Attendance

UNDERGRADUATE ATTENDANCE PRACTICE

The University Practice for Undergraduate Attendance is as follows:

Regular attendance and active participation in classes are essential elements in the learning process. Students are expected to attend all class sessions beginning with and including the first class session.

This practice has been shown to increase the success levels and retention of Davenport University students. For this reason, in all Foundations of Learning and 100 level courses, attendance will be reported on a daily basis until the last day to drop with a “W” grade for every semester and session. Course attendance will be reported on a daily basis for students in 200 through 400 level courses for the first two weeks of each semester and session.

Students will be administratively withdrawn for non-attendance following the process below unless previous arrangements have been made with their instructor. The instructor should be notified of a planned absence a minimum of 24 hours prior to the course meeting time.

Students must provide a valid excuse for any and all absences, and when possible, provide an official and documented excuse. Consult your instructor regarding what will be considered acceptable. The student whose absence was excused may not be penalized and may be allowed to complete an assignment, turn in a paper, and/or make up an examination in accordance with the instructor’s stated procedures and deadlines in the course syllabus.

  • Instructors will consider a student’s verified illness or death of a student’s immediate family member as an excused absence.
  • An absence based on a required military duty will be excused if certified by the student’s commanding officer.
  • In cases of religious observances, legal obligations (such as jury duty), or attendance at official University sanctioned activities, the student must inform the instructor a minimum of 24 hours in advance for the absence to be excused.
  • Student athletes should review their academic and athletic schedules at the beginning of each semester and session to determine if conflicts exist. It is the responsibility of the student athlete to communicate directly with his/her instructor(s), and make the necessary arrangements to complete the required work. The Athletic Department can provide a written notification that can be submitted to the instructor for each absence. Failure to notify the instructor at least 24 hours in advance will be treated as an unexcused class absence and the student may incur academic consequences.
  • No class time can be missed for athletic practice or activities which would include on-field practice, training room time, team meetings, and conditioning (weight training/running).
  • In rare and compelling circumstances not listed above, the student should make every effort to discuss reasonable accommodations with the instructor in advance, if feasible, or immediately upon return to class.

In the event of an Administrative Withdrawal the student will receive a DU email notification from the Registrar’s Office. The email will be deemed to have been received by the student upon delivery. Students may appeal to be reinstated in the course. Depending on the course, this appeal, whenever possible, should be initiated at least one business day prior to the next course meeting or, at minimum, the beginning of the subsequent week for online. The Appeal form must be completed and send to the instructor for reinstatement consideration.

While Administrative Withdrawals are done in accordance with the Attendance Practice detailed above, it remains the student’s responsibility to initiate an official withdrawal in all courses. Once the session/semester starts the student must contact their advisor to initiate an official withdrawal.

In the case of absences during or after the mandatory attendance period; class assignments, projects, and class participation may be used as part of the final grade and the instructor may choose not to allow make-ups on these. The instructor is responsible for stating in the syllabus the class policies regarding pop quizzes or makeup exams that may be influenced by class attendance.

In the College of Health Professions, any absence in the MEDA designated courses and the professional practice experience (Practicum course) in many programs may constitute grounds for failure of the course. The course descriptions and/or syllabi will note these attendance expectations. Students may also reference the College of Health Professions Handbook for additional details.

Nursing students should reference the Nursing Handbook for additional attendance policy regulations in the Nursing program.

Implemented: Fall 2012
Expansion approved October 2014 Implemented: Winter 2015 2nd session

Undergraduate Administrative Withdrawal Schedule

GRADUATE ATTENDANCE PRACTICE

The University Practice for Graduate Attendance is as follows:

Class attendance is vital in achieving learning outcomes and may be a valid consideration in determining a student’s final grade or continuation in a particular program. The dynamics of the classroom environment, level of interaction, and participation during a given class make attendance critical for achieving academic and professional excellence.

For these reasons attendance will be reported for each class session for students in all 500 through 700 level courses during the first two weeks of each semester and session.

Students will be administratively withdrawn for non-attendance following the process below unless previous arrangements have been made with their instructor. The instructor should be notified of a planned absence a minimum of 24 hours prior to the course meeting time.

Students must provide a valid excuse for any and all absences, and when possible, provide an official and documented excuse. Consult your instructor regarding what will be considered acceptable. The student whose absence was excused may not be penalized and may be allowed to complete an assignment, turn in a paper, and/or make up an examination in accordance with the instructor’s stated procedures and deadlines.

  • Instructors will consider a student’s verified illness or death of a student’s immediate family member as an excused absence.
  • An absence based on a required military duty will be excused if certified by the student’s commanding officer
  • In cases of religious observances, legal obligations (such as jury duty), or attendance at official University sanctioned activities, the student must inform the instructor a minimum of 24 hours in advance for the absence to be excused
  • Student athletes should review their academic and athletic schedules at the beginning of each semester and session to determine if conflicts exist. It is the responsibility of the student athlete to communicate directly with his/her instructor(s), and make the necessary arrangements to complete the required work. The Athletic Department can provide a written notification that can be submitted to the instructor for each absence. Failure to notify the instructor at least 24 hours in advance will be treated as an unexcused class absence and the student may incur academic consequences.
  • No class time can be missed for athletic practice or activities which would include on-field practice, training room time, team meetings, and conditioning (weight training/running).
  • In rare and compelling circumstances not listed above, the student should make every effort to discuss reasonable accommodations with the instructor in advance, if feasible, or immediately upon return to class.

In the event of an Administrative Withdrawal the student will receive a DU email notification from the Registrar’s Office. The email will be deemed to have been received by the student upon delivery. Students may appeal to be reinstated in the course. Depending on the course, this appeal, whenever possible, should be initiated at least one business day prior to the next class meeting or, at minimum, the beginning of the subsequent week for online. The Appeal form is available on the DU website in the Academic Issue Resolution Center. Students must contact their instructor for reinstatement.

While Administrative Withdrawals are done in accordance with the Attendance Practice detailed above, it remains the student’s responsibility to initiate an official withdrawal in all courses. Once the session/semester starts the student must contact their advisor to initiate an official withdrawal.

In the case of absences during or after the mandatory attendance period; class assignments, projects, and class participation may be used as part of the final grade and the instructor may choose not to allow make-ups on these. The instructor is responsible for stating in the syllabus the class policies regarding pop quizzes or makeup exams that may be influenced by class attendance.

In the College of Health Professions, any absence in the MEDA designated courses and the professional practice experience (Practicum course) in many programs may constitute grounds for failure of the course. The course descriptions and/or syllabi will note these attendance expectations. Students may also reference the College of Health Professions Handbook for additional details.

Nursing students should reference the Nursing Handbook for additional attendance policy regulations in the Nursing program.

Approved: October 2014 Implemented: Winter 2015 2nd session

Graduate Administrative Withdrawal Schedule