Attendance

Regular class attendance is expected of all students. Classes are conducted in a manner that will encourage academic excellence and the growth of Christian character. The final authority for attendance and any effect that it might have upon grades rests with the individual faculty member. This is due to the tremendous variety of class size and purpose, and the specific requirements in attendance. Students who fail to meet the minimum attendance requirement of a course will be assigned a grade of UW (Unofficial Withdrawal) which will influence the GPA the same as an F.

With the permission of the instructor, visitors and current students may visit a class for a maximum of one week (or the equivalent thereof, based on a 15-week course). After one week, registration in credit or audit status for the course(s) is required.

Intercollegiate Athletics Class Attendance Policy Addendum

Student-athletes will be excused to miss class only under the following circumstances per NCAA Division II rules and regulations. The following information is provided to student-athletes, head coaches and faculty members and is intended to summarize Biola policies on missed class time due to athletics contests.

  • Student-athletes are not permitted to miss class for home practice activities including but not limited to: practice, weights/conditioning, film study, promotional events, or community engagement events. There are two exceptions:
    • When a team is traveling to an away-from-home contest and the practice is in conjunction with the contest. Bylaw 17.1.6.9.1.
    • Championship Practice. Student-athletes representing Biola at a conference or NCAA championship shall be permitted to miss class time to attend practice activities in conjunction with the event. Bylaw 17.1.6.9.9.1.
  • Student-athletes are permitted to miss class for competition, home and away, during the championship segment of competition. Championship segment is the NCAA term for a sport’s traditional regular season and post-season. No class time shall be missed for competition, including activities associated with competition, during the non-championship segment of competition per Bylaw 17.1.6.9.2. Non-championship segment is the NCAA term for a sport’s offseason scrimmage time (ex. fall season for baseball, spring season for volleyball).
  • Student-athletes are not excused from classes that end prior to departure time on the day of travel.
  • Student-athletes are responsible to notify faculty within seven business days after the first day of class concerning any future missed class time due to athletics contests using the Class Absence Reporting Form. This will ensure the individual faculty member has been notified of sport-related absences PRIOR to missing class. The form includes a section requesting accommodations for completion of any missed work. All missed class work and assignments must be completed according to the schedule established by the faculty member teaching the course.
  • In the case of last minute travel itinerary changes due to unforeseen circumstances, the student-athlete is responsible to promptly notify faculty (within 24 hours of the change).

For classes requiring mandatory attendance incompatible with the number of planned absences, student-athletes will be advised to register, if possible, during a semester in which they will not be participating in the university sanctioned activity.

As with any academic issue, student-athletes may exercise their right to appeal adverse attendance decisions. Should the faculty member and student-athlete be unable to agree on an appropriate accommodation under this policy, either party shall have the right to request mediation. The person seeking mediation will pursue resolution by meeting with the following individuals (in order) until the issue has been resolved: the Department Chair, Academic Dean, Faculty Athletics Representative, Director of Athletics and the Associate Provost.

The Intercollegiate Athletics Class Attendance Policy Addendum was developed in order to ensure collaboration between faculty members and the student-athlete in order to achieve graduation requirements.