Course Policies

Attendance Policy

Students are expected to attend all class sessions. Class attendance and participation is an individual student responsibility. Students taking traditional face-to-face courses are expected to attend class and to complete all assignments by stated due dates. Students enrolled in online courses are expected to regularly engage with instructional materials and complete all assignments by stated due dates.

Interaction with instructors and other students is an important element of the learning process. Students who do not attend classes or are not engaged on a regular basis are subject to reassessment of financial aid eligibility.

Students whose total number of absences...

• is more than twice the number of class meetings per week may be assigned a failing grade for the course at the discretion of the instructor. For example, if the class meets twice a week and the number of absences is more than four, the instructor may assign a failing grade for the course to the student.

• is more than the number of class meetings per week but less than twice the number of class meetings per week may be penalized at the discretion of the instructor. For example, if the class meets twice a week and the number of absences is more than two but less than four, which is three absences, the student may be penalized by the instructor.

• are less than or equal to the number of class meetings per week will not be penalized. For example, if the class meets twice a week and the number of absences is less than or equal to two, the student will not be penalized.

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 instructor. The student is responsible for all material presented in class and for all announcements and assignments. The decision to permit students to make up work that is required in any missed class resides with the instructor.

Students cannot participate in classes unless they are registered officially or approved to audit with evidence of having paid audit fees. Individual faculty members reserve the right to include additional policies and/or penalties as deemed necessary. Faculty will include policies on absences and tardiness in their syllabi for all classes whether online or in-person, at the beginning of every semester. Faculty are expected to maintain an attendance record for all their classes regardless of delivery mode.

Student Absences due to University-Related Events

Students may be officially excused to leave the campus to represent the institution at tournaments, musical or drama productions, athletic events, etc.

It is the responsibility of the student who is missing classes due to official off-campus activities to contact the instructors of those classes and set up arrangements to make up exams, assignments, and other course requirements which may be missed or delayed.

Faculty will assist officially excused students to complete any course requirements they may have missed during this period of absence. Students who are to be absent must provide an official notification from the faculty/staff member sponsoring the event to the instructors of their classes in a timely manner. 

Audit Policy

Students may register for and attend a class without being responsible for the work required in the course. The decision to audit must be made at the time of registration and no later than drop/add.  No credit is given, but tuition must be paid.  A grade of V appears on the transcript.