Class Attendance

Students are expected to attend classes regularly, be punctual, and complete all work whether present or not. Whenever possible, the opportunity for making up coursework missed as a result of an excused absence is to be worked out between the instructor and the student upon the student’s initiative.

Excused absences include the following:

1. The student has contacted the faculty member prior to the absence due to a University sponsored activity,
2. The student has contacted the faculty member prior to the absence and the faculty member concurs that the absence is unavoidable and legitimate.
3. For Lamoni students, the Dean of Students (or faculty member) determines that the student has missed classes/assignments due to factors beyond the student’s control (i.e. illness, family misfortune, etc.) and the faculty member concurs.
4. For non-Lamoni students, the faculty member makes the determination and, when appropriate, the Dean of School, or his or her designate, concurs that the absence was unavoidable and legitimate.

All other absences are considered unexcused, in which case the instructor is not obligated to provide an opportunity for making up coursework for credit.

* See Administrative Withdrawal Policy listed below.

Course Withdrawal by Instructor

To validate enrollment in a course, students must attend at least one class during the first week. If a student misses the first week of a course without obtaining prior approval from the instructor, the instructor has the option of dropping the student from the course. The instructor will notify the registrar and student of the drop prior to the eighth day of the semester for semester based courses. Students must attend one of the first two days of a Winter Term course to validate registration in the course. The instructor will notify the registrar and student of the drop prior to the third day.

Administrative Withdrawal from Online Courses

Students not participating in an online course before the withdrawal date may be administratively withdrawn with or without penalty.

Students who present with administrative situations such as the following will be referred to their Program Consultant/Registrar for action.

1. A Graceland University student enrolled in any online course who does not log in and begin completion of course assignments in the online course during the first week of the course (unless special arrangements have been made between student and instructor) will be referred by the instructor to the Program Consultant/Registrar, who will contact the student. If the student elects to not continue the program, the Program Consultant/Registrar will administratively withdraw the student.
2. Graceland University students enrolled in any online course must demonstrate an ongoing presence in their online course. If a student who has been previously participating in course assignments ceases all participation for two consecutive weeks (unless special arrangements have been made between student and instructor), that student will be referred by the instructor to Program Consultant/Registrar for counseling and withdrawal.