Class Attendance Policy
Research confirms that class attendance is an essential part of the educational experience and a requirement for an adequate evaluation of academic progress. Students are expected to attend all lectures, seminars, laboratories, and field work for each registered class and to complete all work assigned by the instructor.
Due to the relationship between class attendance and final course grades, total absences ideally should not exceed twice the number of times a class meets per week.
Examples:
- Courses meeting three times/week: maximum of six absences acceptable.
- Courses meeting one time/week: maximum of two absences acceptable.
- The maximum acceptable number of absences in other class formats, i.e., eight- week, four-week summer session, and intersession, should be pro-rated according to the formula above.
If a student exceeds the maximum number of acceptable absences for a course, the course instructor may choose to lower the student’s grade by one letter or administratively drop the student from the course. The attendance policy must be clearly stated in the syllabus at the beginning of the course. Attendance policies of individual instructors may vary from the guidelines above provided this policy is clearly stated in the syllabus at the beginning of the course.
Class absences are deemed “excused” or “unexcused” at the judgment of the course instructor of record, who may require documentation. The number of permissible absences is at the sound discretion of the individual course instructor, based upon the circumstances involved, and the policies set at the beginning of the semester. Absence from class for any reason does not exempt the student from responsibility of any assigned work, though it is the course instructor’s prerogative to disallow completion of make-up work in any case.
In addition, course instructors will determine the following and will post it in all syllabi:
- Consequences for coming late and leaving class early
- Make-up policies for course work, quizzes, and exams