ROWAN UNIVERSITY POLICY

Title: Attendance Policy

Subject: Academic Affairs

Policy No: AA: 2015:04

Applies: University-Wide

Issuing Authority: Provost / Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Responsible Officer: Deans

Adopted: 

Amended: 

Last Revision: 08/01/2015

PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to establish policy and procedures for handling attendance records.

ACCOUNTABILITY

Under direction of the Provost, all Deans and Department Chairs shall implement this policy and all faculty shall ensure compliance with the policy.

APPLICABILITY

This policy is applicable to all students of Rowan University

POLICY

1. Because classroom experiences vary greatly among disciplines, deliveries and instructors, Rowan's community of learners is best realized when teachers and learners interact in ways deemed appropriate for any particular class. Thus, although what constitutes attendance can differ from course to course, the following applies to all courses:

1. Responsibilities of Students

1. Students are expected to be present at each meeting of each scheduled class for which they are officially registered. Students are responsible for knowing the instructor's attendance policy as stated in the syllabus.
2. Students absent for any of the following reasons:
   • Official University activities,
   • Documented illness,
   • Death of a family member or loved one,
   • Inclement weather,

must inform their instructor with official or written documentation before the fact in the case of official University activities, or as soon as possible thereafter in cases of illness, death of a family member or loved one, and inclement weather. Students should consult with their instructor regarding acceptable documentation.

1. Rowan respects the diversity of faiths and spiritual practices in the university community. Students who wish to observe religious holidays which occur when classes are scheduled must inform their instructors before the fact, and preferably within the first two weeks of each semester, even when the exact date of the holiday will not be known until later. Students who make such arrangements will not be required to attend classes or take examinations on the designated days, and faculty must provide reasonable opportunities for students to make up missed work and examinations.
2. In the case of rare and compelling circumstances not listed in #2 above, students should make every effort to discuss reasonable accommodations with the instructor in advance if feasible or as soon as possible afterward. 

1. Responsibilities of Faculty

1. Faculty are expected to keep accurate attendance records.
2. Attendance requirements must be part of the syllabus provided to students prior to the end of the drop/add period.
3. In the case of #2 under Student Responsibilities, faculty must make reasonable accommodation to provide these students the opportunity to make up their written work, tests, or other assignments at the earliest possible convenient time. In cases where graded classroom activities cannot be repeated and the student has not exceeded the maximum number of allowable absences (as explained below under #6), the faculty member will either provide an alternative graded exercise to replace the missed activity or remove the activity from the calculation of the student's final grade.
4. Faculty are under no obligation to make special provisions for students that are absent for reasons other than those listed above. However, faculty are encouraged to consider accommodations for rare and compelling circumstances.
5. If a student develops a pattern of excessive and/or unexplained absences, the faculty should advise the student to request assistance from the Dean of Students.
6. Faculty (singularly or as part of a department or program) may establish additional reasonable attendance criteria that are consistent with the above. This may include setting a maximum number of absences for a course--whether excused or unexcused--after which a student should withdraw from the class with a WF. If the Dean of Students determines, in consultation with the faculty member, that excused absences were a significant factor, the withdrawal may be altered to a simple W.