The
University Senate of Michigan Technological University
POLICY
ON CLASS ATTENDANCE
(Proposal 20-95)
(Proposal 24-13)
(Proposal 6-14)
(Proposal 19-15)
(Proposal 35-16)
Senate
Policy 102.1
Background
This policy has been updated to
reflect changes in technology and communication as well as editorial
clarifications regarding the process of evaluating and approving absences.
Policy
·
Attending
class is essential for academic success. The University expects students to
attend all scheduled class times unless an absence is excused under this
policy.
·
Categories
of University excused absences:
·
Off-campus
events:
·
Including
intercollegiate athletics; fine arts performances; program-sponsored
competitions; program-sponsored field
trips; and similar official events where students represent the University in
an official capacity.
·
The
instructor or staff supervising students participating in these events must
provide notice to the students’ instructors and the Dean of Students Office
prior to the date of the activity. The notice must include the name of the
activity, the date(s) of class absence, the name of the supervising instructor
or staff, and the names of all participating students.
·
Absences
involving legitimate extenuating circumstances beyond a student’s control. These include student illness or injury that
prevents a student from participating in class; death or critical illness of a
family member; birth of a child; military duty; jury duty or subpoena for court
appearances; and similar serious extenuating circumstances.
·
If
a student’s absence causes the student to miss an assignment, examination or other
graded requirement of the class, the instructor may require the student to
provide documentation verifying the cause of the absence. The student may
provide the documentation to the instructor or to the Dean of Students Office.
·
Instructors
retain the discretion to excuse student absences for reasons other than those
described in the above paragraphs. Students participating in activities on behalf
of a student organization may obtain a verified absence letter from the Student
Activities Office. This letter is meant
to confirm a student’s participation in an extracurricular activity and may be
presented to the instructor when requesting an absence from class.
·
Students
are responsible for notifying their instructors prior to missing a class and
arranging a mutually-acceptable make-up procedure. In emergency situations, where students are
unable to notify their instructors, students should promptly contact the Dean
of Students Office for assistance.
·
Students
with an excused absence shall be allowed to earn full credit for missing
assignments by performing equivalent work, as long as the instructor deems that
the learning objectives of the course can still be met. Where this is in question, it should be
determined in conversation between the student and the instructor, if necessary
in consultation with the Dean of Students.
This conversation should happen as soon as possible. The substance of the equivalent work and the
deadline for its completion shall be determined by the instructor.
·
Instructors
concerned with a student’s excessive absence should contact the Dean of
Students Office for advice and assistance.
·
The
Dean of Students Office may be contacted by an instructor or a student for
assistance in informally resolving any disputes under this policy. If a dispute cannot be resolved informally,
the student may follow the Student Academic Grievance policy.
This change should
also be made in Section 3.2.10 of the Tenured/Tenure-Track Faculty Handbook http://www.admin.mtu.edu/admin/prov/facbook/ch3/3chap-21.htm)
Proposal 20-95:
Adopted by
Senate: March 8, 1995
Approved by President:
March 24, 1995
Became Senate Policy
102.1
Proposal
24-13:
Introduced to
Senate: 27 March 2013
Friendly Amendment (in blue): 10
April 2013
Approved by Senate: 10 April 2013
Approved by
Administration: 19 April 2013
Proposal
6-14:
Introduced to Senate: 20 November 2013
Approved by Senate: 11 December 2013
Approved by Administration: 17 December
2013
Proposal
19-15:
Introduced to Senate: 10 December 2014
Friendly
Amendment (in red): 21 January 2015
Approved
by Senate with Amendment: 21 January 2015
Approved
by Administration: 30 January 2015
Proposal
35-16:
Introduced to Senate: 06 April 2016
Approved
by Senate: 20 April 2016