Class attendance is essential to success in a course. Students are expected to prepare for and attend each class meeting and to participate fully in the learning process. Instructors may include class attendance in the calculation of the course grade. The effect of class attendance on the grade will be clearly specified in the course syllabus and communicated by the instructor. 

During their time at Meredith, students may encounter situations that are unexpected and interrupt their ability to attend classes. Whether it is a severe illness, hospitalization, death in the family, or other critical incident, in most cases, students plan to resume class attendance as soon as they are able. In these situations, the Office of the Dean of Students, when requested and as a courtesy to a student, can send an emailed notification to the student’s faculty and student’s academic advisor making them aware of a student’s absence. Students who have experienced an incident impacting their class attendance should contact the Office of the Dean of Students by emailing deanofstudents@meredith.edu or by calling the office at 919-760-8521.  Documentation may be needed to verify the reasons for class absences and can be submitted to the Office of the Dean of Students, 2nd floor Park Center, via email or in person.

Faculty will determine how absences will be considered related to the attendance policy for specific classes and class-related activities.  Students are advised to consult their course syllabi and contact their individual faculty members (beforehand or upon return) to obtain information on how absences will be handled for each class or to discuss the possibility for make-up work.