Attendance Policy

Online Course Attendance Policy

Dillard University Online Course Section Attendance Policy

3-credit hour course.

Dillard University believes that class attendance is regarded as an obligation as well as a privilege. All students are expected to regularly and punctually attend all classes in which they are enrolled and participate in assigned instructional activities as outlined in course syllabi. Online courses are no different from traditional classroom courses in this regard. Online students are subject to the same attendance policy and procedures as traditional students. However, attendance and participation in an online course are defined in a different manner. 

Dillard University defines attendance in online courses is as active participation in academically related activities in the course as described in the individual course syllabus. Each online course syllabus will state that the course has an active participation definition of attendance and that students are required to log in and actively participate at a minimum of at least one time each week.  Online courses will, at a minimum, have at least one weekly component to document student participation.   Any or all of the following methods may serve as that component:

1. Completion of tests or quizzes
2. Participation in any assigned activities
3. Completion of interactive tutorials or interactive, computer-assisted instruction
4. Participation in discussions related to the course’s subject matter (Discussion boards and LMS communication tools).  See end note for clarification*

Having these weekly components in place requires that students attend and actively participate in class each week or as specified in the syllabus (to include required synchronous meetings). 

Students are required to log in to each online course by the third day during the week in which the course officially begins, or on the day of late registration to complete the initial introductory activities and postings required in the course. Students must log in at least one additional day during the first week of the course. At a minimum, students must log in and actively participate at least one time each week of the course to meet attendance requirements or as specified in the syllabus (including synchronous class requirements). As a component of attendance, course announcements, and the course news forum(s) should be checked frequently (daily is recommended). The student is solely responsible for checking updates related to the course. Note: Nonattendance may affect financial aid Links to an external site..  For 3-credit hour courses, if a student does not log in and complete graded activities for a period of 14 consecutive days, then the student should be dropped for non-attendance.  Simply logging in, but not participating and/or completing weekly components of the course, is not considered attendance.  If a student fails to meet the attendance requirements, they will be withdrawn from the course.  In the case of an anticipated absence, such as military deployment, a student should contact the instructor in advance and make arrangements to complete the required assignments. In case of an emergency (illness/accident or death in the family), a student should contact the instructor as soon as possible providing documentation supporting the need for any late submission of a graded event.

Non-participation Accrue during Scheduled Breaks 

If a given course is scheduled on an academic calendar that allows break time to students (e.g., Labor Day, Thanksgiving Break, Memorial Day, Spring Break), a student may still participate in that course during the break. If a student does not do so, however, the scheduled break day(s) do not count toward the non-participation that student may be accruing in a given course. In addition to normal University business days, however, non-participation does accrue on regular weekend days that are not included in scheduled break time. 

How Is Non-participation Handled and Reported in an Online Class? 

The instructor’s prompt notification to The Office of the Registrar using myDU is vitally important to ensure the University’s compliance with federal guidelines for handling federal student aid. The following table identifies the relevant non-participation action items. 

Non Attendance/Non Participation timeline	First Week/7 days	First 14 days	Day 14+	End of term
Instructor Action(s)	If the student reaches 7 days of non-active participation without participating in the course at all at the beginning of the term, email the student and either 1) report non-attendance in the university’s attendance tracking system or 2) email the appropriate reporting office, advisor, and/or academic program chair the next day.	If the student reaches 14 days’ non-active participation without participating in the course at all at the beginning of the term, email the student and either 1) report non-attendance in the university’s attendance tracking system that the student is a “no show” or 2) email the appropriate reporting office, advisor, and/or academic program chair the next day.	If at any time the student reaches 14 days of non-active participation in the course email the student and their advisor and either 1) report the failure to attend in the university’s attendance tracking system indicating that the student has earned an “FA” and include the student’s last date of active participation in the course or 2) email the appropriate reporting office, advisor, and/or academic program chair the next day. Attach the student’s course analytics and student’s grades documentation to the email.	Formally submit the “FA” with the appropriate last date of active participation for the student with the course’s other grades at the end of the term.  Attach the student course analytics and student grades documentation to the end of the term roll book as well.

 

*Clarifying item 4.  Discussions or communications of matters other than the course’s subject matter would not count as participation, even if the student contacts the instructor to discuss them. Examples include plans about submitting assignments, requests for extensions on deadlines for assignments, notifications of illness, or inquiries about purchasing course materials.

Dillard University Class Attendance Policy

Class attendance is regarded as an obligation as well as a privilege. All students are expected to regularly and punctually attend all classes in which they are enrolled and participate in assigned instructional activities as outlined in course syllabi. Dillard instructors will be responsible to regulate the class attendance in consultation with their respective colleges. Instructors will be responsible for publishing the attendance requirement in their course syllabi. Implicit in these regulations is the notion that students must assume primary responsibility for informing instructors of reasons for absences. A student who is not present when attendance is checked in a class is considered absent. A course will be dropped for any student who is submitted to the Office of Records and Registration as a “no show”. Students are considered a “no show” if they fail to attend class during the first two weeks of the semester (one week for summer terms). The “no show” student will not be charged tuition for the dropped course. However, there may be serious financial aid consequences for students who are receiving financial aid, since this will reduce the number of enrolled credit hours. If students believe their instructor reported them as a “no show” in error, they must obtain a reinstatement form from the Office of Records and Registration within three (3) days of receiving notice of their course being dropped to resolve the issue.

 

Synchronous Class Meetings Attendance Policy

 

Online Learning Definitions at Dillard University Links to an external site.