We are facing a challenging situation in which all of us are called on to make a good faith effort to be flexible and to make decisions in the best interest of our neighbors and community. In light of this, Concordia University is temporarily enacting a COVID-19 Attendance Policy, in addition to a faculty attendance policy for each course. For students who are diagnosed or experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19, the following will be applicable with respect to course attendance:
Students who are sick, or who are engaging in self-quarantine at the direction of their local health department or their health care professional, should not attend face-to-face class, will not be required to provide formal documentation from a health care provider, and will not be penalized for absences. Students should:
- Notify instructors in advance of the absence, if possible
- As they are able, attend live class sessions remotely via videoconference if available
- As they are able, keep up with homework
- Submit assignments digitally
- Work with their instructors to reschedule exams, labs, and other critical academic activities
This temporary university-wide policy puts everyone on their honor. It requires that faculty and instructors trust the word of their students when they say they are ill, and it requires that students report the reason for their absence truthfully. All of this is to say that the usual codes of conduct and rules of academic integrity are still in place.
While evaluating participation in learning is important, including an element of a final course grade specifically for attendance alone is not appropriate. When students miss classroom opportunities for participation points that contribute to their grade, alternative opportunities must be made available to students.
During this period, we ask all members of the University community to be attentive to their health and safeguard others by following the CDC’s guideline to “stay home when you are sick.” You should stay home if you have symptoms. More information on what to do if you are sick is available at the CDC’s website.
Students are expected to review the syllabus for each of their classes and ensure they understand each instructor’s expectations for attendance, participation, and submission of assignments.
Depending on the learning format of each course, absences may take the form of failure to join scheduled synchronous remote class sessions; failure to participate in remote class activities, whether live (synchronous) or online (asynchronous); or failure to meet deadlines for submission of assignments. Depending on the length of absences from class, documentation of an illness may be requested by the Assistant Vice President of Academics for Student Success and/or the Director of the Academic Resource Center, but documentation will not be requested or required by instructors.
The COVID 19 Attendance Policy is effective July 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. The duration may be extended depending on the state of the pandemic.