Class Attendance & Participation
In-Person Class Attendance
Students are expected to attend classes for which they have registered. However, it is the responsibility of individual instructors to evaluate the importance of student class attendance in determination of course grades. Accordingly, each instructor includes in the course syllabus a statement setting forth a policy for consideration of unexcused absences, makeup examinations, and related matters, that will be in force for that semester. The syllabi are filed with the Office of Academic Affairs and a statement of policy on attendance appropriate to each class is read at the first class meeting.
If a student is granted the Flexible Attendance accommodation through the Office of Accessibility Services, an individual agreement will be made regarding the number of absences to be excused. This is intended for students with chronic illnesses and medical conditions that create barriers to full-class participation.
Other exceptions to the class attendance policy include community members participating through the Town & Gown program, college-approved guests (e.g., prospective students who are officially scheduled through the Office of Admission and representatives from accrediting bodies), and students who have withdrawn from the course and have received instructor approval to continue attending in preparation of repeating the course in a later semester, provided that such continued attendance is documented in writing, filed with the Records Office, confers no academic credit, and does not extend beyond the current semester. College-approved guests should be limited to attending no more than two class meetings per semester. Visits exceeding this amount require registration and tuition payment. Therefore, individuals not properly registered for a course by the end of the add period should not be permitted to further attend the course and their name should be reported immediately to the Records Office.
Students who have arranged individual instruction, either in person or remotely, must obtain approval from the Office of Academic Affairs. Such students should not register for a section that they will not be attending. Rather, they must register via learning contract.
Online, Asynchronous Class Attendance
Attendance in online classes is defined as active engagement and substantive participation including timely submission of assignments. Logging into an online course is insufficient to qualify as attending or engaged.
Failure to engage for an extended period as defined in the course syllabus may result in a poor or failing grade, administrative withdrawal, and/or a reduction in financial aid. Instructors must report such non-engagement to the Records Office in accordance with institutional and federal reporting requirements. Individual syllabi may adopt stricter engagement expectations but may not adopt less stringent standards than those stated herein
Missed Class Time Due to Co-Curricular Events or Religious Observances
Classes missed due to participation in college-sponsored co-curricular events or college-recognized religious observances are considered excused absences provided appropriate procedures are followed. The student must notify the instructor at the earliest possible time before the absence and arrange to make up missed work as defined by the instructor’s syllabus. The co-curricular activity must be a performance, professional meeting, athletic contest, or College-approved field trip to be considered an excused absence. Field trip leaders should seek approval from their supervising Cabinet officer if students will be missing class The religious observance must appear on the College’s calendar of religious observances in order to be considered an excused absence. If it does not, an excused absence can be granted only if the student requests special permission from the Provost.
An excused absence allows the student to make up exams or quizzes given during the absence, or to reschedule oral presentations. It is the responsibility of the student to get notes from the class and to compensate as much as possible for the absence. It is also the student’s responsibility to work with the instructor in determining an appropriate time for make-up assignments. Students must recognize that many classroom and laboratory activities cannot be replicated and that absences may be detrimental to their performance.
Final Exams
A faculty member may not change the time of a final examination, either for a class or for individuals. Such changes may be made only by the Provost.