Because class participation significantly effect the amount and quality of learning not only for the individual student but for the class as a whole, attendance remains immensely important, even with the ongoing complications of the pandemic. In accordance with BC guidelines for in person instruction, attendance will be recorded for each class. Your attendance (see rubrics below) is a fifty percent of your overall participation grade.
Attendance FAQs
What counts as attendance?
Due to the high probability that at some point in the semester individual class members and/or the entire class will need to participate remotely, for the purpose of this semester, “attendance” will include any of the following:
1 – Physical Attendance to an In-Person Class:
- This class is listed as an in-person course. The default expectation is that students will be physically present on campus at the time and space designated for this course.
2- Virtual Attendance to an In-Person Class
- Live-stream video call from student(s)’ on-campus or off-campus residence and/or required space of self-isolation or quarantine. Students participating virtually in the In-Person class should be prepared to participate in real time as fully as possible. In order for virtual attendance to an in-person class to count towards students’ attendance grade, students must provide documentation that they were prevented from being physically present for the in-person class session because they or a dependent, for whom they are the primary caregiver, have been directed to quarantine or self isolate. (Examples of such documentation include: a screen shot of the stay-at-home directive issued in response to your particular daily assessment questions). Without adequate documentation of the student’s need to participate virtually, I will count the student’s virtual attendance to an in-person class session (assuming the student adheres to the course Zoom etiquette) as a tardy. Please note that four tardies equal one unexcused absence.
3- In Person Attendance to a Virtually-Facilitated In- Person Class
- If for any reason the instructor is required to quarantine or self isolate and/or is denied campus clearance, the class will be live streamed to the assigned BC classroom where students will convene as the instructor conducts the class remotely.
4- Virtual Attendance to a Fully Virtual Class
- If BC shifts to remote classes only or if by some other unexpected course of events the professor must facilitate the class virtually for more than two consecutive weeks, the entire class will shift to a virtual format (with live stream classrooms and our blog site).
How much does attendance affect my grade?
Attendance is 50% of your Participation Grade. Your Participation Grade 25% of your overall course grade, which means that attendance accounts for 12.5% of your overall grade.
How does being late affect my grade?
- For classes that meet twice a week: 4 tardies = 1 unexcused absence.
- For classes that meet once a week: 2 tardies (excluding any approved late arrivals) = 1 unexcused absence.
- Please note: Being late to class implies that you were nevertheless present for the larger part of the class session. If you miss more than a 1/3 of the class, you may, though necessarily, be marked as absent.
What should I do if I arrive late?
If you are late, please join the class quietly and respectful of the discussion underway.
As with absences, if you are late, you are responsible for figuring out what you missed and making sure you’re keeping track with the discussion, readings, and assignments.
In general, I will mark you as absent if you arrive after I take attendance. If you are late, you are responsible for making sure that I mark you as late rather than absent. You should do so briefly after class and/or by sending me email within 24 hours of the class. After 24 hours have passed, I will only change attendance entries if you can provide compelling proof of your presence at that particular class.
What counts as an excused absence?
- Unexpected Emergency (e.g. Fire, flood, earthquake, car accident) that threatens the housing, health, or livelihood of you or your legal dependent. (Follow-up documentation required.)
- Documented illness or extreme injury to you and/or your legal dependent.
- Quarantine or self-isolation order (documentation required).
- Observation of religious holiday (documentation and advance noticed required).
- For Student Athletes Only: I can only excuse absences for the players participating in the specific events which the university notifies me about in advance. Note: Typically the university only directs me to excuse athletes who are participating in away games. Practices do not count, and generally speaking neither do at-home games, scrimmages, or other events that do not require time away from campus due to travel.
- For Seniors Only: A post-graduation job interview (documentation and advanced notice required.
How many classes can I miss?
- Unexcused Absences
Life happens, and there are plenty of reasons for which you might need (or want) to miss class that would not qualify as an excused absence. In classes that meet twice a week, I will overlook up to three unexcused absences.
In a class that meets once a week, I will overlook 1 unexcused absence and up to 2 late arrivals or early departures (provided the student is present for at least half the class and provides advanced notice).
- Total Absences
To be considered an active member of this class, students you must attend at least 75 percent of the classes. Thus, if the class meets twice a week, you can miss up to If the class meets once a week, you can miss up to This total includes excused and non-excused absences.
Exceptions to this rule will be considered on a case by case basis for students who though not able to attend 75% of the course have attended at least half of the classes and submitted all other required assignments.