Instructors teaching UWEC College of Business online classes are expected to accommodate students with an authorized reason to miss class or submit late work. UW – Eau Claire Excused Absence Policy.
Guidelines for Excused Absence and Late Work Polices
Instructors are required to include their own late work policy in their syllabus. In addition to following UWEC’s required policy, faculty should keep in mind the following considerations when they set their excused absence policy for their particular online course/section:
- Instructors should provide flexibility when extraordinary circumstances occur for students.
Rationale: Sometimes situations occur that require a student to have more than a few days extension (death in the family, hospitalization or illness, etc.). We suggest that the instructor and student together determine if an extension or an incomplete is advisable, or if the student should officially drop the class based on the student’s home campus policy regarding excused absences. - Instructors should provide extensions on individual assignments, papers, and/or exams whenever possible with a reasonable penalty.
Rationale: We request that instructors recognize the complicated lives many of our students live, particularly our online students, who pay a fee to take a course that offers more flexibility than an on-campus course. Allowing for life complications, we recommend that instructors allow for late individual work with a reasonable penalty, such as a 25% deduction and no credit after 2-3 days. The extension deadline should also take into consideration the other students in the class. For example, when a student submits late, the instructor may not be able to release feedback/answer keys to the rest of the class delaying their feedback. - Instructors are not required to accept discussion work late.
Rationale: A zero for late discussion work is often the logical option since participating in a discussion late does not add to the learning environment. The instructor can provide an alternative assignment if a student has an excused absence that results in a missed discussion. - Instructors are not required to provide an extension when a student’s technology fails.
Rationale: Students should be reminded that if they encounter personal technology issues, they are required to find alternatives to submit the assignments. For example, they can email files if they encounter problems with Canvas, or find an alternative location with WiFi if their home connection is unavailable.