Attendance Policy - Graduate Studies in the School of Health Sciences

Because of the delivery method of the graduate programs, attendance is required and monitored. Students are expected to be present for onsite class sessions and participate in online activity. Absences are allowed as follows:

• Under emergency circumstances, a student may be allowed one absence in courses that are five class sessions or fewer in length. Students need to contact the faculty member regarding make up work.
• Under emergency circumstances, a student may be allowed two absences in courses that are six or more class sessions in length. Students need to contact the faculty member regarding make up work.

If a student exceeds the allowed absences and does not contact Residential Academic Services to officially withdraw before the last class session, the instructor is directed to issue the grade of "F". Students who never attend a class and do not withdraw will be administratively withdrawn from the course and from all subsequent courses. Student must then go through the normal readmittance process.

Students who must miss a course due to unavoidable circumstances must arrange for a withdrawal with Residential Academic Services prior to the beginning of the course. Students needing to withdraw while in a course may do so by arrangement with Residential Academic Services prior to the end of the course, but the regular refund and academic withdrawal policies apply. Students will be charged a $100 withdrawal fee.

Faculty members reserve the right to factor lateness, early departures, and class attendance into a student's grade, as long as it is addressed in the syllabus.

Onsite Attendance Policy – The nature of the graduate programs requires students to attend all class sessions. Class attendance records are maintained by the faculty member and submitted to Residential Academic Services. Students are expected to be present when class begins and remain the entire class. Only under emergency circumstances, a student may be allowed one absence in any class.

Online Attendance Policy – Attendance is determined by activity during a class, either through discussions or submission of assignments. A student is reported absent for a class if there is not at least one submission (or posting) of an assignment or in a discussion forum assigned during a grading period. This will be further clarified in a faculty’s syllabus.

School of Health Science students are expected to attend all sessions of classes for which they are registered. Official excuses may be given by the Dean of the School of Health Sciences for absences due to university-sponsored activities, for illness requiring hospitalization, death of a first-degree relative, or other emergencies. Faculty may not give a penalty for a university-approved absence. The student is responsible directly to the instructor for all classes missed and to see that all work is made up. A student failing to attend classes and not withdrawing officially will receive a grade of "F."

Students may be administratively withdrawn from any registered class that is not attended by the last day to drop a class in any term.