Scope
UST Community.
Purpose
This policy addresses student attendance issues when students must be absent from the campus because they officially represent the University in such sponsored activities as intercollegiate athletics, debate tournaments, Campus Ministry activities, and conference attendance.
Following Catholic tradition, the University of St. Thomas promotes the education of the whole person: spiritual, intellectual, moral, social, and physical. Coaches and advisors for co-curricular activities play their part in this education both by guiding students in their particular activity and by taking appropriate concern for the other dimensions of student development, including academics. UST’s philosophy of education affirms that academic excellence need not be sacrificed for success in co-curricular activities. Indeed, sports and other co-curricular activities can help to instill many good traits in students, such as discipline, determination, and perseverance, which can be redirected to academic achievement. Coaches and advisors should pride themselves on devising strategies to help students under their care to make up for missed academic experiences and, even more, to excel academically. Students involved in co-curricular activities should not believe that they must resign themselves to lower grades as a consequence of their participation, but should set their sights high and use the skills and resources at their disposal to strive for excellence.
Policy/Procedure
- Students should meet with their academic advisors prior to registering for classes to discuss their class schedule and participation in co‐curricular activities.
- Absence from class does not excuse students from any work missed during the absence.
- Students must discuss with the instructor, as early as possible in the semester, the potential consequences of missing classes.
- Students are responsible for submitting all assignments on time and arrangements must be initiated in advance by students for any assignments, quizzes, or exams that will be missed.
- Coaches, instructors, advisors, and sponsors must provide the names of students who will miss classes using the university approved excused absence form. Forms must be completed and sent to the instructor teaching the class.
- Coaches, instructors, advisors and sponsors must make every attempt to schedule traveling, games, matches and other University‐sponsored activities at times that will have the least conflict with students’ class schedules.
- Students may not miss class due to preparation time for co‐curricular activities, including practices.
- Off campus participation in co‐curricular activities is strongly discouraged during any final examination period and will require special approval of the Vice President for Student Affairs as well as the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
- The intent of this policy is to prevent disputes between students and faculty members concerning student absences. If a dispute cannot be resolved between the student and the faculty member, the procedures of the Academic Grievance Policy should be followed.
APPROVED: Dr. Robert Ivany
Date of Original Formation: 4/1/2011
Revision Number: 1
Revision Date: 6/14/2011
Effective Date: 8/1/2011