A student is expected to attend all meetings of the class in which he or she is enrolled. To receive academic credit, a student must earn a passing grade that is determined by the combined results of class assessments, class assignments, and compliance with attendance requirements as specified in the class syllabus.

In addition to meeting the academic expectations of the class as outlined in the class syllabus, a student must attend a minimum of 75 percent of the scheduled class and laboratory/practicum (if applicable) meetings of a class to receive a passing grade. A student registered for a face-to-face undergraduate day class must attend a minimum of half the class meetings during the first week of class. Instructors of all undergraduate day classes and FLEX classes must clearly define the policies and procedures for attendance and grading in the class syllabus and must include the minimum number of classes and hours required (no less than 75 percent and, for FLEX classes, no fewer than four class meetings) in order for a student to earn a passing grade. The student is responsible for knowing the attendance and grading policies for each class, as they may differ from instructor to instructor.

1. Excused Absences
   1. With advance written notice provided to the instructor by the student, the University excuses absences from class for major religious holidays, University-sponsored activities or events, required court attendance as certified by the Clerk of Court, or military duties as certified by the student’s commanding officer.
      1. A major religious holiday is a day that is traditionally celebrated within one of the world’s major religions. Retreats, conventions, or other functions specific to a particular congregation or denomination are not considered major religious holidays.
      2. A University-sponsored activity or event (e.g., an athletic competition supervised by the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics), including post-season tournaments, must be endorsed by the advisor or supervisor of the organization sponsoring the activity and have a clear educational purpose in order to qualify under the University’s excused-absence policy. Practice sessions or other meetings of campus organizations that can be scheduled or rescheduled at the discretion of the organization without great inconvenience do not qualify as excused absences.
      3. The total number of absences, excused and unexcused combined, may not exceed 25 percent (or, in the FLEX, one class meeting) of the scheduled class meetings.
   2. In the undergraduate day program, instructors also may choose to create written policies allowing for excused absences involving family or personal emergencies and/or work-related emergencies.
   3. The student is responsible for contacting the instructor about making up and turning in work missed due to an excused absence. Unless an exception is made in writing by the Provost, all absences, excused and unexcused, will be used by the instructor to determine whether a student has met the class attendance requirement.
2. FLEX Attendance

   1. Class participation is extremely important. Adult students bring to this course varied backgrounds in business settings. Class participation is necessary to share these background experiences.

      Attendance
      A student is expected to attend all meetings of the class in which he or she is enrolled. To receive academic credit, a student must earn a passing grade that is determined by the combined results of class assessments, class assignments, and compliance with attendance requirements as specified in the class syllabus. A student that miss more than one class meeting must withdraw from the class prior to the fourth class meeting or be assigned the grade of F.

      Any student who must miss a class meeting is responsible for contacting his or her instructor to discuss missed material. The opportunity to make up missed work is at the discretion of the instructor.

      A FLEX student who does not wish to remain in a class for which he or she is registered prior to the start of the session must drop that class at least 24 hours prior to the first class meeting. Failure to do so will result in the student’s being assigned the grade of F for the class as well as being billed for the class tuition. A student who does not intend to complete a class for any reason, or who has missed two class meetings, must withdraw from that class prior to the fourth class meeting or receive the grade of F for the class. That student will be responsible for the tuition accrued for the number of class meetings he or she has attended. FLEX students cannot withdraw from a class after the fourth class meeting.

      Attendance Policy for Online Classes
      A student is expected to attend all meetings of the class in which the student is enrolled. If a student is unable to attend class or complete the work, the student is expected to drop the course in accordance with the approved drop period. To receive academic credit, a student must earn a passing grade that is determined by the combined results of class assessments, class assignments and compliance with attendance requirements as specified in the class syllabus.
      
      A student registered for an online class must log-in to the learning management system of the online class and submit one graded assignment or task by 5:00 p.m. on Friday of the first week of class to be counted as present for the first class. A student who does not log-in and complete the assignment, task, or attendance requirement noted in the syllabus should be reported to Academic Advising & Student Success, the Registrar, and Financial Aid Offices by the faculty and may be subject to be dropped from the class and/or reduction in financial aid. A student may drop a class until 11:59 p.m on Friday of the first week of the session/term. Online classes require the submission of weekly assignments. Any student who has missed (as defined by Spalding University's online standards) the equivalent of 25 percent of an online class should withdraw from the class or receive the grade of F for the class. A student may not withdraw from an online class after 11:59 p.m. on the 4th Friday of the session/semester. A student who withdraws from an online class will be responsible for the tuition accrued for the chronological time that has elapsed in the class, not for the amount of work that student has completed. 

3. Student Responsibilities
   1. Prior to enrolling in classes, students in all University programs should anticipate the number of class meeting absences that may result from family obligations, work-related responsibilities, and such other University-sponsored activities as Debate Team and athletic events. Once a class has begun, a student who anticipates that he or she will not meet the attendance requirements to earn a passing grade should withdraw from the class. According to University policy, a student must follow official procedures for withdrawing from a class in order to receive a tuition refund. Any student who stops attending a class without having officially withdrawn from that class will receive the grade of F and must assume any remaining financial obligations for the class. Please see the Withdrawal Policy for additional information.
4. Appeal Process
   1. Questions regarding the enforcement of a class attendance and grading policy must first be discussed with the class instructor. Appeals to decisions shall be made in accordance with the University’s appeal process.

Back to Undergraduate Academic Policies