• Students are expected to attend and participate in classes as indicated by the course modality (classroom-based, online, etc. available on Pathway).
• In order to comply with federal regulations associated with eligibility rules for federal financial aid, students not attending a course during the first three weeks of the term will be administratively dropped from the specific course.
• Advanced notice of attendance policies of academic units and individual instructors should be given, and such notice should be in writing.
• Students should notify instructors of excused absences in advance, where possible.
• Students who have an excused absence are expected to make arrangements with instructors for alternative or make‐up work. Such arrangements should be made in advance of the absence, where possible.
• Instructors should accommodate excused absences to the extent that an accommodation can be made that does not unreasonably interfere with the learning objectives of the course or unduly burden the instructor.
• Attendance policies shall be applied in a non‐discriminatory manner.
• Enrollment as a student is required to attend any class unless otherwise pre‐approved by the instructor.
• Instructors are responsible for verifying the class roster in Pathway throughout the term.

Each academic unit and instructor may adopt an attendance policy appropriate to that unit, a particular field of study, or for a specific course. Such policy or policies must be consistent with the general principles, and must give students advance notice in writing. In the case of an academic unit, notice may be given in the appropriate section of the General Catalog, or in other materials provided to students for the purpose of informing them of the rules and regulations of the academic unit. In the case of an individual instructor, notice of an attendance policy should be given in the course syllabus.

If neither the academic unit nor the instructor has adopted an attendance policy, or if proper advance notice of the attendance policy was not given, the UMKC general attendance policy will govern. The general attendance policy is that students shall not be penalized for excused absences. “Excused absences” include absences due to illness of the student, illness of an immediate family member for whom the student must care, death of an immediate family member, representation of UMKC in an official capacity, and other compelling circumstances beyond the student’s control. Students seeking an excused absence must provide documentation upon request to substantiate the excuse. Students with excused absences shall undertake appropriate make‐up or alternative work to be provided by instructors of the courses in which excused absences were incurred.

Complaints concerning the application of an attendance policy or an instructor’s attendance policy should be raised with the department chair of the instructor or with the dean if there is no department chair or the instructor is the department chair. If the student or instructor is not satisfied with the resolution of the complaint, the matter may be appealed to the dean and to the Division of Academic Affairs. Complaints concerning the adoption or modification of an attendance policy by an academic unit should be raised with the Division of Academic Affairs. Complaints are to be promptly addressed at each level of review.

Please see additional resources for addressing requests for “excused absences” due to pregnancy (and related conditions) and religious observance.

This policy was approved July, 2002 and effective Fall, 2002; Revised Fall 2012; Revised Fall 2016; Revised Spring 2024.