Attendance Modification Policy

The Attendance Modification Accommodation may be appropriate for a student with a disability that experiences brief, periodic flare-ups that may impact course attendance and class participation. Students experiencing a disability of this nature should contact Student Accessibility Services (SAS) to discuss appropriate accommodations. Please follow the steps outlined on Getting Connected with SAS.

The Attendance Modification Accommodation is specifically designed to build in a slight amount of flexibility around attendance in order to address the impact of a brief, periodic disability-related experience. It is not designed to support a substantial amount of missed classes. Students who are unable to participate in more than one week of consecutively missed classes or a combination of classes in excess of two weeks of class should discuss with their professor if it is possible to make up missed coursework and continue with the pace of the course. Students should also work with their academic advisor and the Student Ombuds to discuss possible course withdrawal and/or incomplete grading options.

Students should be aware that this accommodation may not be reasonable in all courses. Course requirements vary widely due to course structure. Most courses have a limit to the number of absences that may be appropriate before it becomes impossible for the student to satisfy the learning outcomes of the course. SAS, in consultation with the course instructor and other relevant academic parties, will determine if attendance is an essential element of the course by considering the course description, syllabus, grading methodology, external licensure requirements, the impact on the education experience of the entire class, and other factors.

In some cases, reasonable adjustments to attendance and class participation may not be possible, and SAS will notify students of this determination in writing to their Kent State email address within a timely fashion. Students are encouraged to work with their academic advisor to discuss options available to them including, but not limited to, taking the course in a subsequent semester when their health has improved, enrolling in a class with a different method of instruction, or course withdrawal. Please note, if the student chooses to remain in the course without the support of an attendance modification accommodation, they are subject to the class attendance policy set forth by the instructor and the student's final grade may be impacted due to unexcused absences and/or lack of class participation.

For additional information, students and instructors should refer to the Administrative Policy Regarding Class Attendance and Class Absences (3 -01.2).

Student Responsibilities:

• Students must meet with SAS to determine eligibility for this accommodation.
• Students must send their Course Accessibility Letter via Access KSU prior to or as close to the start of each semester as possible. Students should also discuss their accommodations and any possible academic barriers with their instructor. As outlined above, this accommodation may not be reasonable in all courses. It is the responsibility of the course instructor to contact SAS within seven business days of receiving the student's course accessibility letter to discuss any concerns about the appropriateness of this accommodation in their course. SAS, in consultation with the course instructor and other relevant academic parties, will determine if attendance is an essential element of the course. SAS will notify students if the accommodation is not reasonable. In this case, students should meet with SAS to discuss possible course accommodation options and work with their academic advisor to discuss possible course options, including course withdrawal. If the student chooses to remain in the course without the support of an attendance modification accommodation, they are subject to the class attendance policy set forth by the instructor and the student's final grade may be impacted due to unexcused absences and/or lack of class participation.
• Students must notify their instructor by Kent State email when they experience a disability-related absence prior to the class, when possible, or within 24 hours of missing the class. Absences not related to the student's specific disability on record with SAS are subject to the course attendance policy as outlined in the syllabus. Use of this accommodation for other reasons, including health issues not related to this accommodation, seasonal colds and flu, and other non-disability related reasons is not acceptable.
• Students are responsible for all academic requirements of the course. Students should contact SAS if they experience a course or professor-related accommodation situation that concerns them. While SAS cannot guarantee that the outcome will meet the student's ideal circumstances, we do promise to consider all relevant variables in determining reasonable access and accommodations.

Instructor Responsibilities:

• Be familiar with the student responsibilities for using this accommodation as outlined above.
• Instructors concerned about academic integrity or the appropriateness of the accommodation in their course, must contact SAS within seven business days of receiving the student's course accessibility letter. Please note that the attendance modification is expected to remain in effect until a final determination is made by SAS regarding the appropriate use of the accommodation for your course. In consultation with the instructor, department chair, or dean, SAS will determine if attendance is an essential element of the course by considering the course description, syllabus, method of grading, external licensure requirements, the impact on the educational experience of the entire class, and other factors. See 'Guidance Questions' below for additional information.
• Provide reasonable flexibility where possible. When students with the attendance modification accommodation notify the instructor appropriately and with adherence to the above student responsibilities, the instructor should count the absence as excused and reasonable deadline extensions or make-up assignments should be given. Students should not be required to provide a medical excuse for their disability-related absence.
• Contact SAS with questions or concerns throughout the semester.

Guidance Questions for Determining Appropriateness of Attendance Modifications:

• What does the course description and syllabus say about class attendance? Have you made exceptions to this policy in the past? What is the purpose of this policy and how would modifying this policy impact the academic integrity of the course?
• Are attendance and/or class participation points factored in as part of the final grade? If so, how? Is this a course, department, or college policy?
• Is there flexibility already in place regarding attendance and class participation? If so, what does that look like?
• Is the method of instruction primarily lecture or interactive? Does instruction or learning rely on specific elements from the previous class session?
• Do student contributions constitute a significant component of the learning process (e.g. presentation, role play, discussion, etc.)? What is the impact on the educational experience of other students in the class if a student is absent?