Flexible Attendance and Related Deadlines

Regardless of disability, students are expected to fulfill the essential requirements of courses, including meeting attendance requirements. However, if a student has a disability that may occasionally impact class attendance, reasonable adjustments to attendance and related deadlines are considered appropriate for ensuring equal access.

Flexible attendance is designed to minimize penalties for students whose condition may cause severe or unpredictable symptoms, making it difficult to comply with standard attendance policies. Students remain responsible for fulfilling the essential requirements of their courses. Flexible attendance adjustments do not permit unlimited absences and are not intended to be applied retroactively. It is the responsibility of the student to notify professors promptly of disability-related absences. 

It is not reasonable for the University to fundamentally alter, waive or lower essential course requirements, academic standards, or educational experiences/outcomes when attempting to apply this accommodation. 
Students must work with the instructor to determine the maximum number of absences that can be given before compromising the integrity of the course/program. An Accommodation Specialist is available to meet with the professor upon request, to discuss factors that determine if a reasonable number of additional absences would result in a fundamental alteration of the course.

 

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has provided the following guidelines when determining if attendance is an essential course requirement: 
  • What does the course description and syllabus say regarding attendance?
  • To what extent is there classroom interaction between the instructor and students and among the students themselves?
  • Do student contributions in class constitute a significant component of the learning process?
  • Does the fundamental nature of the course rely upon student participation as an essential method of learning?
  • To what degree does a student’s failure to attend class constitute a significant loss of the educational experience of other students in the class?
  • What elements of the course are used to calculate the final course grade? 

Faculty Procedures

  • Examine essential course requirements. 
  • Meet with the student to discuss implementation of the accommodation.
  • Consult with SDS if necessary to determine reasonable course-specific adjustments.