Getting Started: Students

7 Things Students Need to Know:

1. PennKey

A PennKey username and password is required to access many of Penn's online resources and services. Your PennKey is unique and you should never, under any circumstances, share your PennKey password with anyone.

Setup your PennKey
Enroll in PennKey two-step verification
Also helpful:
- Forgot PennKey username
- Change PennKey password
- Test my PennKey (to confirm it's working properly)

2. Microsoft Office 365 & Email

GSE students are eligible for a PennO365 for Students account free of charge. As part of the PennO365 service, you can install the latest version of Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus on up to five (5) personal computers and mobile devices. You also receive access to Micorsoft Office Online and 1 TB of storage on OneDrive, Microsoft's cloud data storage and collaboration solution. (Note: Your O365 password is the same as your PennKey password.)

How do I get my Penn student email?
Setup your O365 email account
Also helpful:
- Online portal @ portal.office.com
- Download apps & set up mobile devices

3. Secure Your Computer

GSE students are eligible for the following software free of charge. Combining these with two-step verification will help you work and learn more securely. See Penn IT security for students.

Dashlane password manager (for use on- and off-campus)
Sophos Home, anti-spyware/adware (for use at home)
University VPN - GlobalProtect is Penn's virtual private network (for use at home and off-campus)

4. Apps for Learning and Research

Canvas is the university's learning management system. In addition, GSE students have access to a number of additional learning, research, and collaboration technologies.

Log into Canvas @ canvas.upenn.edu | Penn Canvas documentation for students and for TAs
- Note: If you cannot access Canvas, the teaching faculty haven't created Canvas sites yet. Please either reach out to your program coordinator or wait to check Canvas one day prior to the first day of the semester.
Create your Zoom Pro account for free web conferencing
Go to teams.microsoft.com to collaborate with peers
Use your Penn email to log-in to PowerNotes, a research-to-writing application | Video tutorial
Visit Penn Libraries' Virtual Computer Lab
Activate your PennBox account at upenn.box.com to store and share files
Visit GSE's Penn Libraries Subject Specialist to learn more about library services, including researcher software
Check out the full catalog of linkedinlearning.upenn.edu video tutorials freely available to the Penn community

5. Reserve Group Study Rooms

As a GSE student, you can reserve group study rooms within GSE and at Penn Libraries.

Reserve GSE Group Study Rooms
Reserve Penn Libraries Study Spaces
Download the Mersive Wireless Screen Sharing app to your laptop and phone to connect to GSE learning space displays. You can run presentations, give demos, or bring in a guest through Zoom and share on the large displays.

6. When on Campus:

Set up AirPennNet wireless for your devices
Get your PennCard
Visit the GSE Student Printing Station and print from your laptop using these instructions for Mac and for Windows (PennKey login required)
Need access to the Virtual Stat Lab?

7. Featured Resource

Penn's Tech Center for 24x7 technical support

Need help?

Open a Help Request