SENATE RESOLUTION 08/09-01: AMENDMENT TO STUDENT ATTENDANCE POLICY

Whereas UAH sanctions a variety of extracurricular activities that can conflict with class schedules; and

Whereas some of our best students participate in numerous extracurricular activities; and

Whereas student members of groups such as the Student Government Association or students who participate in Higher Education Day in Montgomery have, in the past, lost letter grades for missing classes while on university sponsored events; and

Whereas UAH student athletes are required by the NCAA to make progress each year toward their degrees which may require them to take sequence courses that have limited offerings; and

Whereas we send a mixed message by penalizing students who are both trying to earn a degree and representing UAH at University sanctioned activities.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED

That the UAH Student Handbook (5.2 Class Attendance), UAH Faculty Handbook (8.7 Student Class Attendance), and UAH Instructor Information Booklet (p.6: Student Attendance Policy) be amended to include a section stating:

Students who participate in official University sanctioned student activities (such as Higher Education Day, music tours, student design competitions, intercollegiate athletic competitions, and other similar extracurricular activities), must be allowed to make up, without penalty, any work missed as the result of participating in these activities.

It is the responsibility of the student to present to his or her instructors notice and verification of authorized participation in such activities and to make arrangements, no later than one week in advance, to complete any work that will be missed. Individual instructors retain the authority to determine how students in their classes will avoid academic penalties for the resulting absences.

Only activities approved by the Office of the Provost will be considered to be official University sanctioned activities. Any activity that is not expressly approved by the Office of the Provost will not be considered a University sanctioned activity. Faculty or University employees in charge of such activities shall file, with the Office of the Provost, a list of students and the dates they request the students be exempted from class. Athletic practice sessions and other practices, which are sometimes scheduled at the same time as a course that a student must take, are not officially sanctioned. Deans, Division Directors, and faculty may check any names against the list by contacting the Office of the Provost.