ATTENDANCE POLICY

Attendance at start and concluding (wrap) residencies for the required residency-based courses is mandatory. A student who registers for a required residency-based course but is unable to attend a start residency must withdraw from the course and take it in a subsequent term. Consequently, if a student registers for a required residency-based course and is unable to attend the concluding (wrap) residency, he or she will have to take an incomplete for that course and wrap it at a residency in a subsequent term. Exceptions are rarely made to the residency requirement. One reason for an exception is religious reasons. (Please refer to the religious observance policy.) Religious exemptions may be granted by the area chair or MALS program coordinator coordinating the residency. There may be other reasons that warrant an exception but these must be ruled on by the Director of Graduate Studies on a case by case basis. If requesting to be excused from a residency for any reason other than a religious exemption, the student must make this request in writing to the Director of Graduate Studies. This request should contain the reason(s) for not attending the residency and a detailed plan for making up the work and faculty/student interaction that will be missed.