Hello Class of 2016!

September 3, 2015

Please keep in mind the following deadlines:

 Monday, September 14

- last day to change grading status on full semester or Q1 elective courses

 Monday, September 21

 - final day to drop  Q1 courses

Please see the Academic Calendar for further details. 

Four credit units are required beyond the required prerequisite of STAT 613 (or completion of STAT 621/waiver of STAT fixed core requirement entirely). Some courses offered by other departments are permitted (students who wish to include courses from other departments in the major should request permission to include these from the Statistics Department advisor and file this permission with the MBA Program Office). Courses taken on a Pass/Fail basis cannot be counted toward the major. The Wharton MBA Resource Guide details all courses that are applicable to the major in Statistics.

The major advisor is Richard Waterman. 

Facilities and Operations has set aside classrooms that can be used for quiet study. Click here for the daily list.  You can also find the list published on Spike via the MBA Program Office tab under the "Quick Links" section. 

Other areas within the University can also be used for study or meetings.  Click here for more info!  And don't forget about Hoover Lounge! 

The MBA Program Office will hold upcoming information sessions for the Global Immersion Programs (GIPs) on the following dates:

• Tuesday, September 8: 12:00pm-1:00pm, room JMHH 340
• Thursday, September 10: 3:00pm-4:00pm, room JMHH 340

Both sessions will focus on our Fall 2015 GIPs: India, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.  If you cannot attend a session, visit the GIP website or email the Coordinator of Global Immersion Programs, Christine Sweeney, for more information.

Additionally, we are looking for outgoing and motivated students with regional expertise to help lead these programs as Student Coordinators. Please contact Christine Sweeney for more details. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

The Wharton People Analytics Conference (PAC) is seeking students to join its organizing team. PAC is the premier conference for professionals and academics in the growing field of people analytics, which is bringing a rigorous and data-driven approach to core business topics like recruiting, professional development, and team performance.

Faculty directors Adam Grant and Cade Massey will host an info session on September 14 at 12pm in JMHH G50, to introduce the conference and ways students can get involved. Lunch will be provided. If you are interested in learning more, please fill in your email address at this link.

Due to anticipated logistical and transportation issues related to the historic visit of Pope Francis to Philadelphia, the University will suspend normal operations on Friday, September 25. As a result, classes and University-sponsored events are cancelled on this date. 

Designated essential personnel — including offices such as but not limited to Public Safety, Dining Services, and Facilities that provide essential services, University emergency personnel, and those responsible for the health and safety of students and lab animals — will be required to report to work and should consult with their supervisors about accommodations and scheduling. Other staff members, faculty members, and students should treat the day under the same protocols as a weather-related suspension of operations.  

With as many as 2 million people expected to attend the weekend’s events in Philadelphia, faculty and staff could notice some transportation delays beginning earlier that week.  Road closures around Center City and in the West Philadelphia area could begin as early as Thursday night after rush hour.  We urge all faculty and staff to pay close attention to traffic and transportation plans that will soon be finalized by the City and SEPTA.  

We know that the weekend of the Pope’s visit will create some inconveniences and challenges for members of the Penn community, and we appreciate everyone’s patience as the University works with the City in accommodating visitors during this very special event.

The online Wharton Community is a valuable asset that allows students to search for each other and connect with alumni. It also provides Wharton faculty with information that makes for more engaging classroom discussions.

We strongly recommend that you login to the community and ensure your information is up to date.

 The Learning Resource Center provides professional instruction in university relevant skills such as academic reading, writing, study strategies, and time management to the Penn student community.  Many of these seminars are specifically designed for the international student. Also, the Penn Grad Christian Fellowship hosts English Chats for international students who are interested in improving their language skills.

 Welcome back! The MBA Office of Student Life would like to remind you that we’re here if you ever want to talk. We’d love to catch up with you and hear about your summer. If you’d like to set up a meeting with your Cluster’s Student Life Advisor, please use the link below to access the Wharton Appointment Scheduler.

https://web.wharton.upenn.edu/scheduler/MBAStudentLife/

This Monday, September 7 is Labor Day, a U.S. national holiday. The university is closed for the holiday, as are the MBA Program offices and other offices on campus. See Wharton Operations for building access information during the holiday weekend. Banks, post offices, and many businesses will also close for the long weekend.