Attendance and Punctuality Policy

Attendance and Punctuality Policy

Rationale: In general, regular attendance is necessary for a student to receive the full benefits of a Carolina University education. Therefore, absences should be taken seriously and are discouraged.

Students have the choice to utilize the live classroom and/or the online integrated synchronous classroom, or the online asynchronous classroom and the following general attendance policies apply. It is understood that additional attendance rules may be stipulated for laboratory sessions in courses that include lab work. Students must comply with the additional attendance requirements specified in the syllabus for such courses. As a general matter, there are to be no penalties or more onerous requirements based on the mode of delivery and all modes are intended to provide the same high-quality educational experience for students. To the extent practicable, faculty will strive to provide an equivalent workload and learning opportunities for all students irrespective of mode of study.

Student Absence Management

Students may attend in-person, online synchronously, or online asynchronously, depending on the course and delivery mode offered each semester. Each student is required to complete a form indicating their modality of study at the beginning of each course. Students are not allowed to change modality after the expiry of the specified period during the semester.

Carolina University faculty will assess student participation in each course including by way of assigning grade points. Ordinarily, faculty will take attendance for on-campus and synchronous online students. The record of attendance will serve to meet participation requirements absent additional requirements for engagement including by way of presentations, quizzes, group work, etc. Faculty will adhere to the published grading scale for attendance and participation communicated in the course syllabus.

Attendance requirements for asynchronous students seek to provide flexibility for students whilst maintaining academic rigor, integrity, and parity with other students. To that end, it must be noted that the asynchronous modality is not intended to be lesser than the synchronous delivery of CU courses whether in the classroom or online across any marker of quality. Students are expected to complete equivalent amounts of work for each credit hour as those who take the course on-campus. Accordingly, attendance requirements have been established to duplicate the workload and learning expectations of on-campus education albeit with temporal and geographic flexibility.

In the event of any confusion or conflicts about the interpretation of particular rules pertaining to asynchronous attendance, the norms of equivalence and parity are to be used to provide a resolution.

To assess participation for asynchronous students, faculty may      employ measures      such as:

  • Submission of notes taken while viewing a lecture.
  • Submission of a quiz that assesses the learning of content delivered exclusively in the lecture.
  • Proctored viewing of class lectures.

Students should refer to the assignment weighting table and course specific policies for details about participation assessments.

It is the student’s responsibility to be familiar with these policies and to keep track of their own attendance.

If a course syllabus stipulates that students have to submit notes based on content delivered by faculty in lectures or recorded videos, or assigned reading materials, the ordinary rules about cheating, integrity, and plagiarism apply. It is not acceptable for a student to copy the notes of another student or for a student to share his/her notes with others to help them to meet the attendance requirements for asynchronous learning. Compliance with the attendance rules in relation to the taking/submission of notes has to be observed in letter and spirit. Any student who colludes with other students in violating the letter and spirit of these requirements will be subjected to disciplinary measures. Non-submission of notes within specified deadlines or submissions that violate integrity policies will be marked as absences in addition to being assessed for disciplinary sanctions.

In courses that are scheduled over the length of a normal 7-week session, students will receive a two-point reduction in the final grade for each unexcused absence subject to the following allowances:

● No absences in a class that meets 1 time a week

● 1 absence in a class that meets 2 times a week

● 2 total absences in a class that meets 3 times a week

● 3 total absences in a class that meets 4 times a week

● 1 day (8 hours) in a one-week (5 day) or two-week module

If a student exceeds the Maximum Total Number of Absences allowed in any course, they will automatically fail the course.

Maximum Total Number of Absences for any course:

● 3 absences in a class that meets 1 time a week

● 4 absences in a class that meets 2 times a week

● 5 absences in a class that meets 3 times a week

● 7 absences in a class that meets 4 times a week

If a student exceeds the maximum total of unexcused absences allowed in any course, the student will automatically fail the course.

Tardy, Early Departure, and/or Partial Attendance

When a student is late to class 3 times and/or departs early 3 times, this will count as one absence.

Students who miss more than 25 percent of a single class meeting will be counted absent for the entire class.

Online Asynchronous Course Check-In and Participation Policy

  • Enrolled online students must check-in to courses, regularly engage with the study materials, continue with assigned work or officially withdraw.  Failure to check-in will result in administrative withdrawal from the course.
  • Ongoing participation will be based on the student fulfilling the weekly requirements of a course. Students who withdraw after the check-in period may receive a grade of “WP” or “WF.”
  • Students who check-in to a course and fail to maintain ongoing regular participation but do not officially withdraw will receive a grade of “F."

Athletic Attendance Policy

Student Athletes may be excused for all documented travel days during the approved times submitted by the athletic department.

This policy also applies to any school-sponsored event approved by the Executive VP for Academic Affairs.

Inclement Weather

Absences due to inclement weather closing or delays are not counted into the maximum total number of absences. Weather-related absences are determined based on the university’s Inclement Weather Policy.

Make-Up Work

The university considers the following absences as automatically approved (excused) for make-up work:

1.         Absences that occur because a student is taking part in a CU-sponsored or approved event:

Prior to any planned absences, students should contact each of their professors to inform them of the absence and request permission.

Students must complete all work assigned on days missed, according to the specifications of the professor. Students should make every effort to complete assignments early, if possible.

2.         Illnesses - documented

3.         Funerals

4.         Selected school-sponsored class trips or projects that meet divisional or degree requirements.

5.         Other situations the Academic Council collectively deems as having merit or basis.

All other course make-up work policies will be included in the course syllabus.

Professor’s Responsibility

Professors must take roll every class period and make the attendance record promptly available to the students via the student portal.

Each professor’s requirements on make-up work for absences (not covered above) and tardiness must be included in the syllabus.

Professors are required to specify attendance and participation requirements in their syllabi for students of all modalities.

  • Professors are required to ensure that asynchronous students regularly and substantively engage with the course.
  • In particular, professors should ensure that asynchronous students receive equivalent teaching and learning opportunities as on-campus or online synchronous students.

Student’s Responsibility

Students are expected to inform professors prior to a   scheduled absence and understand which work can be made up at the professor’s discretion to ensure full credit.

Upon an unexpected absence from class, the student should contact the professor immediately to discuss make-up work and submit such work in a timely manner.

Students should keep track of their own absences in each class and resolve any discrepancies with the professor’s posted record of attendance as soon as possible.

Students should not wait until the end of the semester to deal with any concerns about absences.

It is the student’s responsibility to comply with attendance and participation requirements honestly. Any creative compliance that seeks to falsely convey attendance or participation or misleads faculty about actual participation is not honest. Similarly, student behavior that violates the intent and spirit of the attendance and participation requirements is deemed to be dishonest.

A student has the responsibility to not assist or aid other students in violating attendance and participation requirements and to report such violations when he or she acquires such knowledge.

Attendance Appeal Policies

Appeals concerning a professor’s decision concerning make-up work are to be directed in writing to the dean of the school.

In extreme circumstances, a student may appeal the maximum total number of absences in writing to the Executive VP for Academic Affairs, accompanied by documentation for every absence.

Professors may advocate for students with unusual circumstances, and those students with excused absences will be given due consideration