UMass Boston

Class Attendance Guidelines

The university expects students to attend all regularly scheduled class meetings.  The authority to excuse absences rests with the course instructors, subject to the requirement to reasonably accommodate class absences as set forth in these guidelines.  Students are responsible for adhering to course attendance policies, just as they are responsible for completing course assignments. Attendance and participation in class (including online and remote courses) are fundamental parts of the learning process and key factors in academic success. Students should consider whether they will be able to fully complete the requirements of the course prior to enrolling in the course and should recognize when circumstances will not allow for them to fully participate in the course due to absences. In such cases, the student should work with their academic advisor to determine other options. UMass Boston adheres to federal and state law regarding accommodations. Absences related to disability accommodations will be handled in accordance with the Ross Center for Disability Services. Absences related to Title IX regulations will be handled in accordance with the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX.

Scope

These guidelines apply to all undergraduate students at University of Massachusetts Boston.

Guidelines

 Students are required to attend courses. Any course using multiple instructional methods as outlined below will use the attendance criteria for all instructional methods assigned to the course:

For the purpose of these guidelines, attendance in online courses includes:

1. Submitting an academic assignment;
2. Taking or submitting an exam;
3. A posting by a student showing the student’s participation in an online study group;
4. Participating in or posting by a student in a discussion forum showing the student’s participating in an online discussion about an academic matter;
5. Initiating contact (email, in-person, or other documented contact with the instructor to ask a substantive question about the academic content studied in the course (instructor discretion);

For purposes of these guidelines, attendance in hybrid/BeaconFlex courses includes:

1. Attending a class in-person or virtually where there is an opportunity for direct interaction between the instructor and students (encouraged to be present and visible for the entire class with your video camera turned on when attending virtually);
2. Submitting an academic assignment;
3. Taking or submitting an exam;
4. A posting by a student showing the student’s participation in an online study group that is assigned by the University or attending a study group that is assigned by the University;
5. Participating in or posting by a student in a discussion forum showing the student’s participation in an online discussion about an academic matter;

For purposes of these guidelines, attendance at in-seat and virtual courses is: 

1. Attending a class in-person or virtually where there is an opportunity for direct interaction between the instructor and students (encouraged to be present and visible for the entire class with your video camera turned on when attending virtually).

Students should know:

1. Instructors may require attendance in their courses.  Attendance policies should be clearly stated in each course syllabus, including whether any portion of a student’s grade is based on attendance and/or class participation. 
2.  Instructors reserve the right to adjust grades due to unexcused absences, provided they state this clearly in the course syllabus. 
3. Students who have questions about an attendance policy of a course should consult first with the instructor, and then, if necessary, with the department chair.
4. Any appeal regarding the instructor’s attendance policy is to be made to the department chair first and only after that, if the student wishes to pursue the matter, to the Dean of the college. Students who have extended absences from class, whether excused or unexcused, should talk with their instructor to discuss whether successful completion of the course is possible. 

While the university has no institutional-wide attendance policy, it does excuse absences in the cases described below. In these cases, faculty are legally obligated to provide reasonable accommodations to allow for students to make up work and assignments missed for these reasons. 

The university recognizes that there are legitimate and verifiable circumstances that may occasionally result in a student’s absence from class.  It is the student’s responsibility to plan their schedules to minimize these absences.  When a student has prior knowledge of an event that will require them to be absent from class, it is the student’s responsibility to inform the faculty member in writing.  This notice should be given as soon as possible, preferably at the beginning of the semester.

While students will not be penalized for missing class due to an official excused absence, they are expected to be responsible for materials discussed in class.  Students who have missed in-class work, such as tests, quizzes, or laboratory/studio assignments, are expected to make themselves available to make up this work.   In all cases, students are expected to complete all course work in a timely manner. An instructor that allows for the lowest test score to be dropped from the grade average, may allow a student with an excused absence on the day of a test to drop that score in lieu of making up the test. Students may contact the Dean of Students Office who will work with their instructors to offer reasonable assistance and deadlines for students to make up missed work in a timely manner when due to an excused absence.

Other Reasons for Absence and Requesting a Notice of Absence letter from the Dean of Students Office

The Dean of Students Office will issue a Notice of Absence (NOA) letter to faculty as a courtesy to students when appropriate documentation has been provided by the student, for absences that will span beyond 3 consecutive days. Appropriate documentation must be submitted to the Dean of Students office prior to the office sending any notification to faculty. Documentation submitted more than two (2) weeks after the absence will not be verified, and retroactive notifications will not be sent, unless there are extenuating circumstances that prevented submission. Please note that submission of documentation does not guarantee that a Notice of Absence will be sent by the Dean of Students Office, and DOS staff have the discretion to request additional documentation if necessary.

A Notice of Absence is NOT the same as an Excused Absence and does not mean that an absence will be excused by a faculty member. Instead, this is left to the faculty member’s discretion. The Dean of Students Office asks for flexibility and reasonable assistance in making up missed work once the student has returned to class, though the student is responsible for contacting their faculty members themselves.

It is the prerogative as well as the responsibility of each faculty member to establish a clear policy for each course of instruction regarding the nature and extent of student attendance and participation that will be expected and required.

Faculty should note that notification from the Dean of Students Office is not required to allow for an excused absence or extension for personal or medical circumstances. We encourage students to work directly with their faculty whenever possible to discuss flexibility for extenuating circumstances.