Class Attendance

Policy

By Trinity College policy, you are expected to attend classes regularly and complete all assignments on time. Class attendance is critical for many reasons and is often a factor in determining the course grade. This is particularly true of seminars, Writing 20, and foreign language courses.

Most instructors state their attendance policy in the course syllabus or during the first class session.  Some instructors grant students a certain number of absences that will not adversely affect the final grade.  When this is the case, it is expected that these will be used for medical emergencies and other substantial reasons.  Occasionally, a class absence policy will state that a dean’s excuse is needed to avoid a grade penalty for any absence or for a class absence beyond the designated number granted to students in the course.  As stated in the Dean’s Excuses policy, however, dean’s excuses cannot be given for class attendance.  Similarly, the Short-Term Illness Notification and the Notification of Varsity Athletic Participation are to be used by students only when illness or varsity athletic participation away from campus prevents them from taking an exam or submitting work by a deadline.  It cannot be used solely for absence from class. 

Thus, when permitted a defined number of class absences by your instructor, you should take into account the possibility that you could become ill or need to miss class for some other important reason and not rely on a dean’s excuse to absolve you of the penalty for your absence. Be sure you understand what each of your instructors expects of you.

If you must miss a class, it's a good idea to let your instructor know in advance or as soon thereafter as possible. If you don't explain your absence, your instructor may assume you don't care about the class or your grade.