This policy applies to all Kentucky State University students enrolled in all in-person and online credit-bearing courses and to all faculty, staff, and administrators who track, report, or act on attendance and engagement data.
Attendance: Presence in class (in-person or virtual).
Academic Engagement: Participation in instructional activities including assignments and interaction.
Excused Absences: University sanctioned activities (athletics, band, academic events) with advance written documentation from the sponsoring office
Religious observances with timely notice
Medical, mental health, or emergency situations with documentation from a licensed healthcare provider
Military service, with official military orders
Legal obligations such as jury duty or court appearances, with official documentation
Family bereavement, with documentation such as an obituary, funeral program or similar
Title-IX relate absences, coordinated through the Title IX Coordinator's office in accordance with KSU's Title IX policy
Disability-related absences authorized through the Office of Accessibility Services
Students must notify the instructor as soon as practicable, and no later than five [5] business days after the absence occurs, except in cases where the nature of the emergency prevents timely notice. For foreseeable absences (religious observances, university-sanctioned activities, military service), students must provide advance notice no later than five [5] business days before the absence.
Attendance policies must be published in the course syllabus and distributed to students by the first day of class.
Attendance policies must not violate student rights as defined in this policy, ADA/Section 504 accommodation requirements, or other applicable university policy.
Policies resulting in automatic course failure due solely to absences must be reviewed and approved by the relevant department chair and dean prior to implementation and included in the syllabus.
Faculty may not apply attendance penalties retroactively or for absences not defined as unexcused in the course syllabus.
Faculty must apply attendance policies consistently and equitably to all enrolled students.
Faculty are responsible for the following attendance and engagement actions:
Publish attendance and engagement expectations in the course syllabus by the first day of class.