Missed Classes for University Sponsored or Sanctioned Activities and Makeup Work Policy

Policy

Students represent the university through participation in university-sponsored or -sanctioned activities, i.e. representing the university at off-campus co-curricular events. When the activity conflicts with academic obligations, student-participants will follow a standard protocol to provide their faculty members with prior, written notification of their absences from classes. Faculty members will determine, in consultation with student participants, how missed classes and assignments are made-up in a manner that fulfills academic obligations and accommodates participatory obligations.

Except for absences resulting from sponsored or sanctioned activities, student-participants have the same responsibility in regard to class attendance and assignments as do all other students.

University-sponsored or -sanctioned activities are defined as activities that involve Minnesota State University, Mankato students serving as representatives of the university in:

• NCAA athletic competitions.
  • Competition time includes time required to travel to and from the competition.
  • Practices, exhibitions and scrimmages are not NCAA competitions and are not included in this policy.
  • This policy also does not apply to Minnesota State Mankato Club Sports.
• Presentations and performances involving theater, music, dance or speech & debate students when such activities are requirements for the students in those activities. Additionally, presentations and performances involving competition teams associated to a class or are otherwise department sponsored. Regularly scheduled practices and rehearsals are not included in this policy.
• Student Government activities.
  • Students serving in University-wide committees, workgroups or task forces. These are groups which have student representation and are on a wider university level.
  • Students serving in a Minnesota State System Councils, Committees or Workgroups.
  • This does not apply to regular Student Government committees, taskforces, commissions, or boards. It also does not apply to Student Government Senate meetings.
    • The exception is during the annual spring Student Government Budget Meetings.
• Presenting the results of research, capstones and other scholarly activities.
• Other University-related events as approved by the Provost or his/her designee.

Procedure

1. All parties involved should be made aware of the scheduled absences well ahead of the date(s) of absence. In the case of extracurricular and/or co-curricular activities, a semester-long schedule will be prepared and distributed at the beginning of the semester. Departments which sponsor the extracurricular and/or co-curricular activities will prepare a standard form for all students who will be requesting to miss class and makeup work under this policy. Written notification for these missed classes will be provided by the students via this form no later than the end of the first week of the semester.
2. In instances where semester-long schedules are not possible, a minimum of a two-week written notification shall be given for all absences. This notification shall take place even if the absence is potential rather than definite.
3. The type and extent of makeup work shall be at the discretion of the faculty member. Unless the instructor and the student make other arrangements, all makeup work is to be completed prior to the approved absence.
4. If situations occur in which providing two weeks notice is impossible, students and faculty should work together to determine if special arrangements can and/or should be made.
5. As long as appropriate prior notice is given, students and faculty reach a mutual agreement concerning missed work, and students complete the missed work, faculty shall not penalize a student for missing a class or exam for that activity.
6. Faculty members retain the exclusive right to determine when students have provided acceptable prior notice and have completed the missed work. Failure on the part of the student to provide acceptable prior notice or successfully complete the missed work may result in the student being penalized for missing a class.
   1. If a student feels that this policy has not been applied appropriately to his/her situation, the student should refer to the Student Complaint and Grievance Policy, found here: https://www.mnsu.edu/atoz/policies/studentcomplaintsandgrievances.pdf
7. In situations where faculty members determine that students will not be able to achieve the learning outcomes of the course because of excessive absence, faculty members will inform students of this situation. As long as students notify faculty in accordance with point 1 of the procedures of this policy and the course design cannot accommodate excessive absence, faculty shall notify students of the need to seek a different section of the course or a different course before the end of the drop-add period.
8. Nothing in this policy mitigates any student rights allotted by the Grade Appeal Policy.

Rationale

The mission of Minnesota State Mankato is to promote learning and scholarship and to further the educational development of each of its students. Some students will elect to enrich their classroom experience through their participation in a variety of extracurricular and/or co-curricular university-sponsored or –sanctioned events and activities. In many cases there is significant competition amongst universities to attract such talent-based student leaders to individual campuses and universities will often invest scholarship dollars and staff training and teaching time in the recruitment and further development of these talents.

In other cases, such as student government where they serve on university and system-wide groups, student representation and input is a priority of the university. Not allowing students the chance to represent their peers puts an active barrier on student involvement and engagement in the shared governance process. Minnesota State Mankato values and recognizes the important role of these extracurricular and/or co-curricular activities.

These students recognize their own responsibilities to balance the demands of their participation in these extracurricular and/or co-curricular activities with the academic obligations they assume when they enter an institution of higher learning. At the same time, the university must acknowledge a similar level of responsibility in assuring that these students are not unfairly penalized or disadvantaged academically through their participation in these extracurricular and/or co-curricular university-sponsored or -sanctioned events.

This policy attempts to address situations in which such participation necessitates the absence of the student from class. This policy presents a standardized procedure to address these situations.