Thriving Communities: A Guide to Clubs and Organizations at the University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania (Penn) offers a rich tapestry of student organizations, catering to a wide spectrum of interests and passions. From academic and pre-professional societies to performing arts groups, cultural associations, and social and recreational clubs, Penn provides a vibrant ecosystem for students to connect, explore their interests, and develop valuable skills. With over 600 options, navigating the club landscape can seem daunting, but understanding the different types of organizations and the recruitment processes can help students find their niche.
Engineering Student Activities Council (ESAC)
The Engineering Student Activities Council supports over 40 student organizations within the School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS). These organizations cover a wide array of interests, providing engineering students with opportunities for professional development, community engagement, and social interaction. Here are a few examples of clubs supported by ESAC:
- Access Engineering: This organization introduces Philadelphia high school students to the world of engineering through lab-based courses, programming instruction, and workshops on topics like entrepreneurship and Arduino programming. Their goal is to showcase engineering as a viable and exciting career path.
- Alpha Omega Epsilon (AOE): As the first and only international engineering and technical sciences sorority, AOE fosters a supportive community for women and gender minorities in STEM fields. The sorority focuses on promoting the advancement of underrepresented gender minorities in STEM and building lifelong friendships.
- Computer Science Society (CSS): CSS aims to build a strong community for computer science students at Penn. They provide resources and opportunities to help students connect, learn, and grow in the field of computer science.
- Engineering Deans' Advisory Board (EDAB): EDAB provides student leadership in order to make positive change within Penn Engineering.
- Engineers Without Borders: The Penn chapter focuses on equipping undergraduate members with the skills and knowledge to make a lasting social impact on a global scale. They offer open workshops on technical skills like CAD, Python, and circuit-building, as well as a social impact incubator with resources like funding, mentorship, and networking.
- Hack4Impact: A national non-profit organization with a chapter at Penn, Hack4Impact connects student developers and designers with non-profit organizations to build software solutions for social good.
- Penn Aerial Robotics: This club engages undergraduate students in the development of aerial robots and unmanned aerial vehicles, fostering innovation and hands-on experience in robotics.
- Penn Electric Racing: A completely student-run project dedicated to designing, building, and racing clean energy vehicles, offering students practical experience in sustainable engineering.
- Penn Engineering Council (PEC): As the pre-professional branch of the Penn Engineering student government, PEC primarily provides funding to its constituent clubs and pre-professional societies within SEAS.
- Penn ACM SIGGRAPH: Penn's SIGGRAPH chapter focuses on computer graphics, fostering a community for students interested in animation, computer science, and game development.
- Penn Architects: Penn Architects is a collaborative space for students and alumni to connect, innovate, and explore architecture through social events, collaboration, and mentorship opportunities.
- SEAS Wellness: SEAS Wellness is dedicated to improving student mental health and wellness within Penn Engineering.
- Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE): SHPE fosters a supportive community for Hispanic students interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
- Society of Women Engineers (SWE): SWE provides professional development, community outreach, and social opportunities for its members, connecting them with professionals and fostering their growth.
- Penn Spark: Spark is a community of developers and designers who collaborate on building projects from the ground up.
- Tau Beta Pi (TBP): As Penn's engineering honor society, Tau Beta Pi recognizes and invites exemplary junior and senior engineering students to join its ranks each semester.
- Tikkun Olam Makers (TOM): TOM is a global movement that creates and disseminates affordable solutions to challenges faced by people living with disabilities, the elderly, and the poor.
- Underrepresented Student Advisory Board in Engineering (USABE): USABE promotes diversity and inclusion among engineers by advocating for and connecting underrepresented voices within SEAS.
- UPGRADE (University of Pennsylvania Game Research and Development Environment): UPGRADE fosters creative expression through game development, bringing together artists, designers, programmers, writers, and musicians.
- Theta Tau: Theta Tau is the nation's oldest and largest co-ed professional engineering fraternity, providing a network for engineering students across the country.
- Web3 Builders: Web3 Builders is a community of students exploring the technical side of crypto and blockchain. The club fosters physical and virtual gatherings, information sharing, education, career opportunities, and community events.
- Women in Computer Science (WICS): WICS fosters a community for women in tech at Penn, including those studying computer science, computer engineering, computational biology, digital media design, and networked and social systems engineering.
Wharton School Clubs
The Wharton School offers a diverse range of undergraduate student clubs, providing opportunities for students to develop valuable skills, network with professionals, and engage in community service. Wharton clubs are open to students from all schools within the University of Pennsylvania, and they typically have a general body membership option with a 100% acceptance rate. Wharton clubs provide opportunities to learn valuable skills through planning club conferences and events, participating in or organizing community service projects, and serving as club leaders. Here are some examples:
- Wharton Council Clubs: Clubs run by the Wharton Council are open to students from any school and have standardized application processes with a set due date.
- PIIC (Penn International Impact Consulting): PIIC promotes awareness of the need to use business skills to benefit those in need throughout the world.
- Penn Microfinance: Penn Microfinance is the first and largest undergraduate microfinance organization in the United States.
- SWS (Smart Woman Securities): SWS aims to educate and empower undergraduate women interested in finance and investing.
- SEAC (Southeast Asian Cultural Association): SEAC is dedicated to enriching the business education of and cultivating a tight-knit community among Southeast Asian students and their allies at Penn.
- The Wharton Alliance: The Wharton Alliance is Penn’s undergraduate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender pre-professional organization.
- The Wharton Asia Exchange: The Wharton Asia Exchange's mission is to bridge the gap between the university community and the Asian business environment.
- The Wharton Europe Club: The Wharton Europe Club helps students find and apply to academic and professional positions in Europe. The club also maintains a rapport between European companies and institutions and the Wharton undergraduate student body.
- Wharton Latino: Wharton Latino works to promote and bring together the Latino community and their allies at Penn.
- The Wharton Retail Club: The Wharton Retail Club works closely with the Jay H.
- The Aerospace Club: The Aerospace Club serves to explore business principles via the aerospace domain.
- WUEG (Wharton Undergraduate Energy Group): WUEG provides a forum for undergraduate students to explore energy issues, at the intersection of business, science, and policy, considering economic and investment issues as well as innovation and research.
- WUEC (Wharton Undergraduates Entrepreneurs Club): WUEC is for undergraduates in the process of starting a venture or exploring a career working for early-stage companies. The group is comprised of technologists, aspiring founders and investors, engineers, designers, and open minded, curious individuals who are passionate about eliminating the gender discrepancy in the startup ecosystem.
- WUVG (Wharton Undergraduate Venture Group): WUVG brings together students, innovative startups, and some of the world’s leading venture capital firms. Through WUVG’s venture capital research arm, student analysts can work on real-world research projects with top VC firms.
All Wharton Council-recognized student organizations must adhere to the University of Pennsylvania Policy on Equal Opportunity.
Other Club Categories
Beyond engineering and business, Penn offers a wide variety of clubs in other categories:
Read also: Investing in future leaders with the Clubs of America Scholarship
- Performing Arts: Penn boasts a range of performing arts clubs with strong social cultures, including dance troupes, musical groups, and more. The Penn Band, for example, encourages any student interested in playing an instrument to join, while the Penn Six recently became the first a cappella group on campus to eliminate auditions.
- Cultural Groups: Cultural groups on campus provide an additional space for students to connect and explore a particular culture or community. These clubs tend to be open membership for general body members and often host social or service events throughout the year.
- Social and Recreational: Students looking to join a club just for fun can consider the Social Planning and Events Committee, a branch of student government that plans several social events and traditions at Penn yearly.
- Politics and Activism: Politics clubs are a popular choice for students interested in civic engagement. Students looking to contribute to a good cause can do so through organizations like the Penn Environmental Group, which organizes yearly Climate and Earth Week events, and the Special Needs Undergraduate Swim program, where students teach swimming lessons to local children.
- Academic Societies: Many academic societies are open to any interested student and offer a “general body membership” option that requires students to simply fill out an interest form or attend meetings to be considered a member. These clubs typically have large memberships and serve as an easy way to meet other students with similar interests.
Getting Involved
- Activities Fairs: The best way to explore your options is by attending one of Penn’s Activities Fairs-hosted at the start of each semester by the Office of Student Affairs-which bring together hundreds of groups eager to meet new members. This year, Penn’s annual Student Activities Fair will be held from Aug. 26-28 on Locust Walk.
- Office of Student Affairs: The Office of Student Affairs, located at 200 Houston Hall, is the hub of student organizations and governance on campus. Students can visit to learn about how to get involved or to get their questions about clubs answered.
- Online Resources: Information about additional Penn clubs and organizations can be found online.
Each student organization is student-led and manages its own recruitment process. Groups are open to all who are interested, though some may require an audition or interview to join. Participation in student organizations and extra-curricular activities is a privilege extended to students who are enrolled and registered in classes at the University of Pennsylvania.
Funding Resources
- Penn Undergraduate Funding Guide (PUFG): The PUFG is a resource for student groups and students seeking funding for events, programming, and travel. It provides a how-to guide on the Common Funding Application and details about the various student-run and administrative funding sources.
- UA Contingency: The UA maintains a contingency fund of more than $10,000 that serves as a last-resort source of funding for undergraduate groups and programs.
- CONCUR: Any student who requires reimbursement on behalf of club spending must file through Concur, which is the University’s reimbursement tool.
Read also: Comprehensive Guide to TCI Scholarships
Read also: Directory of ASU Student Groups
tags: #clubs #at #university #of #pennsylvania
