Attendance and Absences Policy

Attending class is a basic necessity for student learning and intellectual growth at Macalester College. While implementation requires the professional judgment of faculty and staff, and assumes student responsibility in ensuring that their academic goals are not negatively impacted by their college-sponsored co-curricular activities, this policy specifies guidelines for addressing class attendance and absence issues. Questions about this policy should be directed to the Dean of Students or Director of Academic Programs.

I. Attendance in Classes

The faculty recognizes the importance of regular attendance in all courses. Attendance policy in classes, however, is left to the discretion of the individual faculty, except in the cases of College-authorized absences.

II. College-Authorized Absence for College-Sponsored Activities

a. Absences from classes and, if necessary, from the campus are authorized
for students who, as individuals or members of athletic teams or other
organized groups, represent the College in college-sponsored activities.
The following groups are included in this category: (1) members of
properly authorized varsity and junior varsity athletic teams participating
in scheduled intercollegiate competitions; and (2) participants in college-
sponsored, co-curricular activities led by faculty and/or staff (not including
student organizations). Though such absence for college-sponsored
activities is authorized by the College, faculty and staff leading such
activities should make every effort to ensure minimal disruption of student
class attendance.

b. The names of students involved in such organized activities shall be
reported to the Dean of Students by the faculty or staff supervisors of the
college-sponsored activities well in advance of each event necessitating
absence from classes. This report will describe all necessary information,
including dates of absences and the specific purpose of the activity. The
Dean of Students shall then certify to faculty teaching courses with
students participating in the college-sponsored activity, as far in advance
of the absence as practical, College authorization of absence for students
involved. It is still a student’s responsibility to notify faculty of any
impending class absences.

III. Individual Authorizations for Absence

The Dean of Students is empowered to authorize absences from classes and,
if necessary, from the campus for individual students in cases of exigency.
Authorized absences shall not relieve students of the responsibility of making up
work that has been missed.

IV. Provisions for Making Up Work

a. Instructors shall be notified of all College-authorized absences and shall
provide opportunity to students to make up work missed during College-
authorized absences from class without penalty. If College-authorized
absences total more than 10% of the course meeting time, it shall be at the
discretion of the instructor whether the student may make up the missed
work. College-authorized absences shall not relieve students of the
responsibility of making up work that has been missed.

b. If a class will not meet at its regularly scheduled time or will have an
additional class meeting outside of its regularly scheduled time, faculty
should provide an alternative assignment or consideration for students
unable to attend due to a College-authorized absence for a college-
sponsored activity. In the event that the absence is not due to a college-
sponsored activity, faculty should handle possible conflicts at their own
discretion.