University Resources

Graduate students at the University of Pennsylvania represent more than 50% of the student body. Penn is a supportive community that fosters attention to resources dedicated to academics, wellness, and life and family care.

Life at Penn

Graduate Student Center

The Graduate Student Center provides services to support graduate and professional students at Penn and in Philadelphia. The Center provides wireless Internet service, free BYOM (Bring Your Own Mug) coffee and tea, and various conference rooms and group study spaces for graduate students. The Family Center at Penn provides support services to graduate students with children.

Penn Women’s Center (PWC)

The Penn Women’s Center offers various support services and events with the goal of promoting the rights of women on campus and beyond. You can find a lot of spaces to study, relax, and host meetings and workshops within the Center. PWC is one of the few centers on campus that provides confidential crisis/options counseling as well as referrals related to a wider range of issues.

Netter Center for Community Partnerships

Community service at Penn aims to solve the complex, comprehensive, and interconnected problems of society in the City of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania.  

A student uses a laptop while studying.

Academic Support

Whether you've just completed your senior year or you're a senior leader in your organization, you'll be well supported as a student at Penn GSE. Penn provides students with numerous ways to access its exceptional intellectual resources.

Weingarten Learning Resource Center
The Weingarten Learning Resources Center provides free and confidential academic support services and programs for all Penn students. Services include assistance with academic reading, writing, study strategies, and time management. Additionally, Weingarten provides professional services and programs for students who self-identify with disabilities.

Ornate stairwell at Penn

Penn Libraries 

Van Pelt Library

Van Pelt Library
3420 Walnut Street
215-898-7556
www.library.upenn.edu/vanpelt

The University of Pennsylvania Library system consists of the Van Pelt Library, which houses materials in the humanities and social sciences, including education, and the departmental libraries.

[[break-point]]

Please use the below guides for access to library resources and information about services.

Your PennCard is used to charge books, as well as to print and photocopy within the Library. Off-campus access, using your PennKey, is available for most online resources. For library-related questions, individual assistance, and purchasing recommendations, please contact Joanna Thompson, Library Liaison for GSE/Education Bibliographer, at joannath@upenn.edu or 215-573-8454.

Weigle Information Commons

The David B. Weigle Information Commons supports collaborative learning and group activities using the latest technologies. Spaces includes group study rooms, Data Diner booths, alcove meeting areas, the Class of 1968 Seminar Room and the Vitale Digital Media Lab. Technology provided includes laptops, plasma display screens, video-recording rooms, clickers, media authoring capabilities (video, audio, imaging, web publishing) and an equipment lending program. Activities include an extensive calendar of workshops. Our program partners (CWiC, Weingarten Learning Resources Center and the Writing Center) and Penn Libraries staff assist students with research, writing, public speaking and study strategies.
http://wic.library.upenn.edu

The Nessa Wolfson Reading Room

GSE, Room 326 
3700 Walnut St.

The Nessa Wolfson Reading Room in the Language and Literacy in Education Division contains the Educational Linguistics Collection of books, journals, newsletters, articles, Ph.D. dissertations in linguistics, applied linguistics and related fields and texts for teaching English as a second language; the Harriet M. Cowan Collection contains volumes on Reading and Language Arts children's literature and a growing collection of resources for Intercultural Communication.

The Morris Viteless Computing Research Center

3700 Walnut Street, Third Floor

The Viteless Center contains state-of-the-art computers linked to the University libraries, and collections of computer software, manuals and books relevant to psychological research in educational settings.

Student crosses bridge at Penn.

Wellness at Penn

The Wellness at Penn initiative is a core priority and necessary driver of student life.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
CAPS is the counseling center for the University of Pennsylvania and offers free and confidential services to all Penn students. CAPS services include drop-in/walk-in hours, 24-hour counseling support, individual or group therapy, personal wellness and career workshops, and referral services.

[[break-point]]

Student Health Services
Student Health Service is a state-of-the-art primary care center dedicated to the health and well-being of students. The University of Pennsylvania requires students to meet certain health requirements, including carrying adequate health insurance coverage. The Penn Student Insurance Plan (PSIP) is available for students who do not have insurance or whose plans do not provide coverage in the Philadelphia area.