51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ

Policy and Procedures Manual

Classification Number: 8.4.2
Revised: June 25, 2025

SUBJECT:      CLASS ATTENDANCE

Students enrolled at 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ Baptist University should make every effort to attend all class meetings. All absences must be explained to the satisfaction of the instructor who will decide whether the omitted work may be made up unless the absence qualifies as an excused absence. Every faculty member will provide a copy of his/her syllabus and written attendance policy to each student enrolled in the class on the first day of the class in each term/session. Regardless of course format (face-to-face, online, or hybrid), it is the student's responsibility to understand and meet the attendance requirements set forth in the course syllabus. Per ADA guidelines, the university is not obligated to alter the structure or curriculum of the course.

The dean of the school must approve part-time and adjunct faculty class attendance requirements prior to syllabi distribution.

Students in programs for which an outside agency has stricter attendance requirements will be subject to those requirements. The Office of the University Registrar will provide faculty a list of these students and the agency’s requirements. The Office of the University Registrar will also provide the student with a list of these requirements.

Students missing class for health reasons must provide documentation to the Director of Health Services and the Coordinator of Disability Services from an appropriate health care provider or by following  Attachment A – Medical Accommodation Notification Procedure or Post-Concussion Return to Learn Protocol. See policy 8.4.2.1.

Students may encounter unique life circumstances that affect their ability to attend class or participate in university activities.  Guidance for faculty, staff, coaches, and student-athletes is appended to the policy as  Attachment C- Excused Absence.

Plainview Campus - Class attendance requirements are established by each faculty member on the Plainview campus in accordance with those policies required by the university and the academic school.

1. Students enrolled at 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ Baptist University Plainview campus location should make every effort to attend all class meetings. All absences must be explained to the satisfaction of the instructor who will decide whether the omitted work may be made up.
2. Any student whose unexcused absences result in the student missing twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the regularly scheduled class meetings may receive a grade of “F” for that course.
3. When a student reaches a number of absences considered by the instructor to be excessive, the instructor will so advise the student and file a Report of Unsatisfactory Progress or Pioneer Pulse Alert with the Director of Student Success and School Dean.
4. Additional attendance policies for each course, as defined by the instructor in the course syllabus, are part of 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ's attendance policy.

Students participating in university-sanctioned events must proactively engage with their instructors.  Written certification from an appropriate university official in advance of the anticipated absence is expected.  This collaboration helps ensure that faculty can determine which absences are excused and students can arrange to complete any missed assignments or assessments in a timely manner, maintaining their academic progress. By taking responsibility for these arrangements, students demonstrate their commitment to both their academic and extracurricular endeavors, ensuring a seamless continuation of their educational journey.

Students face unique circumstances related to class attendance.  Guidance for faculty and staff is appended to the policy as Attachment B – Athletics Attendance Information.

External Campuses - Instructors at external campuses are responsible for reporting non-attendance situations to the executive director/campus dean. The following attendance policy remains in effect for all external campuses:

1. Students enrolled at 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ Baptist University external campus locations should make every effort to attend all class meetings. All absences must be explained to the satisfaction of the instructor who will decide whether the omitted work may be made up.
2. Any student whose unexcused absences result in the student missing twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the regularly scheduled class meetings may receive a grade of “F” for that course.
3. When a student reaches a number of absences considered by the instructor to be excessive, the instructor will so advise the student and file a Report of Unsatisfactory Progress or Pioneer Pulse Alert with the executive director/campus dean.
4. Additional attendance policies for each course, as defined by the instructor in the course syllabus, are part of 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ's attendance policy.

WBUonline Students - Students are expected to participate in all required instructional activities in their courses. Online courses are no different in this regard; however, participation must be defined in a different manner.

1. Student “attendance” in an online course is defined as active participation in the course as described in the course syllabus. Instructors in online courses are responsible for providing students with clear instructions for how they are required to participate in the course. Additionally, instructors are responsible for incorporating specific instructional activities within their course and will, at a minimum, have weekly mechanisms for documenting student participation. These mechanisms may include, but are not limited to, participating in a weekly discussion board, submitting/completing assignments in Blackboard, or communicating with the instructor.
2. Students aware of necessary absences must inform the professor with as much advance notice as possible in order to make appropriate arrangements.
3. Any student absent 25 percent or more of the online course, i.e., non-participatory during 2 or more weeks of an 8-week session, may receive an F for that course. Instructors may also file a Report of Unsatisfactory Progress or Pioneer Pulse Alert for students with excessive non-participation.
4. Any student who has not actively participated in an online class prior to the census date for any given term/session is considered a "no-show" and will be administratively withdrawn from the class without record. To be counted as actively participating, it is not sufficient to log in and view the course. The student must be submitting work as described in the course syllabus.
5. Additional attendance and participation policies for each course, as defined by the instructor in the course syllabus, are considered a part of the university’s attendance policy.

A student may petition the Academic Council or Graduate Council for exceptions to the above stated policies by filing a written request for an appeal to the vice president of academic affairs.

Contact for Interpretation:  Vice President of Academic Affairs

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This policy statement supersedes all previous policy statements on this subject.

Revisions:

• 06/25/2025 – Revision to policy regarding student responsibility for missed assignments and clarification of attendance limits as 25% unexcused absences; revisions to Attachments A and B; and addition of Attachment C
• 08/14/2017 – Title changes
• 06/06/2016 – Revision – revision of first sentence under Plainview Campus; addition of paragraphs four, five, and six under Plainview Attendance; addition of Graduate Council in last paragraph of policy; addition of Attachment A and B
• 07/01/2013 – Revision-deletion of #5 of External Campuses, insertion of last paragraph
• 03/18/2013 – Addition of Online Student attendance policy
• 04/25/2007 – Revision-divided into “Plainview” and “external” campuses
• 04/25/2007 – Review
• 10/01/2004 – Reissue as 8.4.2
• 08/19/1997 – Revision-layout change
• 03/19/1992 – Inception as policy 8.2.4.1