admission
• Arthur Ross Gallery: The Gallery is free and open to the public.
• Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology: Alumni with a PennCard receive FREE admission
• Call the GSE Office of Alumni Relations for more discounts & information! 215-898-9792
• Publications – Penn GSE News and the UPenn Gazette

All Penn Graduate School of Education alumni & friends receive a FREE subscription to GSE News.

Library Privileges
Many of the resources of the Penn Library are available for use by Penn alumni. For information about weekend and holiday access to the libraries and courtesy borrowing see below. We invite all interested alumni to come to library events & exhibits.

Weekend and Holiday Access
Alumni who wish to consult materials in the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center and in most school and departmental libraries on weekends and on holidays may do so upon presentation of a valid Penn Alumni Card. These cards are issued at the PennCard Center at Suite 150 Franklin Building, 3451 Walnut Street. Applications may also be made by mail. To check on dates and times when the Center is open call (215) 898-2646. Alumni Relations charges $20 for the card, which is valid for 10 years. Alumni should understand that this card allows access to Van Pelt-Dietrich and is not transferable. It is also valid in most, but not all, departmental and school libraries. When planning a visit to any of the libraries it is advisable to check individual library Access Policies.

Alumni Courtesy Borrowing Services
Alumni who want to borrow materials from the Library's collections may apply for courtesy borrowing privileges at the special alumni rate of $200.00 per year. The Penn Alumni Card must be presented upon application for courtesy borrowing privileges.

Application for courtesy borrowing should be made Monday through Friday to the Van Pelt Circulation Department. Call (215) 898-7566 for more information. 

Library Services not Available to Alumni
Due to licensing agreements and contracts, many of the library's electronic resources are available only to currently affiliated Penn faculty, staff, and students. These include the journal citation indexes and remote time-sharing datafiles. Alumni may use the Library's compact disc databases. Interlibrary loan services are not available to alumni through the Penn Library; readers should consult their primary local public or company library for these services. In order to provide adequate access and support for research and study the use of the Library's Computer Labs is restricted to Penn faculty, staff and currently enrolled students. 

Electronic Resources
Using the Alumni and Friends Portal on the Library's main page, click on E-Resources. You will notice there are fewer resources available but these resources do not require a pennkey and password.

Alumni Travel - Penn Quaker Voyages
Penn GSE alumni and friends are able to combine travel and study in exotic locations with other Penn alumni and faculty! Click on link for more information.

Faculty Club at the University of Pennsylvania

An annual $50 Membership for Penn GSE alumni gives you access to everything the Faculty Club has to offer, including dining privileges, and discounts at Inn at Penn restaurants as well as membership in the Association of College and University Clubs (formerly AFCI), with access to more than 100 other Faculty Clubs in the United States and around the world.  Click on link for more information.

Pottruck Center Gym Membership
Alumni Early Bird Membership Special
Yearly: $206 Semester: $111
University of Pennsylvania alumni are able to purchase a limited weekday membership to the David Pottruck Health and Fitness Center. The early bird special membership permits facilty usage Monday-Friday 6am-8am. Free parking is available in the University parking garage located on 38th and Walnut Streets. Alumni members who purchase this membership get their parking pass validated each morning at the Pottruck Front desk to receive the free parking. Vehicles departing after 8:00am will be charged the normal parking rate according to the University Parking policy. For more details call membership Services 898-6100 or visit Pottruck Center website.

Transit Services @ Penn
Call 215.898.RIDE or visit website
Transit services are free of charge to all University of Pennsylvania community members holding a valid PennCard. All riders must show their valid PennCard to the driver upon entering the vehicle. Drivers will refuse entry to any person not showing a valid PennCard. Valid PennCard holders may be accompanied by up to two (2) guests provided prior approval (call 215.898.RIDE) has been obtained. 

Considering Moving to Philadelphia? 
If you have left the area after graduation and are now planning to move back, see the Phila. Chamber of Commerce Greaterphillylife.com link to identity your "perfect place to live."  Showcasing communities in both the suburbs and city, you and your family can find the right place for all of you.  It includes links to surrounding communities, business associations, and civic information to help you in the transition.