I don’t know if that principle applies to all UPenn schools. I know for a fact that, in certain science classes, the professor gives a few lectures, but delegates a good deal of work to either grad students or post docs. The professor attended all the classes, but often let the others do the teaching. In the numerous instances I heard of this happening, it was actually for the best - the professors were horrendous teachers/presenters. Also, grad students and post docs can be great teachers, especially at good universities. And, at large research Us, it looks great on a grad students cv to say she assisted with a prominent course. It’s kind of a win win for the research focused faculty member and the grad student.
I also think it values tremendously, and, as I said before, especially at Penn, YMMV. It’s why it behooves the student to read course recalls and find out what the real deal is for each professor considered.
@“45 Percenter”
Undoubtedly, there are tons and tons of research opps available for undergrads. The experience can very tremendously though. Much2learn noted that his d is proficient in comp sci, and there is a dearth of talent in this area - those skills are coveted, and those students get great opps. For those looking to assist by adding basic lab bench skills, these students are a dime a dozen.
The key at Penn, as I’ve said before, is for the student to be his or her best advocate, and to parse great opps from bad ones. What’s written on a website may be very different in practice. Certain professors may honor the agreements, and others may farm work out. Similarly, some students work just for a recommendation, and others do truly vital work in labs. Moreover, admin offices vary in how much they can help. If an undergrad does research in John Epstein’s lab (he’s the chief science officer at upenn) - and undergrads can - you better believe that CURF admins would have no clout in convincing him to pay more personal attention to an undergrad. It’s up to the student to be a good advocate and choose opportunities carefully. At small LACs, the feel is probably much different. (Not saying that’s good or bad - I much preferred going to a more impersonal research u, but since Williams is smaller than most high schools, the feel is probably much different.)