Attendance requirements are defined by each instructor and the students must adapt to the demands for each course. Regular attendance is required and students should be specifically informed of your policy and any repercussions on the course syllabus.
The instructor should explicitly inform students in writing (in the syllabus) of his/her attendance policy and of students' responsibility to complete all class work described on the syllabus or assigned by the instructor. The University reserves the right to drop students who do not attend class the first week of the term/semester. Students are expected to attend all class sessions of every course. In the case of unavoidable absence, the student must contact the instructor. The student is subject to appropriate academic penalty for incomplete or unacceptable makeup work, or for excessive or unexcused absences. Generally, a student who misses more than one four-hour course period (per course) without a documented military or medical excuse and advanced permission from the instructor should withdraw from the class.
Excused Absence
The instructor should encourage students to notify him or her prior to class if an absence is anticipated. If a student is absent, the instructor is to assign makeup work to cover the materials presented that week.
If a student has two absences, the instructor has the option to lower the student's grade one letter grade and to inform the student of the action.
If a student has three absences, the instructor has the option to assign a grade of F and to inform the student of the action. It is the student's responsibility to withdraw from the course. In an extreme case, when the instructor chooses to award a grade of I (Incomplete) for three or four absences, the student must provide acceptable documentation to verify that the absences were unavoidable (e.g.- illness, work conflict, military temporary duty). Faculty should contact the director or department chair to determine the procedures required for this option. If a student is absent for a fifth class, with or without acceptable documentation, the instructor is to inform the student that his or her grade for the course is F. It is the student's responsibility to withdraw from the course.
Unexcused Absence
If a student is absent, the instructor is to assign makeup work, which may exceed the material presented that week. If a student has two absences, the instructor has the option to lower the student's grade one letter grade and to inform the student of the action. If a student has three absences, the instructor has the option to assign a grade of F and to inform the student of the action. It is the student's responsibility to withdraw from the course.
Attendance Sheets / Roster Checks
Attendance should be recorded on the attendance sheet for the class. Our intent is to identify students who are in class but not registered, students who are attending the wrong sections, and students who are registered but absent for that session. Depending on the needs of your local site director, you may be asked to return this attendance sheet to a staff person. At a later date, you will be sent a revised class list showing the official roster list for your course or you may obtain one yourself by following the instructions given earlier (include link to Getting Your Class List). Please note that this class list is the official roster and may differ from the class lists in WorldClassRoom. Please let your site director know of students who have been attending, but whose names do not yet appear on the official roster. Your assistance in correcting these roster sheets will enable us to give you accurate grade sheets.