Attendance Policies

1. Attendance Guidelines

University policy excuses the absences of students for illness (self or dependent), religious observances, participation in University activities at the request of university authorities, and compelling circumstances beyond the student's control.  Students must request the excuse in writing and supply appropriate documentation, e.g., medical documentation.  Course syllabi should specify the nature of the in-class participation expected and the effects of absences on the student's grade.  Students with written, excused absences are entitled to a makeup exam at a time mutually convenient for the instructor and student.

2. Inclement Weather

Faculty should clarify their policy on handling official schedule adjustments (closings and delays) including associated rescheduling of examinations and assignments due to inclement weather and campus emergencies.  If necessary, they should make arrangements to communicate with students directly if weather conditions preclude meeting with students for a normally scheduled class.  Official closures and delays are announced on the campus website and snow phone line (301-405-SNOW) as well as local radio and TV stations.  If bad weather forces a faculty member to cancel a class even though the University is open, the faculty member must notify the department chair in advance.

3. Religious Observances

The University of Maryland policy on religious observance states that students should not be penalized in any way for participation in religious observances and that, whenever feasible, they should be allowed to makeup academic assignments that are missed due to such absences. However, the student must personally hand the instructor a written notification of the projected absence within two weeks of the start of the semester.  The request should not include travel time. Instructors should take the validity of these requests at face value.  For your reference, an extensive list of religious holidays appears at http://www.interfaithcalendar.org  In addition, due to the inconvenience that would be caused as a result of the large number of our students who participate in particular religious observances, tests and the due dates of other significant assessment must not be scheduled for the dates listed below!

Faculty should remind students in advance, preferably on the syllabus, that it is the student's responsibility to inform the instructor of any intended absences for religious observances in advance and that prior notification is especially important in connection with final examinations, since failure to reschedule a final examination before the conclusion of the final examination period may result in loss of credits during the semester. This problem is especially likely to arise when final exams are scheduled on Saturdays. Failure to understand and adhere to this policy may result in a false perception that the campus is insensitive to the religious diversity on campus. Accordingly, faculty should make every feasible effort to accommodate students' requests based on attendance of religious observances.

4. Rescheduling Classes and Final Examinations

Permanent changes in the scheduling and location of classes and the final exam must be approved by the chair of the department or dean of the college or the appropriate designee. Final exams shall not be rescheduled to the final week of classes. Unless written permission is granted by the unit head, every course must have a final exam. See also the Final Examination Policy.

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