Attendance

In most cases, students are expected to meet course attendance expectations. The presence of students, including students with disabilities, contributes to a vibrant and diverse learning environment. For students with a chronic physical or mental condition with brief, periodic flare-ups that substantially limit their ability to meet course attendance expectations, attendance accommodations may be appropriate. Even when an attendance accommodation is approved, students are expected to attend class whenever possible. 

If a disabled student believes they may not be able to meet course attendance expectations due to their disability, the student should contact the DRC prior to the beginning of the semester, or as soon as possible after the need for an accommodation arises, to discuss the matter of a possible accommodation. It is important for the student to realize that even if excused, absences could impact the student’s academic performance because the student will not have the benefit of such things as full classroom interaction and the opportunity to ask questions while the material is being presented. Students are still responsible for any materials covered during their absence. 

Course requirements vary widely due to course structure and additional flexibility cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the university nor an individual faculty member is required to waive essential or fundamental academic requirements of a course regardless of the nature of a student’s disability. If a professor or department can demonstrate to the DRC that attendance is an essential or fundamental academic requirement for the course or to any directly related licensing requirement, they may put in place reasonable attendance requirements.

Accommodations to attendance expectations will be considered on an individual, case-by-case basis taking into account the extent to which medical or psychological documentation from a licensed professional qualified to diagnose and treat the disability, supports the need for the accommodation. Depending on the frequency and duration of disability related absences, three different types of attendance accommodation processes may be considered; case-by-case excused absences, attendance accommodation plans, and return from absence discussions. 

Case-by-case Excused Absences

For students whose disability rarely or infrequently prevents them from attending class absences will be handled on a case-by-case basis. This accommodation allows a student to have a disability related absence treated as excused under the universities Attendance and Excused Absence Policy without providing their faculty with documentation. The DRC will make note of this accommodation internally, but this accommodation will not appear on the notice of accommodation email sent to faculty and no proactive plan with faculty is needed. 

In the event of an acute episode, please contact your Accessibility Consultant by email letting them know 1) what disability symptoms are preventing attendance and 2) the classes with attendance expectations that will be missed. This communication should take place prior to the start of class or as soon as possible. The Accessibility Consultant will email faculty letting them know that the absence should be treated as excused in keeping with the universities Attendance and Excused Absences Policy. This accommodation is specifically designed to build in a slight amount of flexibility around attendance

Attendance Accommodation Plans

When a student’s disability is likely to result in more frequent absences, an Attendance Accommodation Plan may be created for classes that have an attendance policy or points that are earned in class. This accommodation provides moderate flexibility for students who experience acute episodes or flare-ups which may require them to miss class.

Students approved for this accommodation will submit a Course Accommodation Request for an Attendance Accommodation in classes that have an attendance policy or points that are earned in class. The Disability Resource Center will work with faculty to create an Attendance Accommodation Plan that is based on the student’s individualized need for attendance accommodations and the role that attendance plays in the design of the course. Student’s will have an opportunity to review a Proposed Attendance Accommodation Plan and to indicate if it meets their individual needs or if additional adjustments are needed. 

Attendance Accommodations should be requested as early in the semester as possible, ideally within the first few weeks of the course. Attendance Accommodation Plans are not retroactive. They do not cover absences or points that were missed prior to the plan being established. 

An Attendance Accommodation plan cannot compromise the essential design and learning outcomes of the course. In most cases, Attendance Accommodation Plans are not designed to support a substantial number of missed classes or extended periods of absence (typically over two weeks). 

Return to Class Discussions

Students who miss a substantial number of classes or who are absent for an extended period of time, two weeks or more, due to their disability are encouraged to work with their Accessibility Consultant to explore their options. The DRC will help facilitate conversations between faculty and students to help determine the best course of action. This may include a plan between faculty and the student to return to class, dropping or withdrawing from the class, or taking an incomplete.