Campus Services
Operating the University of Pennsylvania is not unlike managing a small-sized city. We need to maintain a clean, safe, and well-functioning environment, which must also provide the high-quality services and amenities befitting a world-class academic organization. Such services and amenities include:
Public Safety: Penn's Division of Public Safety (DPS) comprises 176 personnel, 116 of whom are sworn University of Pennsylvania Police Officers. The dedicated men and women of DPS are responsible for enhancing the quality of life, safety and security of our community. The Division accomplishes its mission through the delivery of a comprehensive and integrated safety and security program, in partnership with the community that we serve. The following departments fall under the Office of the Vice President:
- Penn Police Department
- Fire & Emergency Services
- Technology & Emergency Communications
- Security Services
- Special Services
Dining: Operated by Bon Appetit, Penn Dining is a mix of high-quality student dining halls, food courts, farmers markets and restaurants with excellent service. These amenities, plus a dedication to supporting local farm-to-fork programs, environmentally conscious purchasing, and support of West Philadelphia businesses, has led to Penn Dining to being nationally ranked for best campus food.
Residential Services: The University houses several thousand students on campus within 11 different college houses and across a 260+ acre campus. The Office of Off-Campus Services assists students, faculty and staff at all stages of their off-campus living experience – from locating housing to understanding leases to resolving challenges and educating landlords and tenants alike about their rights and responsibilities.
Information Systems and Computing (ISC) provides faculty, students and staff with the support infrastructure, leadership, systems management, and customer services that enable Penn to carry out its missions of teaching and research while supporting the administration. Key ISC services include:
- Voice, video and data networks
- Global Internet connectivity
- Collaboration among the PennWeb server, email and online directories
- Data networks including Internet2, voice and video networks
- Business Continuity Services, including Library
- Student Systems and Core Administrative Systems
- Services for local IT providers
- Standards and policies
Parking and Transportation: Penn Parking Services manages 30 lots and garages around the campus for use by University and Health System staff, faculty, students and the general public. Penn Transit's comprehensive system provides transit on and around campus within specific service boundaries, free of charge to the Penn community. Penn Shuttle Service operates seven days a week, with the exception of all holidays observed by the University, and provides transportation to and from campus to West Philadelphia, Center City (late nights and weekends only) and Powelton Village, within defined boundaries.
Privacy: Penn's Privacy website provides a wide range of resources on the issue of privacy which affects the entire Penn community. It includes important and user-friendly information about how to:
- Protect Penn Data, including policies, guidance, tips, assessment procedures, tools, and more
- Protect Yourself, at Penn and beyond Penn, whether you are a student, faculty or staff member, alumnus or none of the above
- University-wide, privacy-related Policies and Guidance documents are available here
- Tips and Training tools are available to help raise awareness about privacy and security issues, including Penn's One Step Ahead tip series, brief videos on topics of your choice, social media guidance, and more
Student Financial Aid: The Office of Student Registration and Financial Services (SRFS) provides Penn's community with an array of financial services, products, counseling resources and information to meet the needs of students and their families when planning for and managing the cost of attendance. SRFS applies accessible and seamless counseling for students and their parents either in-person at the Counseling Center, or through a 24-hour, self-service and comprehensive website. Financial aid counselors support the University's goal of recruiting and retaining a high-quality, diverse student body by planning for, developing, allocating and delivering financial resources that:
- Make a Penn education financially manageable for all admitted and enrolled students
- Are competitive with those offered by other institutions
- Limit educational debt burden
- Facilitate accessibility to the administration