Attendance Policy

A basic requirement for employment in any organization is regular, on-time attendance. Rasmussen University students are expected to be on time and in regular attendance for all of their classes. Workplace etiquette also requires a call be made if an absence is necessary. Rasmussen University students are expected to call the University and to indicate whether they will be absent or tardy. It is the student's responsibility to contact the instructor to get missed information, class work, and assignments.

Faculty are required to keep accurate attendance records that are submitted to the student's record. Rasmussen University makes attendance records available to supporting agencies and prospective employers. Students must maintain regular attendance and be in satisfactory academic standing to remain eligible for financial aid.

A. Traditional Course Attendance Requirements:

Attendance requirements in traditional courses are met by (a) Attending a face-to-face course session at the campus or other class location, or (b) Substantive online activity, including commentary in the discussion section of the online classroom, posting of required assignments and course quizzes and exams in a timely manner. Discussion posts in the student lounge area of the classroom are encouraged but do not count as attendance activities. Attendance is not equivalent to participation. Student grades will be impacted by the frequency and quality of participation in class, whether face to face or online, consistent with the requirements of the particular course and as outlined in the course syllabus.

1. First-Week Attendance
   Students are expected to meet attendance requirements in their courses on or before the sixth business day of the start of each quarter/term. Students who have not met the attendance requirement in at least one scheduled University course within six business days of the start of each term may be administratively withdrawn from the University.
   

2. Course Attendance
   a. If a student has not attended a course within 14 days of their last date of attendance in that course, they may be administratively withdrawn from the course. If the student has not attended any courses within 14 days of their last day of attendance, they may be administratively withdrawn from the University. Upon withdrawal, a student's financial aid eligibility will be adjusted according to the Institution's refund policy as described in the University Catalog and will be assigned grades according to the Rasmussen University Course Drop Policy.
   b. Rasmussen University uses a standard grading scale for its courses (although some programs may be required to follow additional standards).
   c. Nursing and Health Sciences programs may have clinicals, externships, practicums, professional practice experiences, simulation, lab, and lecture attendance requirements that are more stringent than the attendance policy above. Attendance policies for programs with additional requirements can be found in program-specific handbooks.

B. Competency-Based Course Attendance Requirements:

Attendance requirements for programs delivered exclusively as competency-based courses are met by (a) completing and submitting identified activities or deliverables within the competency-based course, and (b) substantive academic engagement, including completing the course Learning Plan, quizzes, or diagnostic assessments.

1. First-Week Attendance
Students are expected to meet attendance requirements in at least one course on or before the sixth business day of the start of each term or they may be administratively withdrawn from the University. Completion and submission of the Learning Plan will be required to fulfill the first week attendance requirement in a competency-based course and gain access to the content of the course.

2. Course Attendance
a. If a student has not attended a course within 14 days of their last date of attendance in that course, they may be administratively withdrawn from the course. If the student has not been in attendance in any courses within 14 days of their last day of attendance, they may be administratively withdrawn from the University. Upon withdrawal, a student's financial aid eligibility will be adjusted according to the Institution's refund policy as described in the University Catalog and will be assigned grades according to the Rasmussen University Course Drop Policy.
b. Student grades will be impacted by the completion of deliverables.
c. Students have until the final day of the quarter/term to complete the competency-based course(s).
d. Competency-based course scores will be converted to letter grades following the Competency-Based Education Course Grade Conversion Scale and will appear on the student's transcript.
e. Upon completing a competency-based course, the attendance requirements have been met and Rasmussen University will post the final letter grade to the student's record.
f. Clinicals, externships, practicums and professional practice experiences in Nursing and Health Sciences programs have attendance requirements that are more stringent than the attendance policy above. Attendance policies for programs with additional requirements can be found in program-specific manuals/handbooks.

Students receiving funds from any state or federal agency or other fund-granting entity may be subject to the additional attendance requirements of that specific agency.