University of Pennsylvania Information

Parking at Penn

There are two basic choices: on the street and in the parking garages.

On Street:

Walnut, Chestnut, 37th, 38th, and 39th are often good prospects for a spot in the later afternoon, i.e., 4 p.m. or after. Meters are $.25 per 15 minutes for up to three hours. Most meters also take dimes, nickels, or Parking Authority Smart Cards.
Give yourself enough time to walk to your Seminar and back with a little bit of leeway in case you linger. The Parking Authority is extremely efficient and will write $25 tickets.

Parking Garages:

Parking Garages are more expensive, but have more predictable parking capacity. University garages at 38th and Walnut and 40th and Walnut are a fairly short walk to the heart of campus. The Sheraton Hotel at 36th and Chestnut is also a good possibility. A bit further, but also a good possibility, is the Science Center parking garage in the 3600 block of Market Street.

PennCards

Teachers accepted as Fellows into the Teachers Institute program receive University of Pennsylvania identification cards known as PennCards. These photo ID cards are necessary for admission to, and borrowing rights from, the University Library system, as well as admission to a number of buildings on campus. The cards are good until the end of the year in which they are issued.

A form to obtain a PennCard will be provided to each teacher at the orientation meeting. The Teachers Institute covers the normal initial $15 fee for Institute teachers; however replacement cards for lost or damaged cards are charged to the cardholder.

The PennCard Center is located on the first floor (Room 150) of the Franklin Building at 3451 Chestnut Street. The Center is open from 9 – 5 daily. PennCard customer service can be reached by phone at: 215-417-CARD. For more information about PennCards and their uses, the web address is www.upenn.edu/penncard/

If a card is lost or stolen, please report immediately to the PennCard Center, or Penn Police at: 215-573-3333.

The University of Pennsylvania Library System

Teachers in the TIP program receive PennCards that grant them access to the vast collections of the Penn Libraries. The University of Pennsylvania is one of the nation’s oldest academic libraries, and possesses over five million physical volumes, four million microform items, subscriptions to 40,000 print and online journals, and access to over 700 databases. The main library is Van Pelt Library located at 34th and Walnut Streets. Fourteen other more specialized libraries are located at various sites about the campus.

The staff of the library system is knowledgeable and helpful in assisting in the search for particular resources, the extent of the collections, and the use of library computers and workstations. The Teachers Institute schedules a library orientation session for TIP teachers at the beginning of the seminar system to help them become acquainted with the use, procedures, and resources of the Van Pelt and other libraries.

With a PennCard and PennKey online password, TIP teachers can access many collections in the online catalogs, which may reduce the number of physical trips necessary to the campus and the library. TIP teachers are asked to make themselves aware of borrowing policies and etiquette in order to maintain such a rich and valuable relationship between the TIP program and the Penn Library system.