Attendance Flexibility

Please review regarding important changes to this accommodation as of the Fall 2022 Semester.

What is This Accommodation Used For

For students with chronic conditions that are episodic in nature, there may be periods of time in which they are too unwell to attend class. The purpose of reasonable accommodations is to ensure access. This extends to providing flexibility within attendance policies to ensure students with disabilities are not disproportionately penalized for exacerbations of their condition that prevent them from being present for every class session, as their condition may be unpredictable and inevitable despite ongoing health and time management practices.

Who Receives This Accommodation

Students with disabilities who navigate disability-related experiences that are particularly chronic or episodic in nature—such as concussions, gastrointestinal disorders, lupus and other autoimmune diseases, fibromyalgia, migraines, cancer, psychological disorders, and significant medical procedures—may be approved for this accommodation. Granting Attendance Flexibility ensures that the student is not unfairly penalized for absences due to their disability so long as the absences does not fundamentally alter the essential elements of the class.

*NEW – CHANGES AS OF FALL 2022 FOR STUDENTS APPROVED FOR ATTENDANCE FLEXIBILITY*

This accommodation provides modification to an attendance policy due to exacerbation of a disability or a disability-related condition. When needed for a disability-related reason, the student is allowed one additional absence beyond the stated attendance policy without penalty, provided that the student is required to notify the instructor in advance of utilizing this accommodation.

If the student meets the attendance limit and/or believes additional flexibility is necessary due to a disability-related reason, the student must contact SAS who will consider the request and will discuss with the student and instructor to determine the appropriateness given the specifics of the course. Different types of classes call for different agreements (e.g., lab classes may call for less flexibility than lecture classes). If granted, an agreement will be created*

How to Evaluate the Reasonableness of an Attendance Flexibility in a Class

The accommodation for an Attendance Flexibility should always be considered on an individual class basis, allowing for a diligent and critical analysis of how attendance is essential to the class learning objectives and pedagogical components. While an attendance policy may be already incorporated into the grading scheme and syllabus, and its value is inherent to student success and learning, this accommodation is intended to modify any stated attendance policies allowing some flexibility beyond that limit to account for the student’s disability-related need.

The accommodation should be provided unless the accommodation significantly compromises the integrity of the course as offered. If you believe additional absences beyond the stated policy would fundamentally alter the nature or essential elements of your class, then instructors should consult with a Accessibility Specialist to determine reasonability.

To evaluate the extent to which attendance is critical to the essential learning objectives of a class, and to make a determination whether Attendance Flexibility can be reasonably implemented, Student Accessibility Services will guide the faculty through a discussion of the following points:

  1. What does the class description and syllabus say about attendance?
  2. How is the final class grade calculated? Is attendance factored into the final grade?
  3. Is the attendance policy consistently applied? (i.e.., Have there been any exceptions made to the policy for non-disabled students, such as for athletic travel or religious observances? If so, then these exceptions must also be granted to students with disabilities.)
  4. Is there significant interaction between the instructor and students, and among students? If so, how much?
  5. Do student contributions and participation in class constitute a significant component of the learning process? (i.e., discussion, presentations, role play, group work)
  6. To what degree does a student’s failure to attend class compromise the educational experience of other students in the class?

When is an Attendance Flexibility Not Reasonable

In general, if the class is mostly lecture based, the in-class experience focuses on reviewing content available in the text or from instructor/peer notes, and involves little student interaction during class, then more flexibility with excused absences and/or participation points is reasonable.

However, there are various classes in which an Attendance Flexibility as an accommodation would not be reasonable. Attendance could be critical to the learning objectives of the class for those that utilize significant in-class participation/interaction as a method of instruction, classes where student learning is created/assessed in the classroom through experiential or conversational means, and classes in which absences would compromise the educational experience of other students in the class. In these situations, less flexibility with excused absences and/or participation points is reasonable.

SAS Responsibilities in Supporting Attendance Flexibility

  • Reviews documentation and meets with students to better understand their disability-related experiences. Through this interactive process, an Accessibility Specialist determines if a student needs modifications to class attendance policies to mitigate disability-related impacts throughout the quarter. If so, Attendance Flexibility will be listed as an eligible accommodation on the student’s accommodation letter.
  • Consults and supports faculty in determining reasonableness of accommodation or how to implement this accommodation in light of essential class elements.
  • Provides support to students and faculty when questions or difficulties arise related to the accommodation.

Faculty Responsibilities When Facilitating Attendance Flexibility

  • Once instructors have been notified of eligibility for accommodations, please provide for  one additional absence beyond the stated attendance policy without penalty.
    • If the student meets the attendance limit and/or believes additional flexibility is necessary due to a disability-related reason, the student must contact SAS who will consider the request and will discuss with the student and instructor to determine the appropriateness given the specifics of the course. Different types of classes call for different agreements (e.g., lab classes may call for less flexibility than lecture classes). If granted, an agreement will be created.
  • SAS is available for consultation if you have questions regarding how the accommodation interacts with essential elements of the class and determining if or what adjustments are reasonable.
  • If you believe the accommodation is not reasonable in light of your class objectives or pedagogical methods, contact the student’s Accessibility Specialist immediately as instructors should never unilaterally deny an accommodation. Instructors are expected to clearly articulate why flexibility is not reasonable.
  • When a student needs to utilize this accommodation, they are responsible for notifying their instructor in a timely manner. ”Timely” is defined as “as soon as possible.” There may be some conditions and/or circumstances in which a student is not able to contact their instructor prior to the class. Please note: At no time are students required to present documentation to instructors to justify a disability-related absence.

Student Responsibilities When Eligible for Attendance Flexibility

  • Students approved for Attendance Flexibility must request their accommodation letters on myACCESS student portal.
  • Students distribute their accommodation letters to instructors at the beginning of the semester, or as soon as they are made eligible for accommodation.   Note:  Accommodations are not retroactive.
  • SAS has determined eligibility for one additional absence beyond the stated attendance policy without penalty.
    • If the student meets the attendance limit and/or believes additional flexibility is necessary due to a disability-related reason, the student must contact SAS who will consider the request and will discuss with the student and instructor to determine the appropriateness given the specifics of the course. Different types of classes call for different agreements (e.g., lab classes may call for less flexibility than lecture classes). If granted, an agreement will be created.
  • Student should clearly understand attendance expectations in light of the accommodation. This entails knowing the finite number of absences that can be allowed, how to communicate with the professor when they need to utilize the accommodation, any critical dates that cannot be missed, and whether there are any alternatives to missed participation points or quizzes on days in which they are absent.
  • When a student needs to utilize this accommodation, they are responsible for notifying their instructor in a timely manner. ”Timely” is defined as “as soon as possible.” Please note: At no time are students required to present documentation to instructors in order to justify a disability-related absence.
  • When a student is absent due to their disability, they are responsible for the class content, lecture notes and information presented that day. The student should arrange how they will obtain this information.