Student Health Service

Penn Women's Center

Office of Off-Campus
Living

Penn Childcare Center

Penn Ob/Gyn Care

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Questions Frequently Asked by
Students With Dependents

PennCard and Campus Services
Housing
PhD Student Family-Friendly Policies
Healthcare
Childcare Services
Schools in Philadelphia and Surrounding Areas
Issues for Internationals
Meeting Others/Participating in Activities
Where to go for more help

PennCard and Campus Services

Q: I have a student PennCard, can my spouse/partner get a PennCard as well?
A: Yes. Go to the Penncard website for more information.

Q: Can my spouse/partner/dependent use the campus libraries?
A: A spouse/partner PennCard provides access to certain libraries on campus. See the full list at http://www.upenn.edu/penncard/card/cardservices.html

Q: Can I and my family use Penn’s recreational facilities?
A: Yes, but you and your family members must each have a valid PennCard. For information about access to recreational facilities, go to http://www.upenn.edu/recreation/membership/dependents.htm

Q. What other campus services are available to my spouse/partner?
A: A spouse/partner PennCard provides access to many services on campus. In addition to certain libraries, recreational facilities, transit services, and more are available to spouses/partners of students. See the full list of services at http://www.upenn.edu/penncard/card/cardservices.html

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Housing

Q: What are the housing options for myself and my family?
A: Students with spouses/partners can apply for campus housing in Sansom Place. Go to http://www.upenn.edu/housing for more information. There is currently no campus housing for students with children; however the Office of Off-Campus Living can help students with families to find suitable housing. If you'd like information about the various neighborhoods in Philadelphia, go to http://www.phillyneighborhoods.org.

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PhD Student Family-Friendly Policy

Q: What are the dependent-care leave policies for students?
A. The University has instituted two new policies to help guide students and departments by creating University-wide standards on dependent-care leave for Ph.D. students. Doctoral students who give birth during the school year will now be eligible for eight weeks paid time off (unless other conditions apply to prevent them from doing so under a grant from an external source). During this period, doctoral students will be relieved of academic duties while retaining full student status. In addition, doctoral students who find themselves responsible for the care of a dependent can request a Family Leave of Absence that will stop the clock on all academic requirements for up to two semesters. Complete details about these policies are available at http://www.upenn.edu/grad/familyfriendlyp.html

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Healthcare

Q: Where do I go for health insurance for me and my family?
A: Penn requires that all full-time and dissertation students have health insurance. Students can elect the Penn Student Insurance Plan (PSIP) or other acceptable alternative coverage. The PSIP is available for all students, as well as their dependents (spouses, domestic partners and children). You will be automatically enrolled in the PSIP unless you provide proof of acceptable alternative coverage by the deadline. However, your dependents are not automatically enrolled in PSIP; you must enroll them through the on-line system. For more information about PSIP, the costs, and how to enroll, go to the Student Health Insurance website.

There are other health insurance options in addition to PSIP. In order for your private insurance to qualify as acceptable alternate coverage, it must cover pre-existing conditions, in-patient treatment, out-patient care, and provide lifetime maximum benefit of at least $500,000. For more information about acceptable alternate coverage requirements, go to the Student Health Insurance website.

For more information about private health insurance options, including options for low-income families, please visit the Pennsylvania Insurance Department website . Low-income families may also want to review information about the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Medicaid, and Uninsured Children at http://www.childrensdefense.org/childhealth/chip/default.aspx.

Additional information about these programs and other social services for Pennsylvania residents is available through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Access to Social Services (COMPASS) website. Finally, there is also useful information at Covering Kids & Families.

Q: Where do I or members of my family go for healthcare services?
A: You and your spouse/partner can use Penn’s Student Health Service, even if you are not enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan. Your spouse/partner needs a PennCard (see above) and will be charged on a fee-for-service basis. Go to http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/shs/ for more information. Children, however, are not eligible to use Student Health, so you will need to find a pediatrician for your children. Your health insurance plan can help you identify an appropriate pediatrician.

Q: My spouse/partner and I are expecting a baby. Where can expectant mothers go for healthcare services?
A: Penn’s Student Health Center provides Women’s Health services, which are available even if you are not enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan. Their website is: http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/shs/wh.html.

The Penn Pregnancy Center and Penn Ob/Gyn Care at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) offer classes, information, and newsletter for Penn employees, students, and their spouses. To participate, you must have health insurance that allows you to receive care at HUP. Go to http://pennhealth.com/obgyn/ for more information.

Additionally, the Philadelphia Alliance for Labor Support (PALS) provides trained labor and birth support people (doulas) free of charge to women who would otherwise be unable to access doula care. They also offer subsidized DONA International certified training to those interested in becoming doulas. For more information, go to http://dolphin.upenn.edu/~doulas/

Finally, you can also check your health insurance carrier for a list of Ob/Gyn doctors in their network.

Q: Are there good resources on the web for children's health and wellness?
A: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) has developed a web site that provides information on raising safe and healthy children. Topics include common emergencies, safety, vaccinations, and more. See http://www.chop.edu/consumer/your_child/index.jsp for more information.

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Childcare Services

Q: Is there a daycare facility on campus?
A: The Penn Children’s Center is located on campus; be aware that there is waiting list to enroll. Go to http://www.upenn.edu/childcare/ for more information. The Parent Infant Center is located near campus; get more information at http://www.parentinfantcenter.org/.

There are also many daycare services throughout the greater-Philadelphia metropolitan area. Here is a list of childcare resources in West Philadelphia: http://westphillydata.library.upenn.edu/cityresources/infoR%20Neighborhood%20Resources%20ChildCare.htm.

Limited ratings for area childcare providers are available through Pennsylvania's "Keys to Quality/Keystone STARS" program. This program does not offer an exhaustive list of providers, but you may find it helpful. Please check their website at: http://www.pakeys.org/stars/Families.aspx

Low-Income families may qualify for Pennsylvania's "Child Care Works" Subsidized Child Care Program. For more information and eligibility requirements, check their website: http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/Child/ChildCare/003670906.htm. For more information about these programs and additional resources for Pennsylvania parents, check out the Child Care Information Services of Philadelphia website: http://www.philadelphiachildcare.org/index.shtml. 

You may also want to check the Students with Dependents message board to find people offering their childcare and/or babysitting services: http://com4.runboard.com/bdissertation.fstudentswdependents

Q: Where can I find baby-changing stations on campus?
A: Currently, several buildings on campus have baby-changing stations located in their bathrooms. These include: Houston Hall (http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/perelmanquad/facilities/houston_hall/houston.html); the Graduate Student Center (http://www.gsc.upenn.edu); the Law School (http://www.law.upenn.edu); the Nursing Education Building (www.nursing.upenn.edu); and the Medical School (http://www.med.upenn.edu).

Several other buildings are scheduled to get baby-changing stations in 2006, including the School of Social Policy & Practice (www.sp2.upenn.edu); Graduate School of Education (www.gse.upenn.edu); School of Design (www.design.upenn.edu); Annenberg School (www.asc.upenn.edu); and College Hall.

Q: Where can I go to breast-feed or pump on campus?
A: Lactating students can use private rooms without a reservation in the Penn Women’s Center (http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/pwc) at 3643 Locust Walk. The PWC is open Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. In addition, students can reserve private rooms in advance at the Graduate Student Center at 3615 Locust Walk. See http://www.gsc.upenn.edu/services/facilities.htm to reserve a room in the Grad Center. There is also a lactation room at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) in the maternity ward. HUP is located at 3400 Spruce Street.

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Schools in Philadelphia and Surrounding Areas

Q: Where can my children attend school?
A. Here is information about local public schools:

In addition, the Philadelphia region offers several alternatives to public schools: