University Policy on Class Attendance
麻豆影视 views class attendance as an individual student responsibility. Students are expected to understand and follow the attendance policy established by the instructor in each class. Instructors are expected to explain their class attendance policy and method used to calculate the final grade on the syllabus, and to make this available in class at the beginning of the semester.
Modifications to Course Attendance Policies
Some students with chronic health conditions that are episodic in nature and periodically worsen or unexpectedly "flare up" may experience legitimate barriers to class attendance and may need occasional exceptions to the class attendance policy. This might include, but is not limited to, students with diabetes, epilepsy, cancer, mental health disabilities, migraines and conditions requiring on-going or specialized medical treatment. Due to the nature and/or history of the disability, periodic or occasional absences can be anticipated; however, students may not be able to give advanced notice of a disability-related absence. Some students may require treatment and, in some cases, hospitalization. Most students, however, typically do not visit a doctor and might not be able to provide a doctor鈥檚 note for each absence.
It is important to understand that, even if excused, absences might negatively affect academic performance because of the lack of benefit from full classroom interaction. Students who are eligible for Occasional Absences as an attendance accommodation are expected to keep up with the overall volume of coursework, including course content, lecture notes, and information presented during class. It is the student鈥檚 responsibility to arrange how they will obtain this information, such as by planning with their instructor or classmates to obtain notes from missed classes.
Process for Using Occasional Absences as an Accommodation
IMPORTANT: This accommodation does not go into effect until the student and instructor have discussed and agreed upon a specific plan/agreement. It is the student鈥檚 responsibility to initiate this process. Use of a make-up exam allowance does not go into effect until an agreement is in place.
Step 1: Request the Accommodation
The student must request the Occasional Absence accommodation for the class through . This should be done prior to the beginning of the semester, or as soon as possible after the need for an exception arises. (Instructors are not expected to extend a deadline that has already passed.) Once you complete this step, your faculty will receive an email from ARS listing this and any other accommodations requested.
Step 2: Establish an Occasional Absences Agreement
The student must initiate the process of creating an agreement with the instructor for how the accommodation will be provided in the class. This should be in place at the beginning of each semester, or as soon as possible after the student requests the accommodation for the class. The agreement should address specific adjustments that can be made to the class policy on attendance. The agreement should also specify make-up exam details (see example below).
- Name of instructor completing form with student
- What is the current attendance policy for your course, as stated on the course syllabus?
- What modifications can be made to the policy to accommodate students with disabilities? Is there a maximum of absences the student is allowed without penalty?
- When and how is the student notifying their instructor of their disability-related absence?
- How will the student submit assignments due on the day they are absent?
- Is there a timeframe by when make-up exams need to be completed?
The student may initiate the agreement process by contacting the instructor directly. ARS strongly recommends that agreements with instructors are put in writing (e.g., outlined in an email using the guidance above, or by using the Instructor Agreement feature).
If any assistance is needed, students can request help from ARS by contacting disability@pomona.edu
Step 3: Finalize Instructor Agreement on ARS Online Portal
The Instructor Agreement is available to be used when creating the Occasional Absences Agreement. Students are encouraged to use this feature. The Agreement form is only available to be filled out after the student requests to use the accommodation. Below are the steps for creating an instructor agreement on the ARS Online Portal.
- Student logs on to with Pomona credentials
- Select "Agreements with Instructors" under 鈥淢y Accommodations鈥 on the left.
- Scroll down to select the course & click on "Create Agreement with Instructor."
- Answer the questions to complete the agreement.
- Check box under Terms and Conditions & click on "Submit Agreement"
- The instructor and the student will automatically receive a copy of the agreement via email when the agreement is submitted.
When Attendance Accommodations Might Not Be Reasonable
Attendance accommodations might not be reasonable in some cases. Missing too many class meetings might threaten the integrity of the course as offered and compromise the educational experience of other students in the class. Below are some examples of when attendance accommodations may not be feasible.
Significant In-Class Participation Courses
Attendance accommodations might not be reasonable in courses that involve significant in-class participation as a method of instruction or assessment. Examples include, but are not limited, to:
- Project-based classes in which students utilize class meetings to work and learn as a group
- Lab courses, where the functional nature of the course relies on student participation as an essential method for learning
- Studio art classes in which the primary purpose is to utilize ongoing feedback from the instructor and other students as work progresses
- Field experience courses that require a specified number of hours in a practicum or internship setting over the course of the term
- Courses where student contributions are a significant component of the learning process
Unlimited, Extended or Excessive Absences
Students with extended absences or those who have missed too many class meetings and/or scheduled tests might find that a make-up plan is not workable. Instructors are not obligated to provide individualized instruction or to re-teach material that was missed. If absences become excessive, it may be necessary to petition for a Course Withdrawal or to ask the instructor for an Incomplete Grade at the instructor鈥檚 discretion.
Retroactive Accommodation for Previous Absences
Accommodations do not apply retroactively. Modifications to the class attendance policy will not apply to absences committed before the accommodation was in place. Instructors are not obligated to adjust their class attendance policy for students who register with the ARS later in the term or wait to give instructors notice of their eligible accommodations.
In addition, attendance accommodations do NOT apply to the following:
- Consistent absences due to frequently occurring appointments (e.g., weekly therapy);
- Absences due to chronic personal organization and time management difficulties;
- Absences due to non-disability related reasons (e.g., car trouble), seasonal illness (e.g., cold/ flu), or health conditions that are not documented with ARS.