- Attendance is an essential component of post-secondary education.
As such, students are expected to comply with class attendance policies.
- The College/University recognizes that there may be times when a student
cannot attend class because of disability-related reasons.
- Disability Support Services may request a "relaxation of attendance
policy" from an instructor after discussion to determine if attendance
is an essential element of the course in which the "relaxation" is
requested.
- A relaxation of attendance policy does not mean a relaxation of course
requirements. Students are required to fulfill all course requirements
and evaluation standards as specified in the course syllabus.
- The following questions will be considered when determining the reasonableness
of this accommodation:
- Is there classroom interaction between the instructor and students
and among the students themselves?
- Do student contributions in class constitute a significant component
of the learning process?
- Does the fundamental nature of the course rely upon student participation
as an essential method for learning?
- To what degree does a student's failure to attend class constitute
a significant loss to the educational experience of other students
in the class?
- What does the course description and syllabus say regarding attendance?
Each instructor may have different requirements regarding attendance.
- What is the method by which the final course grade is calculated?
- Students who are approved for this accommodation are expected to contact
instructors in advance of an anticipated absence. For emergencies or
unexpected absences, contact should be made as soon as possible to discuss
the possibility of any make-up work and/or to verify the reason for
the absence.
- Instructors are encouraged to contact the Disability Support Services
if it is believed that disability-related absences have become excessive.
- Students are made aware that absences will hurt them academically,
even if the attendance policy has been relaxed, and, as such, must make
every attempt to attend class. Special effort by the student must be
made to attend class for quizzes, exams, and deadlines for submission
of assignments.
- Students will be required to submit a letter from Disability Support
Services to each instructor confirming that this accommodation has been
verified as reasonable. The student will sign the letter stating an
understanding of the policies and procedures developed for this accommodation.
This letter also states that the student agrees to abide by these policies
and procedures.
- A "Relaxation of Attendance Policy" will
not be approved for summer terms because of the limited number of
class periods scheduled
during these times.
- Accommodations are not retroactive. All accommodations, including
the Relaxation of Attendance Policy, become effective when the student
delivers the above-referenced letter to the instructors in question.
- As with all accommodations, a "Relaxation of Attendance Policy" is
recommended on an individual, case-by-case basis depending upon (a)
the submission, to Disability Support Services, of supporting medical
or psycho-educational documentation from a licensed professional
and
(b) the reasonableness of this accommodation in each requested class
as determined by discussions between Disability Support Services
and
the course instructor.
(Insert your college/university attendance policy)
Class Attendance (Sample policies).
(U. Mississippi) - Students are obligated to comply with class
attendance policies. It is the responsibility of each instructor to notify
classes at the outset of each course of the attendance requirements to
which each student must adhere. The University reserves the right to sever
its relationship with any student who has been excessively absent, and
that student who incurs excessive absences may be dismissed from a given
class upon recommendations of the instructors and approval by the student's
academic dean. When it appears to an instructor that a student has discontinued
a class without authority, the instructor will report this fact to the
student's academic dean.
If a student is out of class for an extended period of time due to reasons
beyond the student's control, it is the responsibility of the student
to inform the teacher. If the student is out of class due to an emergency
in which the dean of students has intervened, a note will be sent from
the Office of the Dean of Students to the student's instructors.
(Montgomery College) - Students are expected
to attend all class sessions. In cases involving excessive absences
from class, the instructor
may drop the student from the class. "Excessive absences" is
defined as one more absence than the number of classes per week during
a fall or spring semester; the number of absences is prorated for accelerated
sessions.
If you have questions or require additional information
regarding Disability Support Services' policies and procedures for
a "Relaxation of Attendance
Policy," please contact a DSS counselor at:
(College/University contact information)
Adapted from the University of Mississippi, "Policies and Procedures for Relaxation of Attendance Policy" -
11/16/2000
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