Philadelphia—a historic city and vibrant cultural center—infuses Penn with the energy of urban life. Students enjoy cultural offerings that include museums and galleries, theater, dance, music, historical landmarks, and the cuisine of amazing restaurants to fit any budget. Every year, our city plays host to millions of visitors who come to sample its unique blend of history and progress. Philadelphia has earned a reputation as one of the hottest cities in which to live and study which partly explains why Penn has also seen an increase in popularity among prospective students. It is a phenomenal place in which to spend four years or more of learning, researching, working, playing, eating, clubbing and everything else that Penn students do in the City of Brotherly Love!
Penn has also made a substantial commitment to its immediate neighborhood in West Philadelphia. Penn's West Philadelphia Initiatives program has promoted safe neighborhoods, attracted and supported area businesses, encouraged homeownership, and improved public education. As a result, students enjoy an enlivened community both on and off campus. The Center for Community Partnerships oversees a powerful array of projects and programs, with multiple initiatives to improve West Philadelphia education, including developing early-childhood reading and math skills, raising interest in science, and bridging the digital divide. Other programs include the Community Arts Partnership, which places an artist-in-residence in the West Philadelphia schools, supports after-school programs, and funds a Penn-West Philadelphia arts exchange called the Foundation.
In the spirit of Penn's commitment to putting knowledge to use, many students, faculty, staff, and alumni contribute time to these initiatives. A broad range of undergraduate and graduate academically based community service courses combine intellectual learning with active community involvement.
