Attendance Policy

Attending class and assigned workshops is essential for student success. Many instructors assign work that can only be completed in class, and absent or late students generally will not have the opportunity to make this work up. 

In some circumstances the Dean of Student Development Services will excuse absences and allow students to complete missed assignments. Typically these circumstances involve absences for sporting events, religious observation, pregnancy and childbirth, and activities protected by law. 

Students who stop attending a class after the first meeting period will be withdrawn from that class when the instructor submits attendance data at the third week mark. Faculty will not withdraw students after this point, and the responsibility to request a withdrawal from a class will rest with the individual student. 

Absences for Religious Reasons 

No person shall be expelled from or be refused admission as a student to an institution of higher education for the reason that he or she is unable, because of his or her religious beliefs, to attend classes or to participate in any examination, study or work requirements on a particular day or days. 

Any student in an institution of higher education who is unable, because of his or her religious beliefs, to attend classes on a particular day or days shall, because of such absence on the particular day or days, be excused from any examination or any study or work requirements. It shall be the responsibility of the faculty and of the administrative officials of each institution of higher education to make available to each student charged by the institution for making available to the said student such equivalent opportunity. If classes, examinations, study or work requirements are held on Friday after four o'clock PM or on Saturday, similar or makeup classes, examinations, study or work requirements shall be made available on other days, when it is possible and practicable to do so. No special fees shall be charged to the student for these classes, examinations, study or work requirements held on other days. 

In effectuating the provisions of this section, it shall be the duty of the faculty and of the administrative officials of each institution of higher education to exercise the fullest measure of good faith. No adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to any student because of his/her availing himself or herself of the provisions of this section. 

Any student, who is aggrieved by the alleged failure of any faculty or administrative officials to comply in good faith with provisions of this section, shall be entitled to maintain an action or proceeding in the Supreme Court of the county in which said institution of higher education is located for the enforcement of his or her rights under this section. 

As used in this section, the term "institution of higher education" shall mean schools under the control of the Board of Trustees of the State University of New York or the Board of Higher Education of the City of New York or any community college. 

Absences for Pregnancy & Childbirth 

Federal and state law protects women who are pregnant, or who have recently given birth. SUNY Sullivan will: 

• Allow you to continue participating in classes and
  extracurricular activities even though you are
  pregnant;
• Excuse absences due to pregnancy or childbirth for as
  long as your doctor says it is necessary; and
• Allow you to return to the same academic and
  extracurricular status as before your medical leave began, which should include giving you the opportunity to make up any work missed while you were out

 Absences for Athletic Events

College athletes work with their coaching staff and academic advisors to design class schedules that minimize disruption, but on those rare occasions when an athletic event conflicts with a class student athletes will have the opportunity to complete classwork without penalty.

 Absences Related to Inclement Weather

The college does not require students to commute to campus when the roads are not safe, and students who do not attend class during inclement weather are allowed to complete missed work without penalty.