Class Attendance Policy

Lasell University Attendance Policy

Students are expected to attend classes regularly, and attendance should be taken.  Faculty members should be advised that Federal financial aid regulations require determination of the last day of class attendance, and the Registrar needs to report this date.  It is therefore necessary for every instructor to keep track of attendance.  Reports of attendance are not required, and each instructor may employ whatever method of record-keeping best serves one's purpose.  

Class attendance is essential to meeting course objectives, and the University expects students to attend all class meetings. However, the University does not set specific guidelines regarding procedures and penalties for absences.  Instead, each instructor sets his/her/their own guidelines and determines successful completion of course requirements. Instructors distribute their specific course attendance policies as a part of the course syllabus during the first week of classes.  

It is the student's responsibility to communicate with the instructor as soon as the need to miss a class is known - that is, as far in advance of the class session as possible (e.g., athletes must provide instructors with game schedules at the beginning of the term). It is also the student's responsibility to make arrangements with the instructor to complete missed work or assignments as deemed appropriate by the instructor.  

University policy recognizes the following as excused absences: (1) observation of religious holidays, (2) participation in official college events such as games for participating athletes (practices are not legitimate reasons for missing class), (3) health crises and/or (4) military obligations. The instructor may require documentation from the student for approval of the excused absence.  Please note that the Lasell Office of Health Services does not provide notes, so documentation may not be requested from this office and must instead come from a physician.  

Absence from all or part of class for any reason does not relieve the student from the responsibility of completing course requirements and may adversely affect the student's final grade. Students should expect that excessive absences of any kind, excused or unexcused, will significantly impede progress and success in a given course. Instructors should contact the student's academic advisor as soon as attendance issues occur (via Starfish), who can then discuss available options such as tutoring to assist with the student's progress or course withdrawal.  It is the student's responsibility to communicate concerns, discuss progress and seek assistance from faculty, advisors, tutors, and disability support services as needed.  

Late Start Policy

Students and instructors are expected to arrive at their class by the official start-time of the class. In the event the instructor is delayed, students are required to wait a minimum of fifteen (15) minutes beyond the official start-time of the class before leaving.

Class Cancellation

In the event a class meeting must be cancelled, the instructor calls or sends and e-mail to the Registrar’s Office, and staff in the Registrar’s Office will send a text message and e-mail notice to students. Instructors need to communicate class meeting cancellations with their Dean prior to or simultaneously with their communication to the Registrar’s Office.