PHYS 102 :: Physics Illinois :: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Attendance and Participation Policy
This page explains policies related to attendance and participation in the in-person components of Physics 102.
Covered in this Section
- Attendance policies for Lecture
- Attendance policies for Discussion and Lab
- Attendance policies for Tests
- Absences
- Excused Absence policies
- Missing the Final Exam
- Course Completion, Irregular Attendance, and Limits on EX Grades
Lecture Attendance
Students enrolled in Lecture A1 and Lecture A2 may attend either lecture. Because the iClicker system is set up to run a new session for each lecture section, it will likely appear that you have missed half of the class lectures. As long as you have attended and participated (via iClicker) in one of the two lectures that day you will have full Lecture Participation credit for that lecture.
In-person attendance is required to earn Lecture Participation and Lecture Bonus credit.
Lecture attendance is determined as follows:
- If you are using an iClicker remote, answering any question will register that you were present in the lecture hall.
- If you are using the iClicker app, you must check in with your app with location permissions turned on to verify that you are in the lecture hall.
Students who are not present in the lecture hall for any reason will be given a 0 score for that lecture's participation. We do not offer excused absences for lecture; instead, your lowest 5 Lecture Participation scores will be dropped from your final grade calculation. This means you can miss up to 5 lectures for any reason with no penalty to your grade.
Discussion and Lab Attendance
Students may only attend the laboratory and discussion section in which they are registered. Section swapping is not allowed.
In-person attendance is required to earn credit for partipating in Discussion and Lab.
Discussions and Labs are eligible for excused absences.
Tardiness
Discussion and Lab sections will start at their scheduled time. We expect students to arrive on time for the beginning of class.
- Arriving to discussion 10 or more minutes late, you will lose all participation points (i.e., marked ABS) associated with that discussion session.
- The roll will be called each lab period. If you are not in the lab when the roll is called, you will be marked ABS.
- Arriving to an exam 10 or more minutes late, you will need to reschedule your exam.
Be on time for all sections/exams.
Credit for Participation in Lab and Discussion
Student active participation is required to receive credit for your group assignments in lab and discussion. Your name may not be added to your group's work unless you were present in class that day and contributed to the work.
Active participation includes:
- Completing pre-class activities before arriving
- Remaining engaged with the work that your group is doing, even if you are not working on the main job at the moment
- Joining the conversation, providing ideas, and responding to others' ideas during class
- Contributing fairly to the completion of the group's work
and completing required written work on each group assignment.
It must be clear to discussion or lab instructor that you have been an active participant in each group activity.
If it is unclear through both your written work and your instructor's observations of your interactions, you may be marked ABS for an assignment.
What if there is a problem in my group?
Please reach out to your TA or the Discussion or Lab Coordinator if you experience difficulty participating in your group, or feel that someone is not contributing appropriately. Our teaching team is happy to mediate the situation and help your group move toward a fair resolution that is consistent with our course policies and the Student Code.
Exam attendance policy
Physics 102 uses the Computer Based Testing Facility to administer tests and the final exam. You can reserve your exam time within the testing window using Prairietest.
Students who miss a test will be given an ABS (0) score. No make-up tests will be offered after a that test has been released to the class. Tests (except the Final Exam) are eligible for Excused Absences. You may not have more than 3 tests excused.
Rescheduling your test
If you have a conflict come up, it is easy to reschedule your test with the CBTF:
- If your test reservation time has not yet begun, you can change your reservation in PrairieTest.
- If you missed your reserved test time, you must visit the CBTF to have a proctor cancel your missed reservation. Then you may log in to PrairieTest to make a new reservation.
- If the test window is closed, please contact your instructor.
The CBTF permits students to start within the first ten minutes of their reservation. If you are 10 or more minutes late you will have to reschedule your exam.
For more details, review the CBTF's Policies and Procedures page regarding timeliness and missed exams.
Students who must miss a test (except the final exam) for a reason covered under the excused absence policy may request an EX grade for that test.
Final Exams
Failing to show up for a final exam will result in an ABS (0) grade.Your final grade will be calculated based on the points you have earned in the class in accordance with University policy as described in Article 3, Part 2 Final Examinations of the Student Code.
Students with an emergency that will prevent them from taking their final exam may apply for an Incomplete grade and take their final exam in the following semester. Please contact your instructor and your Academic Advisor if you are concerned that you will need an 'I' grade in Physics 102. The Physics Undergraduate Courses Office administers make-up final exams to resolve Incomplete grades.
Absences
Types of Absence
Two types of absence can be recorded in the gradebook:
- Excused absences--issued a grade of EX
- Unexcused absences--issued a grade of ABS
- The 'ABS' indicator is only used for lab, discussion, and tests. It equates to a grade of zero (0) for the missed course component.
- For any component of the course that is not eligible for EX grades, a 0 score will be entered instead of 'ABS'
- 'ABS' scores are eligible to be dropped from the calculation of final grades, but will affect the calculation of your 'EX' average.
The consequences of absences, excused or otherwise, are discussed in the course grading policy.
The only course components eligible to be issued a grade of EX:
- Discussions
- Labs
- Exams
The consequences of absences, excused or otherwise, are discussed in the course grading policy.
Excused Absences
Excused absences will be granted and documented in accordance with University policy as described in Article 1, Part 5 Class Attendance, of the Student Code.
Excused absences fall into the following categories as defined by the code:
- illness
- emergency beyond the student's control (e.g. an auto accident or death in the family)
- required attendance at a University event (e.g. varsity athletics)
- religious observance or practice
- Requires request for accommodation for religious observances form.
- Form must be uploaded to the Excused Absences application.
- More information available from the Office of the Dean of Students.
- serving as an volunteer emergency worker
Eligible course components
The only course components eligible to be issued a grade of EX:
- Discussions
- Labs (not including prelabs)
- The lab practical (not including the online component)
- Tests (not including the final)
How to get an absence excused
Excused Absence requests must be submitted to the Excused Absences application within 2 weeks of the absence. You will need to submit a request for each EX score you need.
Your submission must include documentation that shows why your absence is eligible to be excused. Acceptable forms of documentation include:
- a Return to Work/School document from a medical provider
- a Dial-A-Nurse event confirmation
- an obituary or confirmation letter from a funeral director
- a letter from a potential employer
- a letter from the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics (DIA)
- Military Orders
- Passport or Immigration appointment documentation
- Graduate School Interview Confirmation
- a letter from the Office of the Dean of Students.
The Excused Absences application will guide students through the procedure for documenting missed classes.
Course Completion, Irregular Attendance, and Limits on EX grades
In compliance with the Student Code, the instructor of this course determines the amount of coursework which must be completed to pass. Attendance is required to meet the requirements.
- Discussion: Students are allowed a maximum of 4 excused absences in discussion. Starting with the next absence, the absence will be marked ABS.
- Lab: Students are allowed a maximum of 3 excused absences in Lab. Starting with the next absence, the absence will be marked ABS.
- Exams: Students are allowed 2 excused absences for Exams.
To see how EXs will affect your grade calculation at the end of the semester, be sure to review the course grading page.
Irregular Attendance
If a student reaches either of these absence thresholds in discussion or labs, your conduct will be considered irregular attendance and the Dean of your college will be notified in compliance with Article 1, Part 5, Section 501, item (g) and (h) and Article 3, Part 3, Section 3-312 of the Student Code.