Revisit your attendance policy thinking of your goals, values, and student needs

Why

Your attendance policy can support students to make good choices about their academic journeys when they face challenges. Moreover, it is a chance to communicate what you value in learning to support student success. 

How

1. Review these CTL resources to help you develop your policy:

• How Do I Provide Flexibility and Ensure Attendance?
• An example attendance policy that conveys the value of class time.
• Consider how you will track attendance if it’s required and if you need to differentiate between excused and unexcused absences (Please note, University Health Services will not offer notes when students are sick).
• See how a UMass faculty member uses brief in-class formative assessments as a way to track and incentivize attendance.
• Another option is to allow students to make up some or all of the in-class assignments for full or partial credit. Finally, you could involve students in the creation of the grading scheme by giving them a choice whether attendance counts towards their final grade.