Attendance Policy

Class Attendance

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor expects regular and punctual attendance in class. Punctuality is deemed as important as attendance since tardiness is disruptive and distracting to both faculty and fellow students and is undesirable for personal and professional activities. Students coming to class late assume responsibility for checking with the instructor to make sure they were marked tardy instead of absent. Because attendance is expected, students are responsible for all course work and assignments. Students are required to abide by the attendance policy that pertains to each class, as indicated in the course syllabus.

McLane College of Business Attendance Policy

We seek to prepare you for the professional world of work. To this end, your attendance in class is required. Your regular attendance develops responsibility and accountability, and sets a pattern that is expected by employers. Good communication is also an expectation of your professors and future employers. You must communicate in a timely manner with your professors regarding any necessary absence, late arrival to, or early departure from class.

• You are expected to attend every scheduled meeting of a class.
• If so designated by the instructor in his or her syllabus, any student who misses more than four classes during the semester will lose one letter on the final grade. University Excused Absences (defined below) do not count against the four-class limit if you inform your instructor of your impending absence in advance.
• Any student who for any reason misses 25% of class during the course (i.e., 8 meetings of a Tuesday-Thursday class; 12 meetings of a Monday-Wednesday-Friday class; a proportionate number of sessions in a once-a-week or non-traditional class as specified in the syllabus) will receive an “F” in the course. University Excused Absences do count against the 25% limit.
• Unexcused late arrival to class (tardy) may be counted as an absence at the discretion of the instructor and as described in the course syllabus.
• Except for an emergency, you are expected to remain in the classroom for the duration of the class period.
• With the approval of the Dean, some courses, such as study abroad courses, online courses, and hybrid courses, may have a different attendance policy. Courses offered at the graduate level will also have different attendance policies appropriate for the graduate environment. Consult the syllabus for those types of courses for the exact attendance requirements and expectations.

Types of Absence

Effective as of January 2018.

University Excused Absence

An absence due to participation in certain University-related activities may be designated as a University Excused Absence. If an absence is designated as a University Excused Absence, faculty will provide reasonable opportunity for students to make up work that is missed. If it is not feasible for the student to make up work, some allowance may be made in order that the student will not be overly penalized. The student must inform the instructor regarding a University Excused Absence in advance of that absence. This will allow a reasonable opportunity for the student to make up missed work. Depending on the policies of a course’s academic college, department or program, University Excused Absences may count toward the total number of absences allowed in a course.

Excused Absences

Students who miss class due to illness, death of a family member, or other unavoidable circumstances may be granted an excused absence. Should an excused absence be granted, faculty will provide reasonable opportunity for student to make up work that is missed. If it is not feasible for the student to make up work, some allowance may be made in order that the student will not be overly penalized. The student must inform the instructor as soon as possible of such absences. It shall be up to the discretion of the faculty member to determine whether the circumstances that caused the absence warrant granting an excused absence. It is the student’s responsibility to check with the instructor upon his or her return to class as to whether a particular absence will be considered excused.

Unexcused Absences

Absences for reasons other than University Excused Absences or Excused Absences are Unexcused Absences. Students who miss class due to an unexcused absence may only make up work at the discretion of the individual instructor, as stated in the course syllabus.

In those instances where absence policies limit the number of absences allowed in a class, faculty may count all absences—University Excused Absences, Excused Absences, and Unexcused Absences—toward the total. All absences are counted from the first class session of the term.

While some colleges or departments might have policies that are used by all faculty in the respective college or department, students are required to abide by the attendance policy that pertains to each class, as indicated in the course syllabus.