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Class Attendance

Scope: Undergraduate Students are covered by this policy.

Published •
Students

Class Attendance

Published •

Policy

Overview

Every student is expected to participate in academically related activities and attend every class session for which the student is duly registered.

It is the prerogative of the individual instructional staff member to set attendance policy for each individual course, while following the requirements denoted within this policy and consulting the “Best Practices for Accommodating Students Missing Class for University-Sponsored Activities” webpage.  It is the responsibility of the individual instructional staff member to inform students of that policy in the course syllabus or other written document at the first class meeting of the semester, term, or sprint part of semester or term. Instructors may take account of class absences in determining course grades.

All classes are to meet at the time and location listed in the official university course schedule unless changed with the consent of the entire class. Location and time changes should be specified in the syllabus for the course and written notification sent to students prior to implementation of any changes. The instructor should communicate, in the syllabus, any special course-related activities (e.g., field trips) that occur outside of the time and location in the official university course schedule.  If the scheduling of any special course-related activities must occur after the start of the semester, written notification must be sent to students with as much advance as possible.

Excused Absences

Instructors must excuse a student's absence from a class session and other required class activities for justifiable situations. Legitimate reasons for an "excused" absence, with supporting documentation, include, but are not limited to (click on the hyperlinks below for more details):

Students needing assistance regarding extended absences due to death, illness or other critical circumstance should contact the Office of the Dean of Students (Oxford) or the Student Services (regional campuses).

University-Sponsored Activities

Students involved in university-sponsored activities must be excused from attending a class, lab, or studio meeting with the opportunity to complete the missed work if the instructor has received proper notice and approval from an appropriate university authority. University-sponsored activities are defined as events supported by an academic department, intercollegiate athletics program or administrative unit that require a student’s participation as part of a university-approved activity. University-sponsored activities include, but are not limited to athletic competitions, academic field trips, events connected with coursework, music, and artistic performances, presenting undergraduate research, and R.O.T.C. functions.

Activities related to employment, internships, club and intramural sports, fraternities and sororities, or volunteer activities are not considered University-sponsored activities.  However, instructors may work with students who pursue these extracurriculars.

Responsibility for Students

Students are ultimately responsible for notifying the instructor of upcoming absences in writing with as much advance notice as possible, noting the reason that prohibits class attendance and the date(s) that will be missed if officially known. Instructors are encouraged to recognize that travel itineraries for university-sponsored activities are subject to change. In the event of unforeseen schedule changes, students are required to immediately notify the course instructor of the amended schedule and are not excused from classes that they are again able to attend. 

Students are expected to complete any assignments that are open and available before the anticipated excused absence. As all students are responsible for making up missed assignments, the student must engage in  a conversation with the instructor if the assignment is not completed before leaving, to determine if significant progress has been made and to 1) establish a new due date, 2) determine if an alternate assignment is appropriate, or 3) provide an explanation for no significant progress on the assignment and any potential consequences.

A student may notify the institution of any grievance with regard to this policy by following the established procedures for student grievances under the Academic Responsibilities and Academic Grievance Policy.

Responsibility for Instructors:

Instructors must include a statement in their syllabus that confirms the course attendance policy and informs students that they need to provide written approval at least one week in advance of the missed class whenever possible. Instructors may determine a reasonable amount of coursework that should be completed in order to make up for the student’s absence. The syllabus statement should also note that instructors will, without prejudice, provide such students with reasonable accommodations for completing missed work when absent; however, students are ultimately responsible for material covered in class, regardless of whether the student is absent or present.

Instructors are required to allow students with excused absences to make-up missed examinations and graded assignments or provide alternative assignments. Reasonable accommodations should be granted to students to make-up missed assignments upon their return to campus or by working with the student to complete the assignment in advance. Instructors cannot deny a student from making up an examination or graded assignment by requiring that the student use a missed class assignment as a ‘dropped assignment’ during the semester.

Instructors are encouraged to review the “Best Practices for Accommodating Students Missing Class for University-Sponsored Activities” webpage for advice on working with student-athletes and other students missing for university-sponsored events.

Drop

Whenever a student is absent from class to such an extent as to make the student’s work inefficient or to impair the morale of the class, the instructor may direct the Office of the University Registrar to drop the student. During the first 20 percent of the course no grade will be recorded; after the first 20 percent is completed but before 60 percent of the course is completed, a grade of W will be recorded. After 60 percent of the course is completed, a grade of F will be recorded. The instructor shall notify the student of this action no later than the time he or she notifies the Office of the University Registrar. (See academic calendar.)

A department may, at its discretion, drop from a course any student who is absent from the first class meeting of a semester, term or sprint part of semester or term unless by the end of the day (11:59 p.m.) of the first class meeting the student notifies the department or instructor of his or her intention to take the course. When possible, departments and instructors should reinstate a student who, for reasons beyond his or her control, was unable to contact the department or instructor by this deadline. The determination of individual class attendance requirements and their enforcement at the Dolibois European Center is governed by the attendance policy of the Center.

In the event that a student absence situation cannot be resolved between the student and the class instructor, the student should follow the procedure outlined in the “Statement of Good Teaching Practices” and “Academic Grievance” policies.

The ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University John E. Dolibois European Center (MUDEC) Attendance Policies

Attendance and Grades

A student at MUDEC whose semester or term grade point average falls below 2.00 will be subject to dismissal from MUDEC at the end of that semester. Note that dismissal from MUDEC is not to be confused with “Academic Dismissal” from the University, as provided by the Grades and Scholarship policy of The Student Handbook. It should be taken to mean termination of enrollment at MUDEC.

Students are required to be enrolled full-time at MUDEC for fall or spring semester for a minimum of 15 credit hours. Full-time enrollment for winter or summer term is governed by specific program rules. Full-year MUDEC students may average 15 credit hours per semester, provided that the larger number of hours is taken in the fall semester (i.e., 17 in Fall, 15 in Spring). Upon a showing of good cause and with the written permission of the Academic Dean of MUDEC, a student may drop below 15 credit hours, but not below 12 hours. A student who drops below 15 credit hours without the permission of the MUDEC Executive Director  (or below 12 hours if previously given permission by the Executive Director to drop below 15 hours) will have his or her enrollment at MUDEC terminated immediately. The MUDEC attendance policy parallels that which applies on the Ohio campuses. Classes are small, and professors are expected to take attendance and to have a late arrival policy.

Although travel is an important aspect of the MUDEC experience, students are to be reminded that academic work must be the top priority.

The Student Handbook Admission policy states, “Every student is expected to attend every class session for which the student is duly registered.” At MUDEC, this means from Monday morning through Friday, with classes ending around 1:00 p.m. Friday. The winter or summer term may carry alternate expectations, to be determined based upon the class requirements. MUDEC recognizes, however, that from time to time the need may arise for a student to miss a class. However, the number of such absences may not exceed the total number of credit hours of the course in question and may in no case exceed THREE LECTURE HOURS (180 minutes) per course, even for a five-hour language course. If the number of absences exceeds the permitted limit, the student may be dropped from the class by the instructor (which could result in the student falling below the 15 credit-hour minimum for attendance at MUDEC and thus being in violation of the conditions for enrollment at MUDEC). A student may petition to the Committee of Advisors for an exception to both the semester grade point average rule and the attendance rule, in accordance with the provisions of the Scholastic Regulations section of the Undergraduate Academic Regulations policy in The Student Handbook, except that the “Committee of Advisors” at MUDEC shall be composed of two teaching faculty of MUDEC (who make their recommendation to the Executive Director).

Following termination of enrollment at MUDEC, the student will be required to leave University-provided housing in Luxembourg immediately. Refund of fees paid will be based on the standard ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University  refund schedule.

Waivers

Before leaving for Luxembourg, all students are required to sign a waiver indicating:

  1. that they have read and understood the MUDEC attendance and discipline policies, and
  2. that they understand and accept the possible sanctions in case of any violation of one or the other (or both) of these policies.

Related Form(s)

Not Applicable.

Additional Resources and Procedures

Documents

FAQ

Not Applicable.

Policy Administration

Next Review Date

7/1/2027

Responsible Officer

  • Provost
  • Associate Vice President and Dean of Students
  • Senior Vice President/Enrollment Management and Student Success

Legal Authority

Not Applicable.

Compliance Policy

No

Revision History

Amended July 2020; Amended July 2022; Amended July 2023, Revised April 2026; Revised August 2026

Reference ID

Student Handbook 1.9

Reviewing Bodies

  • Provost
  • Associate Vice President and Dean of Students
  • Senior Vice President/Enrollment Management and Student Success
  • University Senate