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LU Policy Number: AS.001
Effective Date: 09/03/2014
Approval Date: 09/03/2014
Revision Effective Date: 01/02/2019
Revision Approval Date: 01/23/19
Purpose: Establishes the attendance expectations for all enrolled students of Life University
Additional Authority: N/A
Scope: All Students of Life University
Approval Authority: President
Responsible Authority: Academic Affairs- Student, Academic Affairs- Faculty and Administration
Definitions: N/A
Recipients: Academic Affairs- Student
Publications: 2018-2019 Academic Catalog & Winter ‘19 Quarterly Announcements, Student Handbook.
Policy Title
Attendance Policy
Policy Statement
Life University supports the intellectual growth and development of its students and expects each student to take responsibility for their academic progress. Therefore, attendance at all regularly- scheduled classes is expected and will be taken during weeks two (2) and seven (7) at a minimum; however, certain circumstances may preclude attendance at some class sessions.
Procedure(s)
Attendance policies are listed in each course syllabus.
All faculty members will, at the beginning of each quarter, make a clear statement in the course syllabus describing course procedures for handling absences. Procedures and frequency of recording attendance should be consistent with assessment frequency and must be discussed and approved by the appropriate college dean. Students are obligated to adhere to the requirements of each course. Faculty are encouraged to provide opportunities for students to make up work missed due to an excused absence. Students who are absent from class must make arrangements for making up the missed material prior to the next regular class. Further, the faculty member will monitor course attendance through engagement of the student, whether it be taking attendance, or some form of in-course activity to demonstrate engagement. For online courses, the student is expected to complete at least one academically related activity per week.
When a student is compelled, for any reason, to be absent from class, the student should immediately convey the reason for the absence directly to the faculty member. The student is responsible for all material presented and for all announcements and assignments covered during their absence.
Excused Absences
Excused absences are recognized in the following cases:
University Sanctioned Events
Any student enrolled in any program of study at Life University may be officially excused from class(es) to represent the University at University sanctioned events as identified by the President. Excuses for absenteeism for University• sanctioned events may also be granted by the Deans.
“University sanctioned events” may include, but are not limited to, activities such as those involving university athletic teams, student government, ambassadors or university clubs, trips related to academic courses, as well as any other university sanctioned event approved by the President. Approval of such absences will be granted only if the faculty receives advance notice from the faculty member or university official sponsoring the activity.
Students excused for University-sanctioned events must make arrangements with members of the faculty to make up lecture and lab hours missed. This is to be documented by the faculty and submitted to the appropriate dean.
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Certain responsibilities upon all persons involved are as follows: The supervisor/advisor of the student or group participating in the extracurricular activity shall send written request to the appropriate dean at least two weeks (if possible) in advance of the absence. This request should include the name of the event, the date of the event, all travel schedules, and names of all students involved.
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Each student’s supervisor must notify the appropriate persons of any changes in the schedules as soon as changes are known.
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Faculty must allow students to take assessments either during the five class days prior to the absence or within the five class days following the absence. (The faculty member may dictate when a make-up assessment is to be taken.) Also, faculty members will prepare similar assessments of the same rigor and content as those administered to the other students in the class.
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Students must notify each faculty member that he or she is participating in a program that may create excused absences throughout the quarter. Students must provide a schedule of events at the beginning of the quarter to each faculty, if one is available.
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Students will make arrangements with faculty to make up labs and any other work within five school days following the absence.
Personal
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Acceptable excuses include, but are not limited to, death/imminent death of family member, personal sickness or illness of a dependent family member, illness that is too severe or contagious for students to attend class, and/or natural disaster or significant weather event.
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Excuses for class absences due to health must be signed and documented with letterhead, address, and phone number of the licensed health care provider.
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Excuses for class absences due to death of an immediate family member must be signed and documented with letterhead, address, and telephone number of the clergyman, or with an obituary.
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Such documentation must be presented to the faculty within the first week upon return to class(es), with an information copy furnished to the Dean of the respective college.Failure to do this within the specified time will result in the student’s absence being charged as an unexcused absence and may result in the assignment of a failing grade for excessive absences.
Legal Obligations
Acceptable excuses include those absences due to legal obligations such as jury duty or military orders. Appropriate documentation must be presented to the faculty within the first week upon return to class(es), with an information copy furnished to the Dean of the respective college. Failure to do this within the specified time will result in the student’s absence being charged as an unexcused absence and may result in the assignment of a failing grade for excessive absences.
Religious Observations
Students wishing to have an excused absence due to the observation of a religious holiday of special importance must provide advance written request to each faculty by the end of the first week of classes.
Class Attendance by Veterans
The Department of Veterans Affairs requires that institutions of higher learning immediately report when a student discontinues attendance for any reason. Faculty must report to the Registrar’s Office the absence of a veteran student as soon as it known that the veteran student will not be returning to class. Generally, this should be reported after one week of absences and no later than two weeks of nonattendance by a veteran student.
Other Notes
Approved by Academic Council on 9/3/2014; Revised by Academic Affairs on 10/18/2018.
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