ROWAN UNIVERSITY POLICY

Title: Attendance Policy

Subject: Academic Affairs

Policy No: AA: 2015:04

Applies: Traditional Undergraduate Programs

Issuing Authority: Provost / Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Responsible Officer: Deans

Adopted: 

Last Revision: 07/07/2017

Last Reviewed: 07/07/2017

I.      PURPOSE

To establish policy, procedures, and guidelines for the management of classroom attendance and attendance records.

II.    ACCOUNTABILITY

Under direction of the Provost/Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, all Deans, Department Chairs, and Department Heads shall implement this policy. All faculty shall ensure compliance with the policy.

III.   APPLICABILITY

This policy applies to students and faculty with respect to traditional undergraduate courses offered on the Glassboro and Camden campuses. Additional policies are independently developed and implemented by the Division of Global Learning and Partnerships, the Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, and the Cooper Medical School of Rowan University.

IV.  POLICY

1. Responsibilities of Students

1. Students are expected to attend each meeting of each scheduled class for which they are officially registered and are responsible for knowing their instructors’ attendance policies as stated in the syllabus.
2. Students who are absent for the reasons listed below must inform their instructors of their absence and provide documentation. For planned absences, notice must be given before the missed class meeting. In the case of unexpected absences, documentation must be provided as soon after the absence as possible. Students must consult with their instructors to determine what is considered acceptable documentation.
1. Official University activities
2. Illness
3. Death of a family member or loved one
4. Inclement weather
3. Rowan respects the diversity of faiths and spiritual practices in the university community.  Students planning to observe religious holidays that occur on scheduled class days must inform their instructors at the beginning of the term.  Students who make such arrangements will not be required to attend       classes or take examinations on the designated days.
4. In the case of rare and compelling circumstances not listed above, students should make every effort to discuss reasonable accommodations with their instructors in advance (if feasible) or as soon as possible afterward. 

      2.  Responsibilities of Faculty

1. Faculty must keep accurate attendance records and to verify student attendance in compliance with federal financial aid regulations when requested.
2. Attendance requirements must be included in the course syllabus.
3. In the case documented and excused absences related to the reasons listed above and to religious/spiritual observances, faculty must make reasonable accommodations to provide students the opportunity to make up their course work. In cases where graded classroom activities cannot be replicated and the student has not exceeded the maximum number of allowable absences (as explained below), the faculty either will provide an alternative graded assignment 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 absent for reasons other than those listed above or in cases where acceptable documentation was not provided. However, faculty are encouraged to consider accommodations for rare and compelling circumstances.
5. Faculty may establish additional attendance criteria that are reasonable and consistent with this policy.  Criteria may include setting a maximum number of absences for a course (whether excused or unexcused) after which a student should withdraw from the class.
6. Criteria may include setting a maximum number of absences for a course (whether excused or unexcused) after which a student should withdraw from the class. In accordance with the withdrawal schedule, a W will be assigned for a regular withdrawal and a WP or WF for a late withdrawal.  In cases where the withdrawal is due to excused absences, the student may submit a hardship withdrawal request, with appropriate documentation, to the Hardship Committee requesting that a W be assigned.
7. If a student develops a pattern of excessive absences, the faculty should advise the student to request assistance from the Dean of Students.