Welcome to Penn and to the College of Arts and Sciences! We know you are looking forward to the exciting and life-transforming opportunities that await you. We would like to direct your attention to the first steps in that journey.
Your primary guide for academic information and next steps in the College can be found online in Compass which is in Penn's learning management system, Canvas. Canvas is a tool you will eventually use for many of your classes. Compass will answer many of your initial questions and present new ideas that you may want to incorporate into your academic plans. You will need to move through Compass and speak with your pre-major
advisor in order to request fall courses by July 17th.
For more information about accessing Compass, see below.
You will have many decisions to make this summer and throughout your time at Penn; please be assured that you will not have to make them alone.
In mid-June, you will receive another email from the College Office with contact information for your peer and pre-major advisors. Your peer advisor will be able to give you the student perspective on many things in the College and at Penn. Your pre-major advisor will help you plan your academic path this summer and over the next two years.
Once again, welcome to the College of Arts and Sciences. We genuinely look forward to working with you in the coming years. We will be back in touch in mid-June. Until then, do take care.
Sincerely Yours,
Paul Sniegowski
Dean of the College, Professor of Biology
Carolyn Ureña
Director of Academic Advising
ACCESSING COMPASS
- You should have an invitation to join Compass in your email inbox. Please accept the invitation to join.
- If you do not have an invitation in your inbox, go to Canvas (where Compass is hosted), choose "Courses" on the left-hand menu, choose "Compass" and then accept the invitation to join.
- If you have any questions including those that pertain to Compass, please email the College office at college@sas.upenn.edu.