Selected scholars will meet six times throughout the 2025-2026 academic year (approximately 12 hours in total). These meetings will introduce participants to Pennsylvania’s history, its political governance structure and institutions, as well as regional socio-cultural and economic differences. These briefings also will explore Penn’s position within the Commonwealth, such as existing relationships and representation by students, employees and alumni throughout the state.
Engagement Opportunities
Office of Government and Community Affairs
Penn Commonwealth-Engaged Scholars Program
With the generous support of a University of Pennsylvania Draw Down the Lightning grant through the Office of the President, faculty and professional staff now have an opportunity to learn about, explore and engage with communities across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in new and meaningful ways over the course of an academic year.
In November 2023, the University of Pennsylvania unveiled its new strategic framework, In Principle and Practice. This framework is built around Penn’s long-held values, our unique DNA, and our distinctive strengths. It calls us to be an anchored, interwoven, and engaged institution that applies Penn’s remarkable capacity for inventive solutions and service-minded leadership to pressing problems.
About the Penn Commonwealth-Engaged Scholars Program
The Penn Commonwealth-Engaged Scholars Program (PCES) is a multi-faceted education and engagement initiative to connect the university community with Pennsylvania’s people and communities. During the 2025-2026 academic year, five to ten Penn faculty and professional staff—chosen through a competitive application process—will participate in a community of learning and practice. Scholars will meet throughout the academic year to learn about Pennsylvania and travel the state to experience its distinct regions. At the end of the program, scholars will have an opportunity to develop and execute projects that apply Penn’s leadership, knowledge, vision and creativity to benefit Pennsylvania.
Two trips to Pennsylvania destinations will be integrated into the educational component—one during Penn’s Fall Break (October 9-12) and one during Spring Break (March 7-9). The intentionally designed travel itinerary will introduce participating scholars to the state, illustrating Pennsylvania’s geographic, democratic, economic, industrial, cultural and political distinctions. These tours will feature conversations with local leaders to shape perspectives about pressing regional issues affecting residents, the economy, and quality of life.
To foster new, longer-term engagement opportunities between Penn and Pennsylvania’s communities and to incentivize the interdisciplinary practice and leadership called for In Principle and Practice, PCES will award to scholar-participants, on a competitive basis, Commonwealth Engagement Grants that facilitate purposeful and longer-term engagement with communities they visit. Applicants will be expected to draw connections from their PCES experience to Penn’s capacity for good through community-informed and engaged practice, service and research.
Applicants chosen for the Penn Commonwealth-Engaged Scholars will be notified of their selection by Friday, May 16.