University Class Attendance Policy

The University supports departmental and faculty class attendance policies that are reflective of and consistent with University approved guidelines. Faculty will include their class attendance policy in their syllabi given to all students in their classes at the start of the semester.

University approved guidelines:

1. Students are expected to attend all classes. It is the student=s responsibility to complete requirements even if a class is missed. If a student misses class for an officially excused reason, then he/she is entitled to make up the missed work but only at the convenience of the faculty member. Responsibility for materials presented in, assignments made for, and tests/quizzes given in regularly scheduled classes lies solely with the student.

2. The University policy is that faculty will excuse absences for the following reasons:
   1. personal illness,
   2. death or critical illness in the family,
   3. participation in a university-sponsored activity,
   4. jury duty,
   5. military duties, or
   6. religious holidays

3. Faculty judge the validity of student absences from class within the University's approved guidelines and may require documentation for excused absences. Faculty will evaluate any reason, other than those listed above, for a student missing class and determine whether the absence is justified. In these circumstances, a student may make up missed work at the discretion of the instructor.

4. In the case of foreseeable absences, students are encouraged to notify the faculty member in advance. A student who will miss class due to participation in an official University activity must notify the instructor well in advance of the activity to assure that the absence is excused.

As with any academic issue, students may exercise their right to appeal adverse attendance decisions to the department chair, school dean, and provost.

Rationale:
The intent of this proposed policy is to make class attendance the responsibility of the student and verification the responsibility of the faculty. This change in policy subsequently removes the Registrar as an intermediary in authorizing class absences. Faculty must make their attendance policy clear to the student and will be the judge of the validity of student absences from class, within the guidelines of the policy. It is expected that faculty attendance policies will be reasonable and will recognize the validity of the student=s extra-curricular responsibilities, legitimate illnesses, family tragedies, and other responsibilities of the student in a modern society.

Since students will be responsible for complying with an instructor=s attendance policy and completing missed assignments, and instructors will determine whether an absence is justified, it is unnecessary for the Registrar's Office to be involved in the process of evaluating a reasons for missing class and providing documentation of excused absences. The Health Center will continue the practice of verifying a student=s illness which may affect his/her ability to attend class.