5.1 Attendance

Students are expected to attend every class, and they are expected to take the initiative to make and support requests for excused absences (see Seton Hill University Catalog, p. 24, "Academic Engagement and Class Attendance"). 

Requesting Excused Absences

To request an excused absence, print out and complete a copy of my "Absence Form" (available at http://jerz.setonhill.edu/teaching/Absence.doc) and hand it to me (or complete it electronically and e-mail it, if you are unable to make it to campus).

I am happy to excuse students who have legitimate reasons, but no matter the reason:

• Students are responsible for all material covered during their absence (arrange to get notes from a classmate).
  
• An excused absence does not automatically grant an extension for any work collected or assigned that day.
  

For some classroom activities, such as listening to peer oral presentations, there may be no appropriate make-up assignment. (See 5.2 Participation.)

5.1.1. Emergency Excused Absences
Those who miss class due to an unplanned emergency should submit an "Absence Form," with appropriate documentation, as soon as the immediate crisis has passed. This simple one-page form is designed to give me the information I need in order to help you stay on track. (A note from a doctor or a photocopy of a court summons only gives me part of the information I need.)

If you miss class, I request that you resist the impulse to ask me to e-mail you a summary of what happened. I welcome the chance to help you get caught up, but please consult the syllabus and a classmate's notes first, and then bring any specific questions to me.

5.1.2. Scheduled Excused Absences
I expect that students who miss class due to a scheduled activity (a game, performance, medical appointment, etc.) will complete all make-up assignments before the missed class. Submit a complete, acceptable "Absence Form" (see above) at least a week before the missed class.

• If there is insufficient time to plan an acceptable make-up assignment, or if an approved make-up assignment is late or unsatisfactory, then I may still record the absence as unexcused.
• When I sign a roster of away games, my policy is that the student should also, at that time, hand me completed copies of all the necessary "Absence Forms."
  

5.1.3. Unexcused Absences

Repeated late arrivals, early departures, inattentiveness or unpreparedness may accumulate to count as unexcused absences.

If you are absent from class without a legitimate excuse on a day when a major assignment is due, the assignment will be counted an extra day late. (Rather than stay up all night and sleep through class, please get at least a little sleep, come to class so you won't fall farther behind, and turn in your assignment later in the day.)

5.1.4. Notes for Once-A-Week Courses

• Each meeting is very important. Provided you can make arrangements to catch up on missed work, I will permit one absence without penalty.
  
• Each additional absence lowers your final grade by two-thirds of a letter grade.
  
• After two consecutive unexcused absences, or three total absences (excused or unexcused), I will assume your intention is to drop the course, and may stop returning or accepting new work from you.  (I will of course be flexible in the event of extenuating circumstances, but it may not be possible to recover after missing that much of the course.)