Second-Year Experience (SYE) - Penn New Student Orientation and Academic Initiatives

Second-Year Experience Events

The Second-Year Experience (SYE) gives returning students an opportunity to reconnect with the incredible clubs, activities, and resources Penn has to offer while having fun with friends and classmates.

At the beginning of the fall semester, in collaboration with the Class of 2029 Class Board, SYE will bring members of the Class of 2029 together to explore intellectual, cultural, and social spaces both on campus and throughout Philadelphia. From the Second-Year Celebration: Summer Soirée at the Penn Museum to a Phillies game, these events are designed to help students reconnect with their class, discover new experiences, and begin their second year at Penn with a strong sense of community.

The SYE Events calendar will be available in early August, please stay tuned.

We also encourage second-year students to take full advantage of the programs and opportunities offered by our office throughout the academic year, including the Second-Year Experience (SYE) Grant and the Penn Mentor Meals program.

Second-Year Experience Grant

Throughout the academic year, we are committed to the development of Penn’s Second-Year Experience (SYE) program, which is designed specifically to address the unique needs of second-year students. SYE supports signature events such as Second-Year Celebration: Summer Soirée at the Penn Museum, Second-Year Day and U-Night, in addition to other programs that are planned by your request.

2026-27 Grant Application will open in early August, please stay tuned! The deadline for 2026 Fall and 2027 Spring events’ application is

Fall Events – Monday, November 2, 2025 at 11:59 pm
Spring Events – Monday, February 1, 2026 at 11:59 pm

It features collaborations between faculty, staff (both academic and student affairs), and student leaders such as the Class Board of 2028 to provide support for:

Career Development
Engagement in Co-Curricular and Extracurricular Activities
Selection of Academic Opportunities
On and Off-Campus Living

Our office can assist with marketing for your event and/or provide grants up to $250. Itemized budgets are required, and preference for these competitive grants will be given to requests that use funds for programming beyond food, drink, & refreshments.

In order to be eligible for a grant, your group needs to have a 26-digit budget code with the University of Pennsylvania or work with a department that does and can journal the funds to you. Please fill out the application form, and our office will reach out to you via email.

Please note that one organization is only allowed to receive one grant during one academic year. All grants will be considered if submitted at least 1 week in advance of the event. If you have any questions, please email provost-nso-ai@pobox.upenn.edu.