Class Attendance

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Class Attendance

Attending classes and laboratories is an essential part of the learning experience at Villanova, and attendance, especially for first-year students, is a basic expectation for earning course credit.

It is the student’s responsibility to adhere to the attendance policy for each course. Attendance policies are determined by the instructors of the various courses or in some cases by the college, department, or program. The instructor’s class attendance policy must appear in the syllabus and at a minimum must allow for the University’s excused absences listed below. Enforcement of such attendance policies lies with those instructors. If the instructor determines that a student has too many absences (total of excused and unexcused) to meet the fundamental course objectives or pass the course, then the instructor should discuss the student’s attendance with the appropriate Assistant or Associate Dean of the instructor’s college in order to determine if the student should withdraw or receive an incomplete.

Where possible, students should inform their instructors if they plan to be late or absent from class.  In all cases, students should be prepared to provide documentation to petition for excused absences to the appropriate Assistant or Associate Dean of their college.  Absence from class does not release the student from work assigned.  Students who miss an in-class obligation (exam, presentation, etc.) due to an excused absence will not be penalized - the instructor may offer a make-up test, arrange an alternative time for a presentation, exempt a student from the assignment, or provide another arrangement.   

The University’s list of excused absences for all students includes the following:

  • participation in NCAA athletic competitions
  • participation in special academic events (e.g., conferences, field trips, project competitions)
  • participation in official university business (e.g., student representatives attending meetings related to university governance)
  • attendance at significant events involving the immediate family (e.g., funerals, weddings)
  • religious holidays - see the University’s Policy on Religious Holidays
  • college-approved participation in placement activities (e.g., job interviews, graduate school interviews, attending job fairs)
  • legally required absence (jury duty, court appearance, short-term military service)
  • documented serious illness or disability (see below how to document)
  • a pre-determined number of class absences to support personal wellness (two excused absences for 50-minute classes meeting three times per week, and one excused absence for classes meeting two times per week for 75 minutes).  See proposed syllabus language at the conclusion of this policy.
    • Additional guidance around excused absences for personal wellness:
  • Students must advise the instructor by email before class of their intent to utilize an excused absence for personal wellness as the reason for their absence. 
  • An excused absence for personal wellness will not be approved retroactively. 
  • Additionally, excused absence for personal wellness may not:
    • be used on consecutive class days;
    • be used in the same week;
    • be used for the student’s class period immediately preceding or following a University holiday or break period (for example, a student may not use an excused absence for personal wellness on the Tuesday before the Thanksgiving holiday for a class that meets on Tuesday/Thursday);
    • be used on days when exams, presentations or other major assignments are scheduled;
    • be used for the following: Labs, Clinicals, Internships, Courses that meet one time per week, FastForward courses and professional education courses/programs offered by the College of Professional Studies, Summer Sessions, or graduate/law courses.

If instructors want to verify that the absence qualifies as an excused absence under the university list or verify that the student is permitted to participate in the activity, they should contact the designated Assistant or Associate Dean of the student’s College.

The College of Professional Studies has separate attendance policies for FastForward courses and professional education courses/programs. The College of Nursing has a separate attendance policy for clinical experiences. Graduate Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has separate attendance policies for online degree programs. The Charles Widger School of Law also has a separate attendance policy.

Documenting a Serious Illness or Disability

The Student Health Center does not provide notes to excuse absences for students missing class due to their visit to the Student Health Center, or to excuse class absences due to the most common illnesses. The Student Health Center will also not provide notes to excuse absences for medical conditions that were not treated at the Student Health Center. The purpose of this policy is to eliminate students from unnecessary visits to the Student Health Center for the sole purpose of obtaining class absence notes for their professors. 

Some illnesses may legitimately prevent a student from attending classes, but are not serious enough to require evaluation and treatment from the Student Health Center.  Students often provide self-care, which is appropriate for many common illnesses such as cold, viral infection, or uncomplicated flu.  Students should inform their instructors if they are missing class due to a common illness.  Instructors have the discretion to decide if the absence due to a common illness is excused.  If a student wishes to appeal the instructor’s decision, the student may do so by contacting the instructor’s Department Chair or Program Director, who will consult with the appropriate Assistant or Associate Dean of the instructor’s college before deciding the outcome of the appeal.

If, in the judgment of the Student Health Center staff, the student will be out of class due to a serious illness or medical condition, as opposed to a common illness, the Student Health Center staff will contact the appropriate Assistant or Associate Dean, who will then contact the instructor without sharing details of the medical condition. The Student Health Center's communication to the Assistant or Associate Dean will serve as the documentation needed by the Dean (see below). If the student is seeing an off-campus health care provider, the student will provide the documentation from that provider to the appropriate Assistant or Associate Dean, who will then contact the faculty member.

Examples of serious illnesses may include (but are not limited to):

  • Mononucleosis, which may require bed rest and/or removal from campus
  • Hospitalization and/or surgery
  • Highly contagious diseases (e.g., chicken pox, measles)

Mental Health Concerns

The University Counseling Center will use clinical judgment as to whether there is a legitimate need for the student to miss class for reasons related to mental health. If, in the judgment of the University Counseling Center staff, the student should be out of class due to a mental health condition, the Counseling Center staff will request a written release of information from the student. With a signed release, the Counseling Center staff may then contact the faculty member or the appropriate Assistant or Associate Dean, who may contact faculty accordingly. The University Counseling Center will not typically validate the legitimacy of a student having missed classes for mental health reasons retroactively before the student has been to the Counseling Center. The fact that a student is in treatment at the Counseling Center or with an off-campus mental health provider will not, in itself, justify the student missing classes. The recommendation for missing classes will occur only when the mental condition necessitates it. If the student is seeing an off-campus mental health care provider, the student will provide the documentation from that provider to the appropriate Assistant or Associate Dean, who will then contact the faculty member.

If the duration of the absence due to serious medical illness or mental health concern undermines the student’s ability to complete the academic work required, the appropriate Assistant or Associate Dean will discuss Medical Leave of Absence options with the student – see policy on Medical Leaves of Absence.

Documenting Disabilities

Students who are registered with Learning Support Services (LSS) or the Office for Access and Disability Services (ADS) must provide accommodation letters from those offices to their instructors (in advance of absences) for subsequent disability-related absences to be considered excused.  Students who are newly struggling should be encouraged to register with the appropriate office for any future concerns. Accommodations are not typically retroactive.

Students with learning disabilities, other neurologically-based disorders, and those disabled by chronic illnesses are encouraged to contact LSS. Students with physical disabilities, including but not limited to visual impairments, hearing loss, and mobility limitations, are encouraged to contact ADS. Students may be referred to those offices and the  University Policy for Students with Disabilities. 

Syllabus Language for Excused Absences for Personal Wellness

1. Proposed language for syllabus: 50-minute classes meeting three times per week:

In addition to the attendance policy stated above, students are entitled to two excused absences for any reason to support personal wellness. Students must advise the instructor by email before class of their intent to utilize an excused absence for personal wellness as the reason for their absence.  An excused absence for personal wellness will not be approved retroactively. Students may, but are not required to provide additional information regarding their absence. Additionally, excused absences for personal wellness may not:

  • be used on consecutive class days;
  • be used in the same week;
  • be used for a class period immediately preceding or following a University holiday or break period (for example, a student may not use an excused absence for personal wellness on the Tuesday before the Thanksgiving holiday for a class that meets on Tuesday/Thursday);
  • be used on days when exams, presentations or other major assignments are scheduled;
  • be used for the following: Labs, Clinicals, Internships, Courses that meet one time per week, FastForward courses and professional education courses/programs offered by the College of Professional Studies, Summer Sessions, or graduate/law courses.

2. Proposed language for syllabus: 75-minute classes meeting two times per week

In addition to the attendance policy stated above, students are entitled to one excused absence for any reason to support personal wellness. Students must advise the instructor by email before class of their intent to utilize an excused absence for personal wellness as the reason for their absence. An excused absence for personal wellness will not be approved retroactively. Students may, but are not required to, provide additional information regarding their absence. Additionally, excused absences for personal wellness may not:

  • be used for a class period immediately preceding or following a University holiday or break period (for example, a student may not use an excused absence for personal wellness on the Tuesday before the Thanksgiving holiday for a class that meets on Tuesday/Thursday);
  • be used on days when exams, presentations or other major assignments are scheduled;
  • be used for the following: Labs, Clinicals, Internships, Courses that meet one time per week, FastForward courses and professional education courses/programs offered by the College of Professional Studies, Summer Sessions, or graduate/law courses.

 

Approved by Provost September 17, 2016; Technical correction March 1, 2017; February 28, 2019; Approved by Board of Assistant and Associate Deans February 4, 2019; Updated with Personal Days September 27, 2023, upon the recommendation of the Academic Policy Committee with the approval of the Council of Deans, the Provost, and President. Updated November 15, 2025, upon recommendation of the Academic Policy Committee with the approval of the Council of Deans and the Provost. Technical corrections March 24, 2026; June 1, 2026.