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Class Attendance

Absence From Class
The policy on absences assumes student maturity and responsibility for their own behavior, but also assumes that students will communicate their intentions and circumstances to their instructor. Graduate students are expected to attend and participate in all courses. Most faculty members include course policies for absences in the syllabus. Unexcused absences are considered “cuts.” A student who “cuts” the first class meeting, or any two or more class meetings, may be removed from the course by the Registrar, if the instructor so requests.

The student is dropped from a course, given a grade of “W,” or a grade of “F,” depending upon when the instructor made the request. Requests received during the Add/Drop period will result in a class drop; receipt during the Course Withdrawal Period will result in the posting of a final grade of “W” to the student’s record and receipt after the Withdrawal deadline will cause a final grade of “F” to be posted.

Students are cautioned that the instructor may or may not choose to request removal for unexcused absence(s). It is essential that students act immediately on their decision to leave a course to ensure that, through delay, a Drop does not become a Withdrawal or a Withdrawal a Failure.

Absence For Religious Holy Days
RISD respects the religious beliefs of all members of the community, affirms their rights to observe significant religious holy days, and will make reasonable accommodations, upon request, for such observances. If one’s religious observance is in conflict with a class then the student should inform the instructor(s) of the class. If it is an academic experience or other school function but not a schedule class, then the student should inform the person in charge. It is the student’s responsibility to make the necessary arrangements mutually agreed upon with the instructor(s). See the Student Handbook for detailed information on faculty and student expectations.