Penn Forward: Turning vision into action

What does Penn Forward intend to accomplish?

At its core, Penn Forward is about preparing Penn for the future, advancing our mission, and strengthening how we operate.

You can learn about our initial nine initiatives on the Penn Forward webpage. We’ve organized them around three core actions: build, discover, and extend.

1) First, we are focused on building trust with the people we serve: our students and their families. That starts with ensuring anyone admitted to Penn can do so with clarity about available financial support—while broadening access for those who might not have considered Penn. A significant evolution of the Quaker Commitment will help address these needs. Penn Experience will reimagine the journey for undergraduate and graduate students to strengthen a shared Penn identity and deliver on the value of a Penn degree. Key elements include expanded experiential learning, stronger networks within and beyond Penn, and new programs that level the playing field for learning and career advancement. We are also building on our organizational health with Penn Health Advantage, redesigning our health benefits to reduce friction and lower health care costs for Penn employees and their families.

2) Second, we are advancing discovery. AI is an accelerating wave of innovation that will transform learning, research, operations, and the way we do work. Penn AI will position us as a national leader in this space. Penn can be enormously impactful with AI solutions that advance human insights—especially in health care, business, engineering, and the life sciences. We can also lead in how AI is used responsibly and effectively in these and other fields. We will also build on our strength in commercialization and industry partnerships through Penn Partners for Impact, making it easier for nonprofits, government, and industry to engage with Penn—accelerating discovery and translating ideas into real-world impact.

3) Third, we are extending Penn’s reach, across geography and every stage of life. We recognize the importance of continuous renewal of knowledge and skills. Penn Learning for Life will develop new platforms for teaching and learning, connecting learners to Penn from K-12 through retirement. We are also broadening and deepening our engagement, nationally and globally. Penn San Francisco will expand programming at our Wharton San Francisco hub, accelerating innovation through new collaborations and stronger alumni connections on the West Coast—while deepening ties to Asia. And through Penn Global, we will also expand our international presence, improve alumni engagement, and pursue new partnership opportunities.

Penn Works Better underpins all of these efforts. It will simplify work, clarify accountability, and reduce institutional risk, helping Penn operate more efficiently and effectively over the long term.