The Columbia College Bulletin notes that "attendance in all class meetings, laboratory periods and other required events for a course is a basic expectation of all students enrolled in the course, whether or not attendance is noted as a requirement on a course syllabus."
Because attendance is a basic expectation of all students, the CC-GS Committee on Instruction has determined that attendance in and of itself should not be graded and weighted in the final grade of the semester -- i.e., students should not receive a grade solely for attendance, and attendance should not be a stand-alone factor in a course's grading rubric. However, a student's attendance record may play a role in the determination of related grades, such as for participation and/or in the determination of final grades, and instructors should be clear with students about the expectations for attendance.
Faculty are advised to include clear attendance policies on their syllabi so that students know what the faculty member's expectations are.*
*From the Faculty Handbook published by the Provost Office:
"Faculty have the discretion to set their own policies on class attendance and on making up missed assignments, subject to the limitations defined by the University’s policies on religious holidays and any requirements set by their schools. Faculty have an obligation to provide their students with a clearly written description of their policies at the start of the term and to follow them consistently."
University attendance policy for instructors
From the Faculty Handbook published by the Provost Office:
"It is the responsibility of the faculty to meet all scheduled classes. In the event of an unavoidable absence due to an emergency, religious holiday, or other scheduling conflict, an officer must reschedule missed classes, arrange for a replacement, or provide alternative instruction. Those arrangements should not substantially inconvenience their students or faculty colleagues. Should an officer be absent for an extended period due to illness or injury, the department or school will provide substitute instructors for their courses."
Individual course policies on attendance
- An attendance policy can include the following:
- what types of absences are considered excused and what types are not,
- what the maximum number of permissible absences will be and what the penalty for additional absences will be,
- what steps students should take if they will be absent (e.g., how to inform you, whether to meet with you afterward to catch up a bit),
- whether some sort of make-up work for participation or other in-class activity may be required, and
- how absences from major exams or presentations will be handled.
- As they plan their courses for the semester, instructors should have in mind their own contingency plans for handling requests for accommodations from students who must be absent due to illness or due to other extenuating circumstances.
- If the circumstances of a student's absence(s) are not covered by the instructor's contingency plans, the instructor should consult with the student's advising dean to consider whether and how the absence might be temporarily accommodated. For Columbia College, General Studies, and Columbia Engineering students, instructors can find the student's assigned advising dean is their Courseworks sites, in the "Photo Roster" section under the "List/Advisor" tab. For Barnard College students, instructors can contact the relevant Class Dean (depending on the class year of the student).
- Instructors who wish to require documentation from students for absences from class are asked to consider the following:
- Students who will miss class in observance of major religious holidays are not required to provide documentation, but should communicate their planned observance to their instructors at the beginning of the semester and make plans accordingly. (See below for more details on absences for religious holidays.)
- The University attendance policy issued by the Provost Office (see below) notes that instructors may not require students to provide medical documentation for short-term absences related to an infectious disease. Students who miss class for health reasons may or may not be able to see a healthcare provider on the day on which they were ill, and if they are seen by a healthcare provider, any diagnosis of illness is privileged information and cannot be shared directly by the healthcare provider with an instructor or with an adviser. Please note that advising deans do not have special access to this privileged health information.
- Instructors sometimes ask students who are absent from class to procure some sort of note from their advising deans about an illness. It is important to remember that advising deans are working with the same information that the instructors are, and they will be able to confirm only that the student has told them the same reasons for absence that the student has already told the instructor. So instructors are asked to consider whether this sort of documentation is really useful before requiring it.
"Faculty have the discretion to set their own policies on class attendance and on making up missed assignments, subject to the limitations defined by the University’s policies on religious holidays and any requirements set by their schools. Faculty have an obligation to provide their students with a clearly written description of their policies at the start of the term and to follow them consistently."
Attendance policies for religious holidays
It is the policy of Columbia College and of Columbia University to respect the religious beliefs of its faculty, students, and staff.* In accordance with New York State law, no student may be penalized for absences due to religious beliefs.
Instructors who have questions about particular religious holidays or forms of observance can write to religiouslife@columbia.edu to consult with one of the religious life advisers in The Earl Hall Center for Religious Life. Instructors who have concerns regarding the academic implications of a student’s religious observance should contact the academic dean of the student's school.
*From the Faculty Handbook published by the Provost Office:
"No student may be penalized for absences due to religious beliefs. Students are expected to inform their faculty of any religious holidays they intend to observe as early in the term as possible. Faculty are expected to find alternative means by which those students can satisfy missed academic requirements. If a suitable arrangement cannot be worked out between the student and the instructor, the instructor should consult the appropriate chair or dean or executive vice president. If an additional appeal is needed, it may be taken to the Provost whose determination is final."
Attendance policies for absences and missed class due to infectious diseases (such as COVID-19, influenza, and mpox)
This attendance policy was announced for the University by the Provost Office and last updated in August 2023.
The current public health situation in the US and NYC indicates that we will likely encounter cases of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases this fall. Please note recent university communication here on updated COVID-19 guidance for the fall semester.
To maintain the health and safety of students, staff and faculty during this academic year, and to support our students academically, below are guidelines regarding student absences.
For infectious disease-related absences of 10 days or less:
Students who are adhering to isolation due to a diagnosis of COVID-19 or another infectious disease must not attend class during their mandated isolation period. Students will follow the guidance of their healthcare provider regarding the length of the isolation period. Student absences relating to COVID-19 and other infectious diseases will be recognized as appropriate for such absences, and students will not be penalized.
- Students must contact their instructor to inform them that they will be unable to attend in-person classes for medical reasons. The student may decide to share the reason for the absence, but is not required to do so. Students must include the required dates of their absence and communicate regularly with the instructor about their ability to participate during that time. Faculty may not require documentation of such absences.
- As for any illness of short duration, students should work directly with their instructors to develop a plan to receive instruction and complete course related work. Instructors are expected to make reasonable accommodations for students who miss classes, assignments or exams due to necessary isolation related to an infectious disease diagnosis.
- Depending on the size, format and pedagogical goals of the class, instructors can support students in isolation in a number of ways to help students catch up on materials and assignments. Such support may include the following:
- Record their lecture or class or make existing recorded lecture available
- Invite a remote student to “attend” via a Zoom link to be used only during this period
- Create an activity that students could complete on their own to make up missed class or content
- Students should note that not all courses are being recorded and they should be in touch with their instructor as to the best way to make up missed class and assignments.
- Instructors are not expected to teach additional hybrid or online sections to accommodate individual student absences of less than one week.
For extended absences longer than 10 days:
Students who must be absent for longer than 10 days due to an infectious disease will need to provide appropriate medical documentation to Disability Services (DS). Documentation must include the medical diagnosis and the estimated duration of absence (due to isolation or prolonged symptoms), and can be obtained from the Medical Services. Disability Services will expedite the registration process for students requiring accommodations due to a prescribed extended medical absence due to an infectious disease. Faculty members will be contacted by Disability Services or DS Liaison if appropriate to review what accommodations can be provided to a student who has a prolonged absence. Students will not be penalized for extended absences.