Flexible Attendance

Navigating Academic Access Through Attendance Flexibility

WSU Vancouver is committed to providing an accessible learning environment for all students. For those managing chronic or episodic health conditions, maintaining a rigid attendance schedule can sometimes present a significant barrier to academic success. Flexible attendance is a formal accommodation designed to ensure that students are not unfairly penalized when their disability necessitates an occasional absence.

At WSU Vancouver, we recognize that certain medical conditions are unpredictable and inevitable. This accommodation allows students to demonstrate their knowledge and meet course requirements even when health challenges arise. By modifying standard attendance policies, we protect the academic integrity of our programs while ensuring that every student has an equitable opportunity to excel.

Understanding the Accommodation

This resource is intended to help students and faculty navigate the implementation of flexible attendance.

Purpose and Eligibility

• What is this accommodation used for? It provides flexibility within standard attendance policies for students with chronic conditions. It ensures they can convey their knowledge without penalty when they are too unwell to attend class.
• Who receives this accommodation? Students with episodic conditions such as migraines, autoimmune diseases, cancer, psychological disorders, or significant medical recovery may be approved for this support.

Evaluating Reasonableness

The Student Accommodations Advisor helps faculty determine how much flexibility is possible without fundamentally altering a course. Key considerations include:

1. Is attendance an essential part of the learning process?
2. Does an absence constitute a significant loss to the experience of other students?
3. Does the course rely on physical participation as the only method for learning?
4. How is the final grade calculated and how heavily is attendance factored in?
5. Is the policy applied consistently across the board?

Generally, lecture-based courses allow for more flexibility, while labs, clinicals, or performance-based classes may have more rigid requirements due to the nature of the instruction.

Roles and Responsibilities

Access Center Responsibilities

The Student Accommodations Advisor reviews disability documentation and meets with students to determine eligibility. They consult with faculty to evaluate the reasonableness of the request and provide ongoing mediation if challenges arise.

Faculty Responsibilities

• Review notification letters and determine how to modify policies without altering essential learning objectives.
• Engage in a dialogue with the student to establish clear communication protocols.
• Important: Instructors must never unilaterally deny an accommodation. If a request seems unreasonable for a specific course, faculty must contact the Student Accommodations Advisor immediately.

Student Responsibilities

• Initiate contact with instructors at the start of the term to provide the Flexible Attendance Agreement Form.
• Collaborate with faculty to define the finite number of absences allowed and how to make up missed work.
• Notify instructors as soon as possible when an absence occurs.
• Remain responsible for all class content, notes, and information presented during an absence.

Implementation Tools

It is highly recommended that the student and instructor summarize their agreement in writing using the Flexible Attendance Agreement Form. This document clarifies expectations regarding:

• The maximum number of allowed absences.
• The preferred method of notification.
• Deadlines for missed assignments or quizzes.

Note: This information is adapted with permission from the Stanford Office of Accessible Education.