Handbook of Operating Procedures
Chapter 5 - Students
Publication Date: January 1, 1991

5.09 Class Attendance Policies

Class Attendance
1. Regular attendance at and participation in all meetings of courses for which a student is registered are expected. It is the instructor's responsibility to set forth and communicate the participation requirements to students in the course syllabus. The degree to which classroom participation is required and whether or not work missed by a student during an absence may be made up is at the discretion of the instructor, subject to the policies on class absences stated in subsections 2. and 3. below.
2. When, in the judgement of the instructor, a student has been absent excessively, the instructor may report the absences to the Dean of the College in which the course is offered and recommend that the student be dropped from the course with a grade of "F." If the Dean approves the recommendation, he or she advises the Registrar, who in turn advises the instructor and student of the action taken.
3. A student who enrolls for a course and then does not attend is considered absent from class until he or she officially drops the course or until he or she has accumulated an excessive number of absences and is dropped from the class with a grade of "F."
Student Absences on Religious Holy Days
1. A student who is absent from class for the observance of a religious holy day (means a holy day observed by a religion whose places of worship are exempt from property taxation under Section 11.20, Tax Code) shall be allowed to take an examination or complete an assignment scheduled for that day within a reasonable time (ordinarily within 20 school days) after the absence if, not later than the 15th day after the first day of the semester, the student notifies the instructor of each class the student had scheduled on that date that the student would be absent for a religious holy day.
2. Notification of planned absences must be made in writing and must be delivered by the student personally to the instructor of each class. Notification must take place before the absence.
3. An instructor may respond appropriately if the student fails to satisfactorily complete the assignment or examination within a reasonable time (normally 20 school days) after the absence. Each instructor should inform the student, at the time the student notifies the instructor of a planned absence, of the deadline for completion of the missed assignment or examination.
Student Absences for Official University Functions
1. A student shall be excused without penalty from class to participate in an official University sanctioned student activity, such as intercollegiate athletic competitions, forensics, music tours and other similar approved events. The student is responsible for fulfilling any course requirements that occur during the time he or she is absent from class.
2. Faculty or the University employee in charge of such activities shall file a list of students and the dates they request the students be excused from class with the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Deans, department chairs, and faculty may check any names against the list by contacting the Office of the Provost.

Editorial Amendment

Issued July 28, 2009