Course Action Notice

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@seas.upenn.edu to discuss the impact of this longer absence on their schoolwork.