If a student will miss more than one day of classes due to illness, family emergency, or other issues, they should notify their instructors of the absence by submitting a Course Action Notice (CAN) via Path@Penn. In addition, they should notify the Office of Academic Services (OAS) via email (ugadvising@engineering.upenn.edu) or phone (215-898-7246).

For absences due to illness, the student should be seen by Student Health and Counseling (SHAC) for medical evaluation or submit appropriate documentation to SHAC (if seen by an outside health provider) for record-keeping. Once SHAC has received and reviewed the documentation, the student may request (of SHAC) that a representative of the Office of Academic Services send a notification to all the student’s instructors. Note that during peak advising periods, requests may take more than one day to process. This notification does not constitute an excused absence; students are still responsible for following up with faculty to discuss completing any missed work. Please do not submit medical documentation directly to instructors or OAS.

To submit documentation to Student Health and Counseling (SHAC), you can submit information via one of two methods:

1. Box - using the following instructions
   • UPLOADING: Go to https://upenn.box.com and sign in with your PennKey.
     • In the All Files section (homepage) of Box, click New + button in the upper-right corner.
     • Select File Upload.
     • Select the file(s) you'd like to upload.
       • You can select multiple files for upload by holding the Command or Control key (Mac or Windows, respectively) while selecting files.
     • Click Open or Upload.
   • SHARING: Once you’ve uploaded your file, you can select who you would like to share it with by following these instructions:
     • Open the Share window.
       • To do this, in your All Files view, hover over the row of
         the file or folder you wish to share. On the right, click the Share arrow. The Share window will then open.
     • In the Share window, under Invite People, click Add names or email addresses. To securely share your file with Wellness at Penn, add Terema Robinson (terema@upenn.edu) as the recipient.
     • Click the Invite as drop-down menu. Box displays a list of roles. Click the Viewer role.
     • In the Message field, type a message of up to 750 characters for the collaborator.
       • You will need to include your name, Penn ID, that you are Engineering student, the dates you have/will miss class, and any other important information you feel should be shared with SHAC.
   • SENDING: Click Send.
2. MyPennChart Portal - If you have questions or need guidance on submitting documentation and notifying your school(s), you can reach SHAC by phone at [215-746-WELL (9355)].

Students should refer to their course syllabi for policies regarding other types of absences.

Please note: In addition to submitting a CAN, students who will miss more than five days of class for any reason should contact the Office of Academic Services (OAS) by phone at 215-898-7246 or by email at ugadvising@engineering.upenn.edu to discuss the impact of this extended absence on their schoolwork and academic progress.

The Absence Notification function within the Course Action Notice system provide students with a method to communicate with their instructors when medical issues, family emergencies, or other concerns necessitate missing class. Once online, students will log in and send a report to one or more instructors, indicating the number of days missed (up to a maximum of five days) and the general reason for the absence.

Absence Notification via Course Action Notices are available for students to submit absence notifications to their instructors when they need to miss class.  Students should access Course Action Notices (CAN) through a link on Path@Penn.  

Each instructor will have a policy on class attendance that will be communicated to students in the course (typically in the Syllabus or on Canvas). Students who submit Absence Notifications are still responsible for following up with the instructor about any missed work. Course Action Notices do not constitute “excuses.”

The Support Notice function within the Course Action Notice system allow for instructors to send notices to their students (with a copy sent to the student's advisors). A student who receives a Support Notice should speak with their advisor and the course instructor to decide what action to take. Sending a Support Notice is a matter of discretion for the individual instructor, therefore, students are advised to routinely assess their academic performance in class.

Please note: In addition to submitting a CAN, students who will miss more than five days of class should contact the Office of Academic Services (OAS) via phone 215-898-7246 or email: ugadvising@engineering.upenn.edu to discuss the impact of this longer absence on their schoolwork.

The University observes the following holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and New Year’s Day.

The University also recognizes that several religious holidays affect large numbers of University community members, including Christmas, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, the first two days of Passover, and Good Friday. In consideration of their significance for many students, no examinations may be given and no assigned work may be required on these days. Students who observe these holidays will be given an opportunity to make up missed work in both laboratories and lecture courses. If an examination is given on the first class day after one of these holidays, it must not cover material introduced in class on that holiday.

The University further recognizes that there are other holidays, both religious and secular, which are of importance to some individuals and groups on campus. Students who wish to observe such holidays must inform their instructors within the first two weeks of each semester of their intent to observe the holiday even when the exact date of the holiday will not be known until later so that alternative arrangements convenient to both students and faculty can be made at the earliest opportunity.

See the University’s complete policy on holidays.