Attendance Policy
Class attendance is critical to a student’s mastery of the knowledge and skills that are taught in a specific course. Regular attendance and participation in every course are responsibilities assumed by every student registered for courses in a Loras College graduate program. If a student needs to miss class, the student is responsible for contacting the faculty member ahead of time. Students are expected to reference the course syllabus for awareness of their ability to make up work missed due to absence.
Last Date of Attendance Policy
Purpose
Loras College does not require that instructors take attendance; however, the US Department of Education requires verification that a student who receives financial aid and fails to earn a passing grade in a course has attended the course (34 CFR 668.22). The purpose of this policy is to outline the responsibilities for documenting a student’s last date of attendance.
Key Terminology
Last Date of Attendance
Defined as the last verifiable date of academic engagement. For the purposes of this policy, the last date of attendance is one of the following:
- The last date the student attended a synchronous class activity in courses where attendance is recorded by the instructor
- In courses taught either synchronously or asynchronously, where attendance is not regularly taken, the last date the student submitted an exam, assignment, quiz, or engaged in another academic-related activity included in the definition of academic engagement.
Academic Engagement
Defined as “active participation by a student in an instructional activity related to the student’s course of study” as defined by the institution in accordance with any applicable State or accrediting agency. The following activities are identified by federal regulation as included or excluded from the definition of academic engagement:
| Includes |
Attending a synchronous class, lecture, recitation, or field or laboratory activity, physically or online, where there is an opportunity for interaction between the instructor and students. |
| Submitting an academic assignment or taking an exam. |
| Participating in an interactive tutorial, webinar, or other interactive computer-assisted instruction. |
| Participating in a study group, group project, or an online discussion that is assigned by the institution. |
| Interacting with an instructor about academic matters. |
| Excludes |
Living in institutional housing or participating in a meal plan. |
| Logging into an online class or tutorial without further participation. |
| Participating in academic counseling or advisement. |
| 34 CFR § 600.2 (July 1, 2021) |
Instructor Responsibility
Because the instructor of record is the only person who can document whether a student has demonstrated academic engagement, it is the responsibility of the instructor to report the last date of attendance for any student in a particular course. Any instructor entering a final grade of “F” (fail) must also enter the date of last attendance for the student receiving the failing grade.
Documenting Last Date of Attendance
Course instructors should maintain educational records, including student work and grade records, in accordance with Loras policy 1.4.1-A: Retention & Disposal of Student Work & Grade Records.
In courses where attendance is taken regularly, documentation of the last date of attendance may be provided in the form of semester/term attendance records. In all other courses, because electronic records provide easily accessible information about student engagement, instructors are strongly encouraged to use the Learning Management System (LMS) to record academic engagement (e.g. assignment submission, posting assignment grades and instructor feedback and utilizing the electronic gradebook)
According to federal regulations, in instances where the instructor is unable to document academic engagement, the student should be reported as never having attending the class.
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