Beloit College
CLASS ATTENDANCE
Attendance at classes is required and is considered an essential component for each
course. Failure to attend classes may affect the final grade, depending on the policy of the
instructor of each course. If at any point before the add deadline a student has missed
more than half of the scheduled class sessions, an instructor may, in consultation with the
student’s advisor, drop a student from a course. The instructor shall submit a drop card to
the Registrar’s Office, signed by both the instructor and the student’s advisor. The
Registrar’s Office shall notify the student about the instructor-initiated drop. (Note: The
intent of this policy is to enable faculty, during the first week of classes, to enroll a
waitlisted student in place of an enrolled student who has absences as described above).
If the student does not plan to attend a class she or he should follow regular drop
procedures unless she or he has received written notice that she or he has been officially
dropped from a class.
Each instructor should report to the Dean of Students Office (deanstu@beloit.edu) any
excessive number of absences, which, in the opinion of the instructor, affect the student’s
work. Negligence in attendance indicates that the student is not attempting to fulfill
course requirements. Continued indifference to attendance obligations may result in
separation of a student from the college. A student who discontinues attendance in a
course without officially withdrawing may receive an “F” in the course.
When a student has an emergency (death in the family, severe illness or other compelling
circumstance), the student should notify the Dean of Students Office
(deanstu@beloit.edu), who shall inform various administrative offices and the student’s
instructor(s) and advisor(s) about the absence. However, all absences, including
emergencies, are evaluated by the instructor. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the
instructor in advance whenever possible about an absence. In all cases, the student is
responsible for course work missed.
Excused absences for religious holidays must be arranged in advance with individual faculty
members. Faculty members are encouraged to be sensitive to students’ religious preferences,
and will, if at all possible, accommodate student requests for an excused absence. Faculty
members will also make every effort not to schedule exams or quizzes on religious holidays
when a student’s desire to observe that holiday has been expressed. However, the final
decision to schedule an exam or quiz rests with the faculty member.
Taken from Student Handbook Feb. 2014.