Graduate Studies

General attendance policy

It is the policy of Appalachian State University that class attendance is considered to be an important part of a student's educational experience. Students are expected to attend every meeting of their classes, and are responsible for class attendance. No matter what bases exist for absence, students are held accountable for academic activities, and faculty may require special work or tests to make up for the missed class or classes. Faculty, at their discretion, may include class attendance as a criterion in determining a student's final grade in the course. On the first day of class, faculty must inform students in writing of their class attendance policy and the effect of that policy on their final grade. If class attendance is to affect a student's final grade, then a statement to this effect must be a part of the course syllabus distributed to each student.

(NOTE: A student who does not attend a class during one of its first two meetings may, at the discretion of the academic department, lose her or his seat in that class. Further, if a class meets only one time per week--e.g., a laboratory or an evening class--the student must attend the FIRST meeting of that class or risk losing her or his seat.)
A syllabus is to be prepared for each course and distributed at the first of the semester. The syllabus should include the following: an explanation of course goals and objectives, the name of the text and any other materials required of each student, the instructor's office hours, an explanation of how the grade is to be determined, and an explanation of any additional reading, papers, projects and examination which the instructor expects to give or assign.
Syllabi for courses taught in the present and previous semester should be on file in the departmental offices and should be made available to students who request them. These syllabi would indicate the structure of courses as they are being or have been taught.
The Registrar's Office is allowed to assign an administrative withdrawal to the "audit" student who has not been "regular in attendance". Documentation will consist of an appropriate notation by the faculty member of record on the final roll.
The Student Health Services DOES NOT write medical excuses for students who miss class for illness or injury. However, faculty may call Health Services (262-3100) to verify the day and time the student was seen. The nature of the student's illness or problem will not be divulged unless the student has signed the appropriate release of medical information.

Attendance policy relating to participation in University sponsored activities As an integral part of the academic program at Appalachian State University, the University sponsors and otherwise supports co-curricular programs, athletic programs, and other out-of-class activities such as field trips. Participation in such activities occasionally requires a student to miss one or more class meetings.

A student who expects to miss one or more class meetings because of participation in a University-sponsored activity has several responsibilities: The student (in person) will notify the instructor in advance of any absence; the student is expected to complete all work missed by making up the work in advance or by completing any compensatory assignment which may be required by the instructor; the student is expected to maintain satisfactory progress in the course; and the student (otherwise) is expected to maintain satisfactory attendance in the class if so required. In the event that a student anticipates that participation in a University-sponsored activity will require missing more than 10% of the class meetings, the student is required to discuss this matter with the student's instructor at the beginning of the semester and may be advised to drop the course.

If the above responsibilities are met, it is expected that the instructor will excuse the absence and permit the student to make up missed work in whatever manner the instructor deems appropriate.

Emergency Absences

When a student is out of town and unable to return to campus due to hospitalization, death in the family, or other extenuating circumstances, the student or the student's parents may contact the Office of Student Development to request that professors be notified as to the reason for the absence. This notification is conveyed to the appropriate departmental office as a matter of information only and does not serve as an official excuse for class absence. Only individual faculty members make this determination, and documentation may be requested by the faculty members. The Office of Student Development does not provide this service when notification is received after the absence has occurred. Also, if a student is in town, that student is responsible for notifying the individual faculty members that she/he will be missing class.

Inclement Weather Policy

Appalachian reserves the right to cancel classes during inclement weather. In determining whether to cancel classes because of inclement weather, the Chancellor consults with the Provost, the Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs, the Vice Chancellor for Student Development and other University personnel as necessary. Only the Governor of North Carolina has the authority to close the institution due to adverse weather conditions. Appalachian students, faculty and staff can learn of changes to the University's operational schedule through a variety of sources. A recorded message announcing a change in normal operation will be available at (828) 262-SNOW. Other sources of information include, but are not limited to, WATA-1450 AM, WASU-90.5 FM, WECR-102.3 FM, WKBC-97.3 FM and others. Information may be listed on television crawl screen messages on WBTV, WSOC and WJHL, for example. Students also will be notified via Campus Pipeline's personal announcement system, and information will be posted on the University's web page (www.appstate.edu). Every effort will be made to inform area radio and television stations and other sources by 6:30 a.m. Faculty are reminded that the media do not announce individual class cancellations. Section 5.2 of the Faculty Handbook requires faculty who must be absent from classes for unavoidable reasons to notify their departmental chair, and the departmental chair will make necessary arrangements for these classes. Staff employees (SPA) should follow the State's adverse weather policy as distributed by Human Resource Services. Weather and related road conditions are not the same in every area where students, faculty and staff live. Therefore, the decision to travel to campus must ultimately rest with each individual. Students are responsible for academic work they miss due to absences caused by inclement weather. Faculty should provide a reasonable opportunity for students to complete assignments or missed examinations due to such absences.