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THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA • FOUNDED 1885

PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2024

VOL. CXL

NO. 28

Penn expands financial aid for middle-income families

SHAPIRO’S PUSH FOR INFLUENCE AT PENN

The University will increase aid packages and raise the income threshold to guarantee full tuition scholarships to $200,000 NEEMA BADDAM Senior Reporter

Right-to-Know law, demonstrate Shapiro’s push for power during Penn’s year of controversy — from appointing a representative of his on the University’s Task Force on Antisemitism to privately interrogating Penn’s approach to

Penn announced a new financial aid initiative on Tuesday that aims to improve support for middle-income families. Penn will no longer consider the value of the primary family home among assets in determining the amount of financial aid eligibility and will raise the income threshold for families eligible to receive full tuition scholarships from $140,000 to $200,000 with typical assets. The new policy — which goes into effect at the start of the 2025-26 academic year — will also increase financial aid packages and guarantee full tuition scholarships to a greater number of students. “This bold new initiative expands financial aid for more families in alignment with our commitment to have Penn’s financial aid package meet 100% of families’ demonstrated need with no loans,” Interim Penn President Larry Jameson wrote in the announcement. “We are proud to launch the Quaker Commitment building on the University’s commitment to opportunity and long-standing leadership in undergraduate financial aid.” The Quaker Commitment includes four bullet points, two being the new policy additions and the other two being Penn’s existing commitments to providing financial aid packages that meet 100% of demonstrated need without loans — as well as covering all billed expenses for families who make under $75,000 with “typical assets.” The billed expenses policy was introduced at the start of the 2023-24 school year and affected about 200 students. In comparison, the new Quaker Commitment initiative is expected to affect about 900 currently enrolled students and will include an average grant aid increase of about $4,000. The higher income threshold for middle-income families is expected to increase packages by an average of $10,000 for an additional 180 students, according to the announcement. “Penn is reaffirming its commitment to the core principle that a world-class education can be affordable to students from all backgrounds, not just those from lower-income backgrounds or those who are able to pay full price,” Vice President for Finance and Treasurer Mark Dingfield said in the statement. The new program will cost approximately $6 million annually and will be funded through current and future donor endowed funds. “If we were going to make a change, we wanted to make sure we were making a change that was going to impact the population,” Senior University Director of Financial Aid Elain Varas told The Daily Pennsylvanian, adding that she is a “strong believer in access and affordability.” “Looking at our population over the last many years and determining what was going to be the income range that we could do a significant amount of support for, that’s how we came to the

See SHAPIRO, page 6

See FINANCIAL AID, page 7

DESIGN BY JANINE NAVALTA

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro privately pushed Penn on response to antisemitism, encampment Documents obtained by the DP reveal the extent of the governor’s involvement in Penn affairs during a year of turmoil BEN BINDAY News Editor

Larry Jameson spent his first weeks as Penn’s interim president putting out the many fires which had sent the University into a state of turmoil: mounting criticism about antisemitism and Islamophobia, debates over free speech and academic freedom, and waves of national and political scrutiny.

Jameson quickly turned to the most powerful official in the state, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, for help. Documents acquired by The Daily Pennsylvanian indicate that Shapiro’s office seized the opening to claim increased influence over Penn. The documents, acquired under Pennsylvania’s

Magill defends response to campus divisions as Penn president She addressed the viral moment from her congressional testimony in her first publicly advertised remarks since resigning GABRIEL HUANG Staff Reporter

Former Penn President Liz Magill addressed the viral moment from her congressional testimony and reflected on the challenges university leaders have been facing over the past year in her first publicly advertised event since her resignation. The panel, titled “Institutional Speech & Administrative Challenges,” took place at the University of North Carolina on Friday and was co-sponsored by UNC’s Center for Media Law and Policy and the UNC School of Law. Magill discussed topics including institutional neutrality, institutional statements, and university responses to external political pressures. A source familiar with Magill’s schedule told The

Daily Pennsylvanian that the former Penn president has participated in events at Stanford Law School and Cornell Law School since her resignation in December 2023. However, the UNC panel — which was also live streamed on YouTube — was her first appearance to be publicly advertised and broadcasted. Magill declined the DP’s request for comment. UNC professor Mary-Rose Papandrea moderated the panel, which also featured UNC System President Peter Hans, George Washington University professor Christopher Bracey, and Yale Law School professor Keith See MAGILL, page 7

ANNA VAZHAEPARAMBIL | SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER

Former Penn President Liz Magill spoke at a UNC Chapel Hill event on Nov. 15.

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