Flexible attendance is suitable for students with chronic health conditions who occasionally experience brief episodes affecting their attendance and assignments. This accommodation provides limited flexibility for random, periodic health flare-ups but does not support ongoing absences or extended inability to participate.
Students who are approved for this accommodation will have “Flexible attendance and deadlines” listed on their accommodation letter. Instructors are encouraged to meet with the student to discuss how the accommodation will be provided.
How do I determine a reasonable number of disability-related absences?
The flexible attendance accommodation offers a penalty exemption for absences due to a student’s disability. Guidelines were established based on course length and schedule type, generally allowing for 15-20% missed classes. Additional flexibility may be needed and should be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Keep in mind: These are guidelines. Instructors who do not believe the rubric reflects what is reasonable for their course should complete a Flex Plan in the ODS Online Portal.
| Course Length | Schedule Type | Total Absences Allowed |
| 4 Week Course – meets 3 times per week (i.e., Summer I and II) | 1 – Lecture (LEC), Activity, Performance, or Studio (APS), Combined Lecture/Lab (LLB) | No more than 3 absences |
| *2 – Laboratory (LAB), Recitation (RCT), Seminar (SEM) | No more than 2 absences | |
| 4 Week Course – meets 5 times per week (i.e., Summer I and II) | 1 – Lecture (LEC), Activity, Performance, or Studio (APS), Combined Lecture/Lab (LLB) | No more than 4 absences |
| *2 – Laboratory (LAB), Recitation (RCT), Seminar (SEM) | No more than 3 absences | |
| 10 Week Course – meets once per week (i.e., Fall II and Spring II) | 1 – Lecture (LEC), Activity, Performance, or Studio (APS), Combined Lecture/Lab (LLB) | No more than 2 absences |
| *2 – Laboratory (LAB), Recitation (RCT), Seminar (SEM) | No more than 2 absences | |
| 10 Week Course – meets twice per week (i.e., Fall II and Spring II) | 1 – Lecture (LEC), Activity, Performance, or Studio (APS), Combined Lecture/Lab (LLB) | No more than 4 absences |
| *2 – Laboratory (LAB), Recitation (RCT), Seminar (SEM) | No more than 3 absences | |
| 10 Week Course – meets 3 times or more per week (i.e., Fall II and Spring II) | 1 – Lecture (LEC), Activity, Performance, or Studio (APS), Combined Lecture/Lab (LLB) | No more than 6 absences |
| *2 – Laboratory (LAB), Recitation (RCT), Seminar (SEM) | No more than 5 absences | |
| 15 Week Course – meets once per week (i.e., full Fall and Spring) | 1 – Lecture (LEC), Activity, Performance, or Studio (APS), Combined Lecture/Lab (LLB) | No more than 3 absences |
| *2 – Laboratory (LAB), Recitation (RCT), Seminar (SEM) | No more than 3 absences | |
| 15 Week Course – meets twice per week (i.e., full Fall and Spring) | 1 – Lecture (LEC), Activity, Performance, or Studio (APS), Combined Lecture/Lab (LLB) | No more than 6 absences |
| *2 – Laboratory (LAB), Recitation (RCT), Seminar (SEM) | No more than 5 absences | |
| 15 Week Course – meets 3 times or more per week (i.e., full Fall and Spring) | 1 – Lecture (LEC), Activity, Performance, or Studio (APS), Combined Lecture/Lab (LLB) | No more than 9 absences |
| *2 – Laboratory (LAB), Recitation (RCT), Seminar (SEM) | No more than 7 absences |
*2 – LAB, RCT, SEM courses are designed to be highly experiential, interaction, and/or discussion-based, thus limiting the amount of flexibility that is reasonable.
If the course attendance policy provides for additional flexibility beyond what is listed above, ODS considers that to meet the accommodation.
Course formats not represented in the above table:
- Independent Study (IND), Research (RES), Thesis or Dissertation (THD): The Registrar defines these as courses where no classroom or meeting pattern is expected to be scheduled. If flex attendance is applicable to and needed in these course formats, students should contact their Accommodations Specialist.
- Clinical (CLN), Field Experience (FLD), Internship (INT), Practicum (PRA), Student Teaching (STT): The Registrar defines these as courses where no classroom or meeting pattern is expected to be scheduled. Instruction may occur off-campus and course requirements may be dictated by state/licensing/credentialing organizations or specialized accreditors. Therefore, flexibility is limited. Students who need flex attendance in these settings should promptly contact their Accommodations Specialist to request a clinical accommodation letter.
- Interim courses (Winter and Summer) are 3 weeks in length and generally follow an asynchronous, online format.
To learn more about student responsibilities, please visit Flexible Attendance Responsibilities for Students.
My course includes both a lecture portion and a recitation or lab. How is the rubric applied?
If your course includes scheduled lecture classes AND recitation classes, use the rubric to determine the maximum number of absences for each, e.g., lecture portion meets once weekly for 15 weeks with a maximum of 3 absences, recitation meets twice weekly for 15 weeks with a maximum of 5 absences.
I received a student accommodation letter with flexible attendance authorized during the 8th week of class. The student has missed many course meetings. How does the rubric apply?
Accommodations are not retroactive. If a student has already missed the maximum allowed absences, you are not obligated to grant additional absences without penalty. Attendance flexibility permits 15-20% of total course meetings. For example, if a student requests this accommodation in the 8th week of a 15-week course, the maximum absences will be based on the remaining 7 weeks.
What is a Flex Plan?
The ODS Online Portal enables instructors to create a flex plan detailing how accommodations will be provided in the course, ensuring alignment among instructors, students, and ODS.
The Flex Plan asks instructors to specify opportunities available for students to make-up:
- Missed in-class participation points or presentations
- Missed quizzes and exams
- Missed out-of-class assignments (including providing a deadline extension if requested by the student)
- Missed group work
Completed Flex Plans are reviewed by ODS and made available to the student through the ODS Online Portal.
How do I complete a Flex Plan?
The Flex Plan is accessed from within the ODS Online Portal. Once you are signed in, select Flex Plan from the column on the left and proceed to complete a Flex Plan for each class listed. It may be helpful to review our PDF orvideo tutorial.
Note: The Flex Plan applies to any student in the course with flex attendance. Please do not use student names when completing this form.
ODS' recommendation is not appropriate for my course. What should I do?
If you prefer stricter parameters than ODS recommends, complete the Flex Plan and upload your syllabus to the ODS Online Portal promptly. The Flex Plan allows you to propose parameters suited to your course's type and length.
ODS staff will review the Flex Plan and communicate with you regarding approval or suggested changes.
How do I accommodate missed participation points, presentation, labs, clinical hours, etc.?
Please see the examples below, and contact ODS if you need to discuss specific requirements of your course.
1. Presentations
Class presentations occur over multiple days. If flare-up occurs on student’s presentation day, student will present during the following class period.
Student can schedule a make-up presentation 1-on-1 with instructor during office hours.
2. Projects
Requirements for Blackboard group discussions need to be completed within the timeframe allotted to the class, as learning can only take place during the times when the conversation is active.
Group projects can be modified to an individual project, if needed.
Student is responsible for coordinating with group members to schedule time to make-up group work missed due to a flare-up.
3. Labs
There are multiple labs throughout the week, so student can attend a different lab section during the same week that covers the same material.
Missed labs need to be made up within two weeks. Student will contact instructor to schedule make-up.
This course has two designated class periods in which student can make-up work. If necessary, student can request one additional lab time for make-up work.
4. Participation Points
Student can submit notes, taken from PowerPoint slides posted on Blackboard, to receive participation points for class periods missed.
When absent, student will email instructor with questions or comments on course material to be discussed that day.
Student can meet with instructor during office hours to make-up participation points.
Student will take an active role in class discussions (when they are able to attend class) to gain participation points. Student will not be penalized for missing participation when absent.
5. Experiential Activities
Within the four-week period leading up to a performance, student can miss up to two classes.
Student can miss one additional studio practice during the semester. Any additional absences will result in student not participating