Class Attendance Policy

Instructors are required to report course enrollment. After the seventh day of a regular (16-week) session in fall or spring and the fourth day of a summer or eight-week session, instructors are required to report students who have never attended any class sessions or completed an academic-related activity in their internet course(s). If such absence is reported by the instructor, the Registrar’s Office will administratively drop or withdraw the student. As a result a “W” will be recorded on the student’s official transcript and the course(s) will be subject to published refund policies. The Registrar’s Office will notify the student of the changes in his/her enrollment status. If the student would like to re-enroll in the course(s), he/she must obtain approval of the instructor and chair overseeing the course in the form of add slip, along with the department/division stamp.

Students are expected to attend all class sessions of any course for which they are registered. Prior to an instructor reporting course enrollment, instructors may cancel a student who is registered for a course but fails to attend any of the first three hours of class meeting time during the first ten instructional days. This rule allows for early identification of class vacancies to permit other students to add closed classes. Students who know they will be absent from any class should contact the instructor in advance.

However, lack of attendance does NOT guarantee automatic cancellation for students. Each student is held accountable for those courses selected at the time of registration. Only a drop properly processed by Campus Connection will assure the student that a class has been dropped from his/her schedule of classes. Failure to officially drop a class or withdraw from the University will result in failing marks on the student’s record.

A student who does not complete assigned academic work because of absence from class is responsible for making up that work in accordance with instructions provided by the faculty member teaching the course. Faculty may establish attendance standards and will determine whether a student will be permitted to make up work missed as a result of absence(s).

Minot State University has a commitment to students who represent the University in official capacities. University-sanctioned activities include events that are required or encouraged by a class, program, club, or athletic team. When a student has a scheduled absence due to a university-sanctioned activity, it is the student’s responsibility to communicate with the faculty member prior to his or her absence. Faculty members should have a procedure for student absences in each syllabus that details the method and advance time for students to communicate their absence. If a student notifies the professor in accordance with the faculty member’s policy, students should be allowed to complete class work. If a student does not communicate with the faculty member in advance of the absence, it is up to the faculty member’s discretion whether to allow the student to complete the work. If disputes arise with this policy within the semester, students should contact in progressive order, the faculty member, department/division chair, Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs, and Vice President of Academic Affairs.

Faculty members who schedule co-curricular activities conflicting with a student’s other scheduled class sessions will be responsible for giving students as much advance notice as possible. The student will be expected to inform his/her other instructors and arrange for whatever makeup work, including examinations, may be required. If a satisfactory arrangement cannot be made, the student may appeal to the department/division chair of the course in which he/she is enrolled.

As a courtesy to students and faculty, the Vice President for Student Affairs contacts faculty on behalf of the student for the following emergencies only if the student will be absent from classes for more than one week:

  • Hospitalization
  • Death in the Family
  • Jury Duty
  • Military Duties
  • Family illness

Please Note: Notifying the Vice President for Student Affairs or faculty members through the Public Information Office DOES NOT constitute an excused absence. It is up to the discretion of the professor whether or not students will be excused from class or allowed to make up any missed work. Faculty members requiring an excuse to make up missed work must obtain it directly from the student.

Amendment FS - 3.2.06
Amendment FS - 1.11.07
Amendment AAC - 4.8.09
Amendment APC - 2.11.11
Amendment FS - 3.24.11