Attendance Regulations
REG 02.20.3
Authority: Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor
History: First Issued: 1966. Last Revised: May 24, 2006. Additional History Information.
Additional References: Diversity Calendar
Contact Info: Department of Registration and Records (919) 515-2572.
1. Introduction
Full participation in classes, laboratory period and examinations is expected of all students. Teachers in 100- and 200-level courses must keep a record of attendance throughout the semester. Instructors may use reasonable academic penalties commensurate with the importance of the work missed because of unexcused absences.
2. Excused Absences
NC State University has a commitment to all students, including those who represent the University in official capacities. Students shall receive excused absences for a reasonable number of anticipated absences as well as for emergencies as specified below.
2.1 Anticipated Absences. Excuses for anticipated absences must be cleared with the instructor before the absence. Examples of anticipated situations where a student would qualify for an excused absence are:
2.1.1. The student is away from campus representing an official university function, e.g., participating in a professional meeting, as part of a judging team, or athletic team. These students would typically be accompanied by a University faculty or staff member.
2.1.2. Required court attendance as certified by the Clerk of Court.
2.1.3. Religious observances as verified by Student Organization Resource Center (1202 Talley Student Center, 515-3323). For more information about a variety of religious observances, visit the Diversity Calendar.
2.1.4. Required military duty as certified by the student's commanding officer.
2.2. Emergency Absences. Excuses for emergency absences must be reported to the instructor as soon as possible, but not more than one week after the return to class. Examples of emergency absences are:
2.2.1. Illness or injury when certified by an attending physician. Physicians on the Student Health Service staff do not provide written excuses. Because of student confidentiality, information can only be released directly by the Counseling Center or Student Health Services in case of crisis or with the student's written authorization.
2.2.2. Death or serious illnesses in the family when documented appropriately. An attempt to verify deaths or serious illness will be made by Student Organization Resource Center (1202 Talley Student Center, 515-3323) at the request of the instructor.
2.2.3. The instructor's attendance policy, including procedures for submitting excuses and for scheduling makeup work when the excuses are accepted, shall be clearly defined in the syllabus to be distributed on the first day of class.
2.2.4. There is no University-wide definition of a reasonable number of permissible excused absences. The instructor, in lieu of a University policy, is responsible for determining the acceptable number of excused absences in his/her class. The instructor may wish to use the elements of the Add Policy (e.g., the number of class meetings normally held during the Add period at the beginning of the semester; see Adding and Dropping Courses (REG02.20.2) , as a guideline in making this determination.)
2.2.5. Because each instructor has the responsibility to implement grading procedures that are fair and equitable, the instructor shall devise a system for making up missed assignments and examinations that does not unfairly penalize the student when an excused absence is accepted. Such make-up work shall be at a comparable level of difficulty with the original assignment or examination. Make-up examinations shall be at a time and place mutually agreeable to the instructor and student.
2.2.6. When excused absences are accepted, the instructor shall hold all students with excused absences to the same standard for making up missed assignments or examinations.
2.2.7. In a case where the student realizes in the first two weeks of class that the anticipated number of absences will exceed the number of excused absences permitted in the course, the student shall discuss the situation with the instructor, the student's adviser, or the academic dean in the college in which the student is enrolled. It is anticipated that a suitable resolution shall occur before the end of the second week of the semester.
