University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania, often called Penn or UPenn, is a private Ivy League research university.

It is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, within the University City neighborhood. As a research university, it focuses on creating new knowledge through study and experimentation. Penn is one of nine prestigious colonial colleges in the United States. It serves as a major center for higher education and professional training. The university's mission involves preparing leaders for academia, commerce, and public service.

Learning at Penn is organized into many different specialized schools. The university features 4 undergraduate schools and 12 graduate and professional schools.

Undergraduate students can attend the College of Arts and Sciences or the School of Engineering and Applied Science. Other options include the School of Nursing and the Wharton School. The Wharton School holds the distinction of being the world's first collegiate business school. For advanced students, the university offers professional training in many fields. This includes a law school and a medical school, which was the first in North America.

The university's history began with the vision of Benjamin Franklin. He was a famous polymath and a Founding Father. In 1749, Franklin circulated a pamphlet titled "Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pensilvania." He wanted to create a "Public Academy of Philadelphia." On June 16, 1755, the College of Philadelphia was officially chartered. This made it one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in the country. Some historians debate its exact rank among the oldest colleges. They look at whether the rank depends on the charter or the first board meeting.

Life for students has changed significantly since the 18th century. In the 1750s, about 40 percent of students required lodging. These students were often international or from distant British North American colonies.

Before 1765, students lived with faculty guardians or in boarding houses. The first dormitory was completed in 1765 under Ebenezer Kinnersley. Kinnersley and his wife supervised student hygiene and cleanliness. However, many students still chose to live off-campus for more personal freedom. This led the trustees to lease dormitories to private families to reduce costs. By 1779, the university even owned houses on Fourth Street to manage student living.

The university has survived many historical shifts and movements. During the American Revolutionary War, the British abandoned Philadelphia in 1778. During this time, College Hall served as the meeting site for the Second Continental Congress. This briefly made the campus a capital of the United States. In 1779, a political schism occurred when the state legislature created a separate university. This led to a period where two different institutions existed. Eventually, a new charter in 1791 merged them into the modern University of Pennsylvania.

The campus has also undergone major physical changes over the years. From 1802 to 1829, the university occupied the unused Presidential Mansion on Ninth and Market Streets.

In 1872, the university moved across the Schuylkill River to West Philadelphia. This move established the current campus in University City. During the 19th century, student life also saw the rise of fraternities. Students established residential houses like Delta Phi and Zeta Psi. These organizations provided housing and community for students traveling from far away. Today, the campus is centered around landmarks like College Hall and Houston Hall.

Penn has a massive impact on society through its notable people. The university has produced 3 United States presidents, including William Henry Harrison as a student. Its alumni include 38 Nobel laureates and 3 U.S. Supreme Court justices. The school has also educated 32 U.S. senators and 163 members of the U.S. House of Representatives. In the field of athletics, the Penn Quakers field varsity teams in 33 sports. The university has produced over 200 Olympic athletes. Among them, 43 athletes earned 81 Olympic medals, including 26 gold medals. This legacy of excellence continues through its high research expenditures and global influence.