Class Attendance Policies

This will apply to all students enrolled at UW-Stout.  

1. Regular attendance is the responsibility of each student, and it is assumed that students will attend all classes for which they are enrolled.*

2. The attendance policy of each instructor is to be submitted in writing to each student at the beginning of the course. It may be discussed with or explained to the students. Attendance is likely to affect the student's achievement and it is at the instructor's discretion as to how class attendance and participation are factored into the student's overall grade for the course.  

3. It is the student's responsibility to notify instructors of any situation that causes the student to miss class. Students should follow the policy outlined in the syllabus for missing class.  

4. When a student is absent for three days or longer because of lengthy illness or a family situation, notification for student absences will be issued by the Dean of Students Office, (715) 232-1181 or Dean_of_Students@uwstout.edu. This notification does not change attendance policies put in effect by the instructor and is a courtesy memo only, informing the instructor of the student's whereabouts. This courtesy memo is not an excused absence, rather a documentation of the absence.  

5. A university-sanctioned activity is defined as an activity that has been verified by the class instructor or divisional head prior to the activity.  Such activities include, but are not limited to: course related field trips, intercollegiate athletics, Student Association conferences, forensics tournaments, and music tours. Student participation in these events is recognized as an integral part of the educational experience. To minimize conflict with other instructors, the dates of these scheduled activities should be provided to participating students and academic departments early in the semester. 
   
   The determination of student qualifications for or participation in these activities is the responsibility of the class instructor or organizational advisor.
   
   Instructional staff must allow the student to make up missed activities/course work at the convenience of the instructor.  Class periods missed by attending a university-sanctioned activity should not be treated as an absence. 
   
   Students are expected to notify their respective instructors in advance of classes which they will miss due to participation in a university-sanctioned activity and at the convenience of the class instructor, will assume the responsibility for making up work missed due to such absence.
   
   *Students who register for a course but do not attend the class and do not officially withdraw are given a mark of “FN.”

Students who do not attend the first class meeting of a course, or who do not notify the instructor or department chair that they will be absent for special reasons, may, at the instructor's discretion, be dropped from that course if, and only if, other students are waiting to enroll at that time. Instructors may use this form to drop absent students. Please note, however, that many instructors do not use this option. Do not assume that a course will be dropped automatically if you do not attend.

This policy does not apply to students who have permission to return after Labor Day due to work commitments. Please be sure to check the list provided with the class rosters before exercising your option in this policy.