Attendance Policy - College of Arts and Sciences
Attendance is essential to the philosophy of learning, character formation, and post-college life preparation at IWU. CAS undergraduate students are expected to attend all sessions of classes for which they are registered. A student failing to attend classes and not withdrawing officially may 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Students may be administratively withdrawn from any registered class that is not attended by the last day to drop a class in any term. Please see Academic Administrative Withdrawal policy.
Students are not allowed to attend classes for which they are not registered.
Faculty are required to keep an accurate record of student attendance for pedagogical and legal reasons. All Faculty must check class lists carefully during the first and second weeks of the semester to ensure their accuracy. All discrepancies must be reported to Registration & Academic Services (see Class Enrollment Policy, Faculty Handbook). Individual Faculty must publish their attendance policy in their syllabus and should adhere to it consistently for all students in the class. Given that some medical conditions and challenges (e.g. physical health, mental health, and disabilities) may not easily align with university-approved excused absences criteria, Faculty should work with the student regarding class attendance to reach an appropriate resolution, provided the student notifies the faculty member ahead of time. (The standard practice for class attendance has been to offer excuses up to one weeks’ equivalent of classes.) Beyond this recommended minimum, Faculty may be as rigid or lax as they choose on this matter so long as they keep accurate attendance records.
Online Attendance Policy (IWU-Marion)
Fall/Spring Online Courses: During the fall/spring term, a student will be considered as having attended the course when they complete a requirement for the course (posting, assignment, etc.). Non-attendance is reported at the end of week one and week two of the fall and spring terms. Any student who has not completed a requirement or notified the Faculty of their intended participation will be reported as not attended. Faculty are required to report non-attendance by the last day to drop.
Policies for Absences
Students pursuing an excused absence from class should first consult with their individual professors prior to the absence to request class absences or ascertain possible penalty. Undergraduate students may pursue excused absences for limited reasons; graduate students should consult their relevant graduate program for applicable attendance policies. Students are responsible directly to the Instructor for all classes missed and to see that all work is made up. Students missing more than 20% of total seat time due to lack of attendance (unexcused absence) may be administratively withdrawn from that course or fail the course due to non-attendance. The Instructor of the course may inform that a student be administratively withdrawn to the Academic Affairs Office.
Tier 1: Excused Absences without Academic Penalty
1.A. Excused Absences for Personal and Family Emergencies:
University-approved excused absences may be given by the Academic Affairs Office from classes or chapel due to emergency medical care, hospitalization, the death of a first-degree relative or primary guardian, or other emergencies. To request an excused absence for personal and family emergencies, students should submit the request form within a reasonable time frame and with appropriate supporting documentation to the Academic Affairs Office via the Portal. If a personal or family emergency absence request is approved, professors will be notified. Students are not to be penalized for these approved absences. Complete Excused Absence form located on the Portal under “Top Tools”.
Tier 2: Conditionally Excused Absences without Academic Penalty*
Tier 2.A. University Sponsored Performances and Competitions
Students who represent the university through select university-sponsored activities, such as academic performance ensembles, athletic competitions, and university-sponsored World Impact Trips, will be excused from class. Requesting faculty are responsible for generating the electronic notifications forms to distribute to other faculty, within the first two weeks of the semester. If individual faculty are not notified via e-mail within the first two weeks, faculty members will not be required to excuse these requests. Students are excused for performances or competitions only, not to attend practices or rehearsals. (See Athletic Attendance Policy for full details.)
2.B. Field Trips and On-Campus Academic Experiences
To request an excused absence for an academic field trip, class trip, or on-campus academic experience, the requesting faculty must submit electronic notification forms to individual faculty instructors within the first two weeks of the semester. The field trips/experiences must be identified in the course syllabus as required. If alternative dates for the field trip/ experience are available, students should select the optimally non-conflicting date. If individual faculty members are not notified via e-mail within the first two weeks, faculty members will not be required to excuse these requests.
When registering for classes, please note that laboratory courses may or may not be able to provide a make-up activity.
**As delegated by the Academic Affairs Office
Tier 3: Faculty-Determined Excused Absences
3.A. University Sponsored Activities and Club/Organizational Activities
Students participating in student clubs or organizations may appeal for up to one excused absence per semester for each course (evening courses excluded) in order to participate in an approved activity. Requests for the student to be excused must come from the faculty advisor of the student organization on the prescribed electronic form and include a written justification based upon the IWU mission. This request must be made at least two weeks prior to the activity and submitted electronically directly to the instructing faculty members. Faculty members may excuse these requests but are not obligated to do so.
3.B. Professional Development Days
Students in their final four semesters at IWU may receive permission from their professors to miss each class up to two times for graduate school interviews, job interviews or fairs, and other professional development opportunities that are closely aligned with supporting future employment or internship opportunities both before and after graduation. To receive an excused absence, a student must submit a request with supporting documentation to their individual faculty members at least two weeks in advance of the absence. Faculty members are encouraged to support these excused absence requests but are not obligated to do so. Complete Excused Absence form located on the Portal under “Top Tools”.
ADDITIONAL NOTE: Accommodations for Medical Conditions
Disability Services oversees “attendance accommodation” for a student facing an ongoing medical condition that is regulated by ADA (disabilities) or Title IX (pregnancy) guidelines. Disability Services is responsible for contacting the instructor to discuss the need for absences and the impact of the absences on course objectives and activities. Disability Services will draft an agreement with the faculty member and the student regarding these absences.
