Course Attendance

Each instructor shall, in writing, at the beginning of each semester or Short Term, make clear to the students in the course the expectations regarding attendance and nonattendance at classes and laboratories. 

It is the responsibility of each instructor to outline their expectations regarding attendance at the start of each semester on the course syllabus so that each enrolled student can make an informed choice regarding the continued enrollment in the course.

A student’s participation in the work of a course is a precondition for receiving credit for the course. Students registering late or who miss class are expected to make up all missed assignments in a manner determined by the instructor.

Field Trips

The Bates College Faculty Handbook outlines expectations regarding field trips:

Whenever class trips entail absences from other classes, the instructor must secure advance approval from the department or program chair. A list of all students involved, and a list of all courses they will individually miss as a result of the field trips, must accompany the request. Faculty requesting that students miss a class of another faculty member are asked to inform that faculty member of the request. Students may not be required to go on field trips if they involve absences from classes in which examinations are scheduled.

Class Absences

Students should consult with their instructors about all class absences.

It is the responsibility of the student to:

• Notify the instructor immediately about class absences
• Discuss any missed class time, tests, or assignments

It is the responsibility of the instructor to:

• Communicate clearly to the student the likely consequences of any class absence
• What would need to be done to make up any work missed
• Inform the student if they are in danger of failing the course because of the amount of work or class time to be missed. A course deferral or a withdrawal from the course may be pursued, if needed, and if permitted under the appropriate policies

With the approval of the instructor, the Office of Accessible Education will work with students to proctor missed exams for the types of absences described below. These types of absences include those related to NCAA athletic competitions, illness, severe medical or psychological issues, personal emergencies, and debate competitions. It is the responsibility of the student to schedule the exam with the Office of Accessible Education, following the guidelines found on their website.

For absences that fall outside of these categories, arrangements must be made directly between the student and instructor to make up the exam. Please note that this includes students who are eligible for exam accommodations. If an instructor allows a student to miss an exam for a reason not identified below, they will not be able to sit for the exam in the Office of Accessible Education. In this instance it is the instructor’s responsibility to ensure that the student receives their approved accommodation(s) when making arrangements for them to take the exam.

Understanding that responsibilities ultimately lie with the student and instructor, the college seeks to support students and faculty in their academic pursuits by providing confirmation in the following circumstances:

Scheduled & Planned Absences:

It is the student’s responsibility to discuss planned absences with their course instructors at the start of the semester and before each absence.

Unplanned Absences & Emergencies:

It is the student’s responsibility to discuss any unplanned absence with their course instructors as soon as possible once they are aware they will be missing class.

Illness:

Students who are temporarily unable to attend class due to illness, including those recovering from COVID-19, are expected to work with their professors to determine how best to meet their academic commitments. Faculty determine the best way for the student to make up any missed classes. Faculty are not obligated to offer Zoom/hybrid participation for an ill student, though they are welcome to offer that if they wish. In some courses, professors may require that they be officially notified for unplanned illness-related absences, when these absences occur during class sessions that involve specific course requirements, e.g., laboratories, presentations, performances, or exams. Such a requirement should be stated on the course syllabus. If a student is absent from these classes because of illness and the professor requires notification, then students may seek that notice from Health Services or Counseling and Psychological Services. The student, in consultation with the professor, is responsible for addressing missed work.

Please note that moving the entire class to a Zoom or online format is not a viable solution when multiple students are absent as it forces other students to sacrifice their in-person experience.

Severe medical or psychological issues typically requiring hospitalization: The Director of Counseling & Psychological Services or the Student Health Support and Outreach Specialist will notify a student’s instructors in order to confirm the situation. For concussions, Sports Medicine or the Student Health Support and Outreach Specialist will notify a student’s instructors in order to confirm the situation.

Personal Emergencies (such as a death in the family): The Dean of Students Office will notify a student’s instructors in order to confirm the situation. Please contact Faith Hauger at 207-786-6220 or fhauger@bates.edu to request a notification for a personal emergency.

Debate: Because participation in a debate tournament is not determined until close to the time of the tournament, it is not possible to provide faculty with a schedule of which debaters will be participating in which tournaments at the start of the semester. At least 24 hours prior to scheduled debate tournaments that require student debaters to leave campus while classes are scheduled, the faculty will be informed of any of their students participating in the tournament, where and when the tournament is being held, and when the students must depart and return to campus.

Students who are uncertain about whether they will earn a place on a varsity or debate team should also be proactive about discussing possible absences related to athletic or debate competition.

Varsity Athletics: Varsity athletes may notify faculty of additional absences mid-semester that cannot be planned at the start of the season, for example in cases where a team or individual makes a playoff or when contests need to be re-scheduled due to weather. In these cases the Department of Physical Education and Athletics will notify the faculty and the student will speak to the individual instructor as soon as the additional time is scheduled.