General Absences

Valid Reasons for Absence

These policies on absences are issued by the Provost of SMU.

• Religious Observance: Religiously observant students wishing to be absent on holidays that require missing class should notify their professors in writing at the beginning of the semester, and should discuss with them, in advance, acceptable ways of making up any work missed because of the absence. (See University Policy No. 1.9.)
• Excused Absences for University Extracurricular Activities: Students participating in an officially sanctioned, scheduled University extracurricular activity will be given the opportunity to make up class assignments or other graded assignments missed as a result of their participation. It is the responsibility of the student to make arrangements with the instructor prior to any missed scheduled examination or other missed assignment for making up the work. (University Undergraduate Catalogue)
• Medically Excused Absences: Verification of medical illness and request for an excused absence from class will be handled in one of two ways. A physician or staff member from health/counseling and testing will provide either (1) a hand-written note on a Health Center prescription form, or (2) a signed letter written on Health Center stationery. Excused medical absences shall have specific dates of time periods indicated.
  
  Encounter forms and Walk-Out Statements verify a student's visit to the Health Center BUT DO NOT INDICATE AN EXCUSED ABSENCE.

Unexcused Absences

Unexcused absence means missing a class without an acceptable reason. We have 25 regular class meetings, 12 labs and 4 tests (including makeup) during the term. You get 6 unexcused absences for the term. That's being generous (other departments give you 3!). Six is one fourth of the classes. Experience shows that those who miss a lot of classes do not do well. What happens on the seventh unexcused absence depends on whether we have passed final drop deadline. If not, I will drop you; if so, a grade of F will be assigned. Use those absences wisely.