Attendance Policies

A student’s presence in class is an essential part of the learning process at Sarah Lawrence. Attendance at classes, conferences, laboratory meetings, and other class obligations is required. Excessive absences can jeopardize a student’s standing in the class and lead to course failure. Such absences may also affect a student's financial-aid eligibility and F-1 student status for international students. Absences amounting to more than two class meetings, two weeks of class time, or two consecutive conference meetings may negatively affect a student’s grade and should be noted in the evaluation. In the event that illness or emergency necessitates absence of more than two weeks, students must meet with their class dean to discuss their options. (See the short-term absence policy, below.)

Students are expected to notify faculty—ideally, at least 24 hours in advance—when they must miss any academic obligation. Virtual attendance may not be substituted for the College’s in-person attendance requirements. Missed conferences may be rescheduled but only at the discretion of the faculty member. Student attendance is a factor when maintaining compliance with regulatory and financial-aid matters. From the beginning of the semester through the Course Withdrawal period, instructors are asked to review class rosters and report attendance issues to the Registrar’s Office. Where applicable, school certifying officials are required to report absences in accordance with educational-benefit regulations.

Additionally, faculty members are expected to notify the Office of the Dean of Studies—via the Faculty Alert Form available on MySLC—about a student whose absences amount to more than two weeks of class time or who has missed two classes or conferences in succession without prior notice or explanation. The Office of the Dean of Studies notifies the don of such absences.

Students may not leave early for, or return late from, school breaks. All academic appointments must be met, including class meetings, don and class conferences, physical education classes, and laboratory meetings.

Although the College does not close officially for religious holidays, the right of any member of the community to observe these holidays is respected. Students who will miss class are asked to inform their teachers in advance. Faculty are asked to help students make up the work missed because of such observance and to avoid scheduling special activities for those days.

In the event of serious illness or personal emergency, a student may need to take a short-term leave from campus with an anticipated duration of one-to-two weeks—if the student has not already incurred excessive absences. When possible, students seeking a short-term leave should notify their don, teachers, and the Office of the Dean of Studies prior to leaving campus. When the absence is health-related, the Health & Wellness Center should be informed so that they may assist as needed.

While teachers will make every effort to work with a student in this circumstance, not all courses can accommodate extended absences, and an in-person course cannot be converted to online attendance. Individual faculty determine whether the short-term absence would constitute a fundamental alteration of the course’s essential elements, requirements, or mode of instruction—though consultation with the appropriate class dean is also required. The student is responsible for making up missed work either during the time away or immediately upon returning to campus.

If the health or personal emergency necessitates an absence of longer than two weeks, the student must consult with their class dean to determine academic options—which may include a course withdrawal or a personal or medical leave of absence. See the Leave of Absence and Medical leave policies in this handbook for more information about these options.