Attendance

  • Attendance – In accordance with the Boston College attendance policy, each student is allowed up to four unexcused absences in a course that meets twice a week. More than four unexcused absences will effect your participation grade. In order for your absence to be considered “excused,” you must provide documentation (e.g. doctor’s note; dean’s note; etc.) that your absence is due to a university approved reason for excusing an absence. You should let me know as far in advance of any absence (excused or unexcused). If, however, you are absent due to an unforeseen emergency (e.g. a medical emergency and/or an environmental disaster that renders it impossible or life-threatening for you to attend class), please contact the appropriate emergency support systems and take care of yourself. You can submit documentation of the emergency and meet with the professor later after you have addressed the more pressing issue(s). Please note that even in the case of excused absences, students must be present for at least 70% of the class sessions if they wish to receive credit for the course. If you think you might be at risk of missing more than 30% of the class sessions, please, do not wait; reach out the instructor immediately.

  • Lateness – Repeated lateness will also affect your grade. In a course that meets twice a week, I count four late attendances as one unexcused absence. You are late if you arrive 1-20 minutes after the start of class. If you are more than 20 minutes late, you may be counted as absent. Please Note: While I reserve the right to mark you as late if you arrive after class starts, I typically extend a few minutes grace period. If you arrive late, you should check in with me briefly after class to make sure that I have not already marked you absent. If you forget or are unable to let me know right after class, you must let me know by email within 24 hours otherwise the record will stand as initially recorded.

  • Early Departures – Similarly, I expect students to stay through the entirety of the seminar class. With prior notice, a student may due to an emergency or a one-off necessity leave class early. In order to get credit for the class, you must be present and actively participating for more than half the class session.