Class Attendance

Students are expected to fulfill all requirements and obligations of courses in which they are registered.

It is the prerogative of each individual instructor or division to determine the importance of class attendance. Any instructor who elects to have a class attendance policy will set forth the policy for that term in the course syllabus along with any implications for grading. The attendance policy set forth by the instructor in the syllabus should be adhered to in order to meet course outcomes and achieve academic goals.

Unplanned Absence

If students are absent because of a family emergency or bereavement, it is their responsibility to notify their instructors or the Dean of Students. The Dean of Students and the students' advisors can provide supportive resources for students during this period of time. Students have the responsibility to consult with their instructor(s) upon their return about completing missed work.

Planned Absences

Absences might also occur because of planned events. Keuka College students are encouraged to participate in activities outside of the classroom, yet these activities may conflict with class times. Students are responsible for consulting with instructors in advance to ascertain whether the absence will be allowed, for submitting all written work on time, and for arranging reasonable makeup times and methods. Although instructors may wish to facilitate student participation in these activities, the nature of courses, laboratories, and practicum experiences may require that students attend class to better assure successful completion of the course. Student-athletes should adhere to the Student-Athlete Attendance Policy (p. 89).

Temporary Adjustments

In some cases, the Office of Student Accessibility (OSA) may offer reasonable, short-term academic adjustments to support students experiencing transient (short-term) issues such as surgery, mental health concerns, concussions, and car accidents. Students who have questions related to the request process may contact the Office of Student Accessibility via email at student-accessibility@keuka.edu. Note: academic adjustments do not extend to short-term illnesses such as the flu or COVID. In these cases students are encouraged to contact instructors directly to report an absence and seek services from the Health and Counseling Center.

Protected Accommodations

Students who believe their absence is protected under federal or state guidelines (Title IX) are encouraged to contact the Dean of Students. However, accommodations that are made in accordance with federal and state guidelines will be considered excused absences. Students with disabilities related to class attendance should consult the Accessibility Services for Students with Disabilities Policy (p. 48) to request accommodations.

Attendance Definitions

Instructors are encouraged to update course-specific attendance policies in each course syllabus. Instructors are also strongly encouraged to record their class attendance in KC Self-Service. During the first week of class, it is a federal Title IV requirement to confirm attendance of students through the census day processes. Any course using multiple instructional methods as outlined below will use the attendance criteria for all instructional methods as listed below:

Attendance at the College for online courses includes:

• Submitting an academic assignment;
• Taking or submitting an exam;
• A posting by a student showing the student’s participation in an online study group that is assigned by the College or attending a study group that is assigned by the College; and
• Participating in or posting by a student in a discussion forum showing the student’s participation in an online discussion about an academic matter or visibility in Moodle.