Class Attendance

Class attendance is expected of all students because the lecture, the laboratory, and the discussion group are the formal basis of a college learning experience. Faculty members establish and maintain attendance requirements in their courses and must inform students and the Office of the Dean of Advising of those policies. Students are responsible for meeting class and examination schedules. Unwillingness to meet attendance obligations may result in a penalty, often failure in the course.

The following activities necessitating absence from class are normally considered excusable: College academic course activities such as field trips and scholarship activities, College varsity intercollegiate athletic competitions, health-related absences as verified by the College physician, family emergencies, and extraordinary situations as determined by the Office of the Dean of Advising. Students seeking Dean's excuses for planned absences are expected to provide professors with the dates and total number of proposed class absences as soon as possible and no later than the first day of classes in order for the faculty to determine whether or not the frequency of expected absences violates the pedagogical integrity of the class. In such cases, faculty may advise the student to withdraw from the class or be prepared to accept the academic penalty for such absences.

Students on academic probation may have no more than two unexcused absences from any course. Students on probation who do not meet their attendance obligation will be reported by faculty to the Office of the Dean of Advising. Any student with excessive or unexplained absences will also be reported to the Dean.

Please note that the College does not recognize airline schedules or other traveling plans as a legitimate reason for rescheduling final examinations. Please check the final exam schedule before making travel plans. This schedule is usually available by the fifth week of each semester, and students can obtain a copy from the Office of the Registrar.