The “Quiet Period” will last from January move-in until February 1, 2021. This is a time for students to focus on COVID-19 testing and keeping the community safe and healthy. Students may engage in only limited, essential movement. After the Quiet Period, if the Philadelphia Department of Public Health and Penn Community positivity rates allow, campus facilities will begin to reopen for student access. 

• Quiet Period events
• College House Quiet Period expectations
  

College Houses: During the Quiet Period, essential spaces such as bathrooms and laundry rooms will remain open. Large, open spaces – such as rooftop lounges, living rooms, courtyards, mezzanines, and some large study spaces will remain open for individual studying during the Quiet Period. Computer labs, lockable lounges, and tech spaces will be closed during the Quiet Period. 

Allowable Quiet Period activities for undergraduate students living on campus, in College Houses, includes: 

• Continuing research, lab, or clinical activities as approved by schools.
• Engaging in outdoor exercise or recreation – wearing masks, the physical distance of at least 6 feet. 
• Spending time outdoors on campus – wearing masks, keeping a physical distance of at least 6 feet – with no more than 10 students who live in College Houses.  
• Accessing grab-and-go dining from designated Penn Dining facilities while wearing masks and keeping a physical distance of at least 6 feet. 
• Ordering contactless food delivery directly to residential buildings while wearing masks and keeping a physical distance of at least 6 feet. 
• Going to University COVID-19 testing sites. 
• Receiving care and support from Wellness Services. 
• Working on roommate/suitemate agreement, pod agreements, and quarantine plans in case of exposure. 

Undergraduate students living off-campus, in private residences, may participate in the same above allowable activities – as long as off-campus students restrict activities to those they live with off-campus.

Regardless of whether students live on campus in College Houses or off-campus in a private residence, gathering indoors with people outside of those you live with is strictly prohibited by the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. This includes seeing intimate partners if they do not live together. Check here for updates. 

A “Pod” is a small and consistent group of students who associate with each other based on agreed upon, shared practices. Pods must be used in conjunction with other primary prevention strategies (masking, hand-washing, physical distancing) to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the community while maintaining social connection.  

The safest Pod is within a household—those who share a kitchen and/or bathroom. Because household sizes vary so much across the student population, a maximum pod number cannot adequately be defined; however, the smaller the pod, the better. 
 
A pod should agree to the following: 

• Maintain a 6-foot physical distance from any individuals not in the pod, and to wear face coverings when interacting with others and when physical distance cannot be maintained. 
• Wear face coverings in all indoor spaces other than those where permission to go without a face covering has been explicitly given (for example, student rooms and pod lounges). 
• Continue to practice recommended hand hygiene and avoid sharing utensils and drinks with anyone, including members of the pod. 
• Have open and honest conversations about activities, behaviors, and expectations of one another. 

A pod demonstrates the shared responsibility for one another’s safety and the safety of the greater Penn community, and also holds all members accountable for their behaviors and activities. 

The University of Pennsylvania benefits greatly from the rich diversity of all undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. As part of that commitment to inclusion, Penn provides access and support to undocumented students, including those with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status.

We have established a phone number and email address for questions and referrals to DACA resources and support: 215-573-3222 (3-DACA) and DACAinfo@upenn.edu. If you require immediate assistance – e.g., if you or someone you know has been taken into custody by immigration or law enforcement – contact 215-898-4357 (215-898-HELP) for 24-hour assistance to be connected to necessary services.

Office of the Chaplain: 215-898-8456
Office of University Life: 215-898-6081
Student Health Service: 215-746-3535
University HELP Line: 215-898-HELP (215-898-4357)
Counseling and Psychological Services: 215-898-7021