Class Attendance

Students are expected to attend classes from the first day of the term and continue to attend each scheduled class meeting, including the final exam period.

In addition, students are expected to be punctual and complete all work whether they are present in class or not.

Excused absences

Making up coursework missed due to excused absences should be negotiated between the instructor and the student, and it is the student’s responsibility to initiate the discussion.

Excused absences include the following:

- The student has contacted the faculty member prior to the absence due to a University sponsored activity.
- The student has contacted the faculty member prior to the absence and the faculty member concurs that the absence is unavoidable and legitimate.
- For Lamoni students, the Dean of Students (or faculty member) determines that the student has missed classes/assignments due to factors beyond the student’s control (i.e. illness, family misfortune, etc.) and the faculty member concurs.
- For non-Lamoni students, the faculty member makes the determination and, when appropriate, the Dean of School, or his or her designate, concurs that the absence was unavoidable and legitimate.
All other absences are considered unexcused, including absences caused by early departures for breaks or late arrivals after breaks and absences due to athletic practices, workout sessions or meetings. In the case of an unexcused absence, the instructor is not obligated to provide an opportunity for making up coursework for credit and may levy additional penalties depending on the individual course policy.

In special situations, a course instructor or club/program advisor may also request for a student to be excused from another course or from an athletic practice so that the student can participate in an important educational activity. Excused absences from athletic practice will not result in penalties, e.g. loss of playing time, for the player.

Administrative Course Withdrawal

Classroom Courses. To validate enrollment in a seated course, students must attend at least one class session during the first week. Federal financial aid regulations require the institution to document that each student began attendance in all classes that contributed to the enrollment status of each student. Students with only recorded unexcused absences for the two weeks of any course will may be administratively dropped from the course unless the student has received special permission from the professor, the Dean of Students, and coach, if applicable. The Program Consultant or the Registrar’s Office will contact students to determine intentions. Students with unexcused absences totaling more than 25% of the class meetings for the term may receive an F grade at the instructor’s discretion.
Online Courses. Students not participating in an online course before the census date (last day to add/drop a course) may be administratively withdrawn with or without grade penalty.
- A student enrolled in any online course who does not begin completion of course assignments during the first week of the course, without prior arrangement with instructor, will be administratively withdrawn from the course. The last date of attendance will be set for the day before the first day of the session/subsession. The Program Consultant or the Registrar’s Office will contact students to determine intentions.
- Students enrolled in any online course must demonstrate an ongoing presence in their online course. If a student, who has been previously participating in course assignments, ceases all participation for two consecutive weeks (without arrangements between student and instructor), that student will be administratively withdrawn. The Program Consultant or the Registrar’s Office will contact the student to determine intentions.