Student absences

All faculty members are responsible for setting policy concerning the role of attendance in determining the grades for their classes. Students are expected to be present at all regular class meetings and examinations for the courses in which they are registered. It is the responsibility of the students to learn and comply with the policies set for each class in which they are registered.

On the first day of class faculty must inform students in writing of their class attendance policy and the effect of that policy on their final grade. If class attendance or late arrival is to affect a student's final grade, then a statement to this effect must be a part of the course syllabus distributed to each student.

If a course is fully enrolled and additional students are waiting to enroll, the chairperson or faculty member may drop from the class roll any student who does not attend the first class meeting and does not notify the department office within 24 hours of the desire to remain enrolled.

The Student Health Center does not issue routine medical excuses for students who miss classes. With the permission of the student, an instructor may verify that a health problem did exist and get an estimate of the extent of the student's disability. Specific details will not be released without the written consent of the student. A health professional may recommend a reduction in a student's course load or medical withdrawal from the University.

Student participation in university-sponsored activities occasionally requires that a student miss one or more class meetings. A student who expects to miss class because of participation in a university-sponsored activity must notify the instructor in advance of the absence and make arrangements with the instructor to complete all missed work and, if necessary, to do any compensatory projects which the instructor assigns. It is usually expected that the instructor will excuse the absence and permit the student to make up missed work in whatever manner the instructor deems appropriate.

If a student or family member contacts the Dean of Students or one of the academic deans about a medical or family emergency, the Dean's office will notify the instructor of the absence but will not verify the validity of the situation.

If a student stops attending class, faculty are requested to inform the Dean of Students and the appropriate academic dean.