Unified Attendance Policy

The university policy for class attendance may be found on the Registrar website's class absence policy page. This policy applies in all classroom (didactic) courses of the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing with additional details below addressing the unique clinical experiences of the program. Please note any additional requirements related to classroom attendance credit or notification of the instructor in course syllabi.

Excused Absences and Attendance

Attendance in class, clinical, simulation, and lab is mandatory for all students. See attendance policy in Academic Regulations for further information about excused absences.

Students who anticipate military and religious absences should notify the faculty at the beginning of the term so accommodation can be made to complete the learning objectives in a timely way.

Students with communicable illnesses should not attend regularly scheduled clinical sessions.

Students are required to communicate an unexpected absence no later than two hours before class or clinical in the method requested by the course or clinical faculty.

FA 3/8/19; 9/21/22; 5/17/23; 4/2/25

Clinical Attendance and Make-Up Policy

Purpose

The University of Massachusetts (UMass), Amherst Elaine Marieb College of Nursing (EMCON) is committed to preparing student nurses who are caring, collaborative and innovative leaders. This policy informs faculty and students of the steps to follow in the event of an absence from a nursing clinical experience.

PLEASE NOTE: The unique nature of clinical experience credentialling limits opportunities for make-up experiences in clinical settings. When absences are considered excused according to university policy, course coordinators and faculty will make a reasonable attempt to provide make up activities.

Students with more than 2 clinical experience absences (or equivalent >10% missed learning time) will be unable to meet course objectives and will need to repeat the course. All clinical hours must be completed in order to pass the course.

POLICY STATEMENT

(Approved by Faculty Assembly September 2023)

Nursing clinical experiences prepare students with essential knowledge, skills, and attitudes for safe professional nursing practice. The clinical experience is defined as including all teaching and learning activities occurring in on and off campus clinical site placements, in laboratory days and lab course sections, and in simulation experiences. Missed clinical experiences represent a missed opportunity to meet the clinical course objectives and to gain the experience necessary for independent nursing practice. Clinical course objectives are used as the measurement tool for clinical experience grading, and all clinical objectives must be met for successful completion of the nursing program. The completion of all clinical experiences is essential to meeting clinical objectives.

In alignment with University Policy (linked above), faculty will make reasonable attempts to provide makeup activities to meet the course objectives for students with excused absences. Required clinical makeup activities are determined by the clinical or lab instructor and the course coordinator. Students who have an unexcused absence in clinical courses will receive deductions on the final course grade via the Clinical Evaluation Tool. As stated above, more than two absences will result in the need to repeat the course to give students access to the essential learning of clinical experiences.

PROCEDURE
  1. Faculty, in conjunction with the course coordinator, will inform students at the start of the semester the process for reporting an absence.
  2. Faculty, in conjunction with the course coordinator, will inform students with communicable illnesses not to attend regularly scheduled clinical experiences in alignment with public health guidance.
  3. All clinical experience hours are required as assigned. Any absence must be reported by the student to the faculty member and the clinical site, as appropriate, 2 hours prior to the start of the clinical.
  4. Tardiness that exceeds 2 hours will be considered a clinical absence.
  5. The clinical and lab faculty will notify the course coordinator of all absences and makeup assignments within 48 hours.
  6. If the student’s absence exceeds one clinical day, the clinical instructor and course coordinator will meet to determine the student’s standing in the course.
  7. Clinical or lab makeup activities are assigned by the clinical instructor and course coordinator to ensure that the course objectives are met. Due dates for the makeup activities are determined by the clinical instructor and course coordinator. All makeup activities must be completed prior to the last day of class.

Unsafe practice issues: If the student is sent home from clinical for unsafe practice refer to the unsafe practice policy.

FA 3/8/19; 9/21/22; 5/17/23; 4/2/25

Unexcused Absences and Attendance

Attendance is critical to successful progression. Students who have an unexcused absence in clinical courses willreceive deductions on their Clinical Evaluation Tool and/or documentation as a violation and will receive a reduction in the final course grade.

FA 3/8/19; 9/21/22; 5/17/23; 4/2/25.