Instructor Initiated Drop: Pre-Census No Show

Below are instructions on how to drop a student for non-attendance prior to the Census date. A process for dropping after the Census date is in development.

The instructor drop process is part of the HOP 5.09 Attendance and Participation Policy. It is a voluntary activity—faculty may choose to drop a student who exceeds limits in any of their courses or may choose not to implement instructor drops. However, if you choose to implement instructor drop you must:

• Inform students on the course syllabus that they will be dropped for exceeding the unexcused absence or missed assignment limit.
• Specify in the syllabus the exact number of unexcused absences and/or missed assignments that will result in a drop.
• NOT count officially excused absences as defined in HOP 5.09.
• Take disability accommodations directly related to attendance and/or turning in assignments into account, as noted in an official letter from Student Disability Services, and attempt to engage in an interactive process with the student before you initiate a drop.
• Take and record regular attendance.
• Specify in the syllabus the method of taking and recording attendance, and inform the student if it is their responsibility to document their attendance using the specified method.
• Send at least one warning to the student. The instructor Initiated Drop form will not send a message to the student.
• Implement drops consistently for any student who exceeds the limit.

Mandatory Syllabus Information

If you are interested in participating in the Instructor-Drop process, please use the syllabus template provided on the Academic Affairs website to ensure it has all of the required elements. In order to use Instructor-Drop process, you must include the policy information on the limit of unexcused absences or missed assignments for the class in the syllabus and keep accurate attendance/missed assignment records.

Appeal Process

Students who have been dropped from your class have the right to a speedy appeal process, since dropped students may be missing class while their appeal is being considered. Generally, unless there is compelling evidence of an error in your attendance or participation record, differential treatment, discrimination, or violation of a relevant university policy, appeals will be denied. While the appeal is under review, students will still have Canvas access to your class for 8 days.

Students have three days to appeal, after they have been notified officially that they have been dropped. College administrators (Department Chairs) have the same three-day period in order to make an appeal decision.

The Reinstatement Petition (online appeal form) is available online.

Instructor Drop Timeframe

The Instructor Initiated Drop: Pre-Census No Show will be available for use until the Census Date. Instructor-Initiated Drop is not used during Summer terms. 

Log in to Registrar Services

Login: https://ssbprod.utsa.edu/FacultySelfService

Select Instructor Initiated Drop: Pre-Census No Show

Select the section containing the student to drop.

Note: If instructor-initiated drop is available the status of the course will be “Now.”

Find the Student to drop and Select the Action drop-down:

Note: You may also select the checkbox next to the student name and use the mail icon to send an email to the student.

Select Instructor Drop-no grade from the drop-down menu.

Select Submit.

Select Confirm.

A message will display in the top-right corner if the drop was successful.

Select Back to Maintenance to return to the roster.

Note: The student dropped should no longer appear on the roster.