The University is implementing a new attendance policy starting today in response to a Federal Department of Education program review in January.
The policy, branded “Go To Class” by UM Financial Aid, mandates attendance verification on a random meeting of all classes within the first two weeks of each academic term.
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Brandi Hephner Labanc said, in addition to meeting the required federal standards associated with receiving federal financial aid, the University aims to create a campus-wide culture that places greater value on and holds students more accountable for regularly attending class.
“Students are here to go to class,” Labanc said. “The best way to be successful is to make consistent attendance a priority.”
Financial Aid director Laura Diven-Brown said a task force has been assigned to designing and preparing this system for implementation since the University was officially notified of its necessity in April. This committee included representatives from the Provost’s Office, Division of Outreach and Continuing Education and the Center for Student Success and Financial Aid.
The university will now hold Federal Title IV Financial Aid funds that are not disbursed before the start of each semester until a student’s attendance of at least one course is verified. Title IV funds include federal student loans and Pell Grants.
“Going forward, we will continue to urge students not to wait until the last minute to complete their financial aid requirements every year,” Diven-Brown said. “Because if everything is ready to go, they can qualify for early disbursement, prior to the start of the term.”
The policy does not require faculty to change their attendance policy or take any attendance outside the randomly selected session for verification. Data collection for verification will rely on a variety of methods to encompass study abroad courses, online classes, and internships.
Financial Aid will finalize enrollment by September 14, the mandatory drop date for the fall 2015 academic term based on students’ verified class schedules. The department will then review all financial aid packages and make any necessary changes.
“Remember that failure to attend class could not only result in loss of financial aid eligibility, but students can actually be dropped from their courses,” Diven-Brown said.
Senior finance major Madison Portie supports the policy and its aims to prioritize attendance. Portie cited a similar rule within the School of Business Administration which makes attendance mandatory throughout the first week of each academic term as another example of success in this area.
“If students aren’t going to take their commitment to the university seriously, then they are wasting resources.”
