Current Student Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I get a PennKey, PennCard, and email address?
- What classes are you offering?
- What is the tuition?
- I am a University employee - can I get tuition remission?
- Does the University offer payment plans?
- Are there in-state resident rates?
- Can students use computers for printing, email, etc.?
- I’m graduating in (fill in the semester here); Which University commencement should I attend?
- Does the Program offer any funding for its graduate students?
- Who is my advisor?
- Who is my final project advisor?
- I’m an MBE student and there’s a great class being offered in another department – can I take it?
- I haven’t yet received my bill; what do I do?
- I have to drop my class – do I have to pay for it?
- It’s really snowing hard and I’m not sure I should make the commute tonight for class – what should I do?
How do I get a PennKey, PennCard, and email address?
Once you are enrolled as a student in any BIOE course, you are entitled to a "PennKey" and "PennCard". A Pennkey is what gives you access to all of the University's online resources (the library catalogues, blackboard, and PennPortal - where you can register for classes and pay your bills). A PennCard is an ID card that allows you access to all of the University's buildings and lets you check out books from the library.
PennCards are distributed from the PennCard center in room 150 of the Franklin Building, 3451 Walnut Street.
You should have received information about your PennKey in the mail (sent from the Registrar’s office). If you have not, you can ask the PennCard Center how to get your PennKey set up code. To register your PennKey, go to http://www.upenn.edu/computing/pennkey/.
Matriculated MBE students are also entitled to a mail.med email account.
To apply for your mail.med account (matriculated MBE students only), go to http://www.med.upenn.edu/somis/email.shtml.
What classes are you offering?
Current course descriptions can be found here.
The MBE program bills on a per course basis. For the 2009-10 school year, one course costs approximately $4900 for tuition and fees.
I am a University employee - can I get tuition remission?
Here is the link to Penn's HR tuition benefit site - http://www.hr.upenn.edu/Benefits/Tuition/Default.aspx
Click here for a powerpoint presentation about tuition benefits. And click here for a "Online system step by step guide" to tuition remission. And unfortunately, you should also click here for information about the graduate tuition benefit tax.
Does the University offer payment plans?
If you are not borrowing a loan to cover the balance of the bill, the bill is due in full by the due date. If payment is not received in full, a late fee of 1.5% is assessed.
Are there in-state resident rates?
All students enrolled in our courses are charged the same rate.
Can MBE students use computers for printing, email, etc.?
There are two computers in Suite 321 for student and alumni use. Students can use the computers to print papers for class, check email, and do research using the Penn Library system, etc.
I’m an MBE student who is graduating. Which University commencement should I attend?
May graduates attend the Spring’s commencement. August graduates may attend either the prior or upcoming Spring commencement, although your name will appear in the upcoming Spring brochure. Some people choose to go to the prior Spring’s ceremony in order to graduate with a group of friends. December graduates should attend the upcoming Spring commencement.
The Center for Bioethics has its own graduation celebration every Spring. Contact Dr. Nora Jones for more information.
Graduating students are also welcome to attend the University's graduate ceremony. More information about Penn’s graduation procedures, including where and when to meet, can be found here: http://www.upenn.edu/commencement/
Does the Program offer any funding for its graduate students?
Unfortunately, we do not have funding for MBE students. We do have a scholarship for MD/MBE students, and we have a small MBE Travel Fund that all current MBE students who are presenting at bioethics conferences can apply for .
Upon admittance, everyone is assigned an advisor, although a student can change advisors as they move through the program. Please contact the Dr. Nora Jones for more information.
Who is my final project advisor?
Students may choose their final project advisor. Advisors are usually selected from the Center for Bioethics' Fellows.
You should contact the MBE office early in your final project planning stages for help in determining an appropriate final project and advisor.
I’m an MBE student and there’s a great class being offered in another department – can I take it?
MBE students may petition to take 1 course outside of the Center for Bioethics. The Director of Graduate Studies evaluates each petition on a case-by-case basis. Dual degree students are not allowed to take courses outside the MBE program that are not offered by their home school. Download the petition here.
I haven’t yet received my bill. What should I do?
Bursar bills are mailed by the Office of Student Financial Services usually within 4-6 weeks after the registration has been processed. First time students at the University are mailed to the address on record for the first 2 billing cycles. After that, only ebills will be delivered. For both incoming AND continuing students, notification emails are sent each month informing you that a new monthly billing statement is available via our online bill system, Penn.Pay.You can also check Penn.Pay daily, to see if any new items have been posted to your account since your last billing statement.
Please note that email is the primary mechanism for sending official communications to Penn students. Therefore, you need to check your University email regularly in order to stay abreast of important messages and notifications.
You can access your bill using the Penn Portal, http://medley.isc-seo.upenn.edu/penn_portal/view.php. Billing questions should be addressed to Student Financial Services, 215.898.1988.
I have to drop my class – do I have to pay for it?
If you drop a class within the first 2 weeks of the start of the semester, full tuition and the general fee will be refunded by credit to your University account. Between the second and fifth weeks, you may drop without academic penalty, but only 50% of your tuition and fees will be refunded. After the 5th week, you can withdraw, but a W will appear on your transcript, and you will not receive any refund. If you haven’t yet paid at the time of the withdrawal, you will still be accountable for that bill.
It’s really snowing hard and I’m not sure I should make the commute tonight for class – what should I do?
If we have to cancel a class for any reason, we will send an email to BIOEGRAD and to each student listed on blackboard, and we call each student. Due to the high volume of students we have commuting long distances, we like to give plenty of notice, so we try to call before 2:30 pm. If in doubt, please call 215.898.7136.