Class Attendance
Regular class attendance is considered essential for maximum educational advantage and is strongly encouraged. The responsibility for all course material rests wholly with the students. Schools may require attendance at every class.
It is the prerogative of each school to establish policy for attendance at classes, laboratories, tests, examinations, deadlines for reports and specific school requirements. It is the instructor’s responsibility to make the school’s policy known at the first class session as it pertains to the course and school.
Students who are unable to attend class because of serious illness, hospitalization, a serious accident or other extenuating circumstance are responsible for notifying their advisor or dean's office. Students should supply any required written verifications as soon as possible.
Students must submit assigned work and take the examination/s in the course at the specified time. If work is not submitted or an examination is not taken at the scheduled time, the policy is to assign a zero for that part of the course. An accumulation of zero grades could result in a final grade of "F." If a student has for legitimate reason missed a part of the course or an examination, the instructor may elect to assign an Incomplete ("I") grade. If an Incomplete grade is assigned, the work must be completed and a final grade submitted no later than the deadline as states in the Academic Calendar. Incomplete grades that remain after the deadline will be converted to a final and permanent grade of "F," and courses that are required to graduate must be repeated.
Students who register for a course but do not attend (and do not drop or withdraw by the semester deadlines) will receive a final grade of "F" for the course.
Excused Absence Policy
As Duquesne University moves into the ranks of the foremost Catholic universities in the United States, it is necessary and appropriate that its faculty encourage and facilitate student participation in University-approved co-curricular activities (e.g. meaningful research and/or presentations at academic and professional associations and meetings) and University-sponsored extracurricular activities (e.g. debate, Tamburitzans, and varsity athletics).
In light of these considerations, faculty members must excuse a student who is required to represent Duquesne University at University-approved intercollegiate athletic events and/or Tamburitzan performances from attending one or more classes. Faculty members should, where possible, respond positively to requests from students to be excused from attending one or more classes to participate in other non-mandatory University-approved and/or University-sponsored events.
Faculty members should receive verification of the reason for the excused absences from the University unit that approved or sponsored the activity, at least two weeks prior to the absence.
Students who are excused from attending class is responsible for all work and other activities required of the other students in the missed class. Students who miss an examination or submission deadline due to absence must make up the exam or submit the assignment at a time and place designated by the instructor.
This policy does not include clinical internships or experiences. In such cases, support for continuation in University-approved events must be solicited by the individual student from the academic unit in which the student is enrolled in conjunction with the University unit sponsoring the activity.
