Policies Governing Class Attendance

Some professors and departments are very strict about class attendance; others do not consider it part of the grading system. If the instructor determines a student has an excessive number of absences, the student’s final grade may be lowered. Some departments, the languages in particular, have very precise rules for attendance.

  • A student who misses or anticipates missing more than five consecutive days of classes should contact the College Office as soon as possible.
  • Students are responsible for making up any work missed because of illness or extracurricular, career or athletic obligations.
  • Students should check Path@Penn before the end of the Course Selection Period and before the end of the Drop period each semester to verify their schedule. Failure to attend a class for which one is registered does not result in being automatically dropped from the class.

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

The University also recognizes that there are several religious holidays that affect large numbers of University community members.

See the University’s policy on Secular and Religious Holidays.