Penn Electronic Systems Set-Up

The following information is intended primarily for students who are new to the Penn community, but some continuing students may also find the information to be useful. We have listed the items below in the order in which they should be carried out. Please note that not all items apply to all programs – please check your program-specific student handbook for instructions and information that applies to your program.

• PennKey
• Penn E-mail
• Penn InTouch
• PennCard

PennKey

An important element of the University’s online security is the PennKey, which is used to authenticate or prove one’s identity to many of Penn’s online computer systems. A person’s username is known as his or her PennKey and is used in combination with an associated password to verify the person’s identity. A PennKey and password are required to access such resources as Penn InTouch (see below), Blackboard courseware, restricted library resources from off-campus computers, and public campus computers. A PennKey is also required to obtain a Penn e-mail account. If you are new to the Penn community, you should receive a letter that will provide you with a temporary PennKey Setup Code and instructions on how to use the Setup Code to register/create a permanent PennKey and password. If you do not receive such a letter within two weeks of indicating your Intent to enroll, you may go to the Registrar’s Office in the Franklin Building and request a temporary PennKey Setup Code. You may also request a Setup Code and learn more about PennKeys at following web site http://www.upenn.edu/computing/pennkey/.

Back to Top

Penn E-mail

The School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) provides an e-mail account for each LPS student free of charge. It is very important that LPS students establish and use a Penn e-mail account. Instructions on how to create a SAS e-mail account are available from SAS Webmail at https://Webmail.sas.upenn.edu/horde/imp/login.php. Within 24 hours after you establish your Penn/SAS e-mail account, you may view and send e-mail from any computer connected to the Internet via Webmail. If you do not have one, please create a Penn e-mail account.

Back to Top

Penn InTouch

Penn InTouch (PIT) is an extremely useful student resource providing secure online access to course registration, class schedules, transcripts, billing, financial aid information, address correction, and more. A PennKey is required to access Penn InTouch.

Back to Top

PennCard

The PennCard is the official University of Pennsylvania identification card for students, faculty, and staff. A valid PennCard is required to access many University facilities and services. Your PennCard will display your 8-digit Penn ID Number, which should be used in place of a Social Security Number if possible. You must be officially enrolled in a course before you will be issued a PennCard, which should be carried whenever you are on campus. To obtain a PennCard, bring a valid form of photo ID (driver's license, passport, etc.) to the PennCard Center, 150 Franklin Building, 3451 Walnut Street. The phone number of the PennCard Center is 215-898-2646, and the web site is http://www.business-services.upenn.edu/penncard/.

Back to Top