Class Attendance

Regular class attendance is expected of all students. Aurora University has no permissible cut policy. Because of the wide diversity that exists among the various courses within the university and the manner in which they are conducted, it is the responsibility of each instructor to establish and maintain their own policy in each of their classes. Each instructor is highly encouraged to maintain a record of attendance history. Students must comply with attendance requirements established by financial aid sources regardless of the attendance policy established by the instructor.  

Attendance Policy Considerations for Special Circumstances (COVID-19)

In the event that CDC-endorsed community health concerns or other extraordinary circumstances cause the university to transition to remote learning in part or total, the following attendance policy will apply. Synchronous class sessions attended remotely (via Zoom or other means) are treated as in-person class sessions for the purpose of attendance. Appropriate attendance for these class sessions will require that the student’s device camera is on with the student clearly visible. The attendance policy listed in the course syllabus will remain in force. Visibility of the student shall serve as evidence of attendance during the remote instruction period.

1. Isolation/Quarantine – In the event that a student is experiencing symptoms, is awaiting test results, has been confirmed to have been exposed to someone who tested positive, or has tested positive for COVID-19, she or he must isolate/quarantine at home or in university-designated space for the duration of time prescribed by the CDC or relevant regulatory authorities. During this time, the student may attend class via Zoom and engage remotely in learning activities as she or he are able, and if the class structure allows. Should the student be too ill to attend via Zoom, or the class structure prohibit such remote attendance or engagement, the class sessions missed shall be excused. A student may return to class from isolation/quarantine when cleared by the university to do so. 
2. Documentation – Should a physician’s recommended isolation/quarantine time exceed that prescribed by the CDC or other relevant regulatory authorities, documentation must be provided to the university. Once provided, the Special Circumstance Attendance Policy will honor the physician’s recommendation in the determination of excused absences. 
3. Make-up Work – At minimum, a student whose absences are excused shall be able to make up all work and assignments missed during their illness. Faculty members may authorize additional time at their discretion. 
4. Extended Absence for Illness – A student and faculty members may request an I (Incomplete) grade if the student was passing the course prior to the first COVID-19 related absence. Such requests are subject to customary administrative approvals. The university completion deadline for the I (Incomplete) grade stipulations shall apply.

Authorized Absences from Class Policy

A student representing the university at university-sponsored events may be granted authorized absences from class provided that the student has complied with approved procedures. Note that it is the responsibility of the student to attempt to schedule courses so as to minimize potential class absences. It is generally unacceptable for authorized absences to exceed 20% of the class meetings. In such cases, alternative arrangements, such as a Course by Special Arrangement (CBSA), may be considered at the discretion of the instructor.

Definitions and Academic and Procedural Considerations Regarding Attendance

1. “A student representing the university”: The student must be duly recognized by the manager or advisor of the event. A list of student participants should be forwarded to the Office of Academic Affairs.
2. “University-sponsored events”: The manager or advisor of the event or activity shall submit to the Chief Academic Officer (CAO) a list of events and have them approved as eligible for inclusion under this policy. This definition normally includes intercollegiate athletics, student government, student development, and fine arts events, as well as events required for the completion of another academic course.
3. “Event” means the actual event at which the student represents the university together with necessary travel time to and from the event site, where applicable. It does not apply to rehearsals, practices, or meetings preparatory to the event.
4. Students are required to make up all work missed due to an authorized absence and, except when conditions are prohibitive, are responsible for making arrangements with faculty at least 48 hours in advance of the anticipated absence.
5. Faculty will make reasonable accommodations for completion of work by students who are granted authorized absences through established university procedures. It is expected that students would be able to complete makeup exams and assignments within 72 hours of the return to campus.

Procedures: Requesting and Granting Authorized Absences from Class

1. Registering University-Sponsored Events and Participants: At least one week prior to the start of each academic term, the managers or advisors of all university-sponsored events provide to the Office of Academic Affairs a schedule of those events during that term for which a student may be granted an authorized absence. Rosters of those students duly registered to participate in each event should be forwarded to the Office of Academic Affairs 48 hours before the scheduled event. The Office of Academic Affairs will maintain a record of all approved events and registered participants. The manager or advisor will provide all participating students with a schedule of the days and times of all events during that term for which the student may need to request an authorized absence.  
2. Student Requests for Authorized Absence: At least 48 hours before the class from which an authorized absence is requested, the student must contact the faculty member privately, provide the schedule of approved events, and obtain from the faculty member a written confirmation of the request, together with a statement of the work to be made up by the student. At the discretion of the faculty member, the confirmation and statement of work may be in written format. In the case of events occurring in the first two days of the term, students will need to contact instructors in advance of the term to make arrangements for an authorized absence.
3. Procedure for Faculty: When a student requests an authorized absence, the faculty member provides the student with any necessary information concerning assignments to be completed. If the authorized absence will cause the student to miss in-class assignments or learning experiences that are part of the grading of the course, the faculty member may require alternative assignments of the student, as required by the outcomes of the course. Faculty members may establish in the class syllabus reasonable rules and procedures for the manner in which they wish to have students make requests for authorized absences (e.g., during office hours, by phone, by written request, before or after class, etc.).
4. Advisement Procedures: Whenever possible, managers or advisors of university sponsored events will provide to participating students a tentative schedule of events for the following term prior to the beginning of the advisement period for that term. Participating students will submit, in writing, their planned participation to their student success/academic advisors in order to anticipate, minimize, and plan for any potential conflicts with classes.