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Attendance and Absence from Classes
Individual course attendance policies are at the discretion of each individual instructor and may be a component of students’ final grades. The Department of Student Advising & Success cannot issue formal excuses for missed classes.
Religious Observance
With regard to absence due to religious observance, Babson College welcomes and values people's religions and perspectives and respects the interests of all members of our community. Babson recognizes the breadth of religious observance among students, faculty, and staff, and the potential for conflict with scheduled components of the academic experience. Students are expected to review their syllabi and notify faculty members as early in the semester as is possible about conflicts between course requirements and religious observances. In such an event, consistent with Massachusetts law set forth below, instructors will provide reasonable accommodations that do not unduly disadvantage students.
"Any student in an educational or vocational training institution, other than a religious or denominational educational or vocational training institution, who is unable, because of his religious beliefs, to attend classes or to participate in any examination, study, or work requirement on a particular day shall be excused from any such examination or study or work requirement, and shall be provided with an opportunity to make up such examination, study, or work requirement which he may have missed because of such absence on any particular day; provided, however, that such makeup examination or work shall not create an unreasonable burden upon such school. No fees of any kind shall be charged by the institution for making available to the said student such opportunity. No adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to any student because of his availing himself of the provisions of this section."
–Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 151c, Section 2b
The Athletics Department has an early-notification system for students involved in scheduled intercollegiate athletic competitions. Students involved in Babson’s intercollegiate athletic program receive the dates of scheduled games/competitions as early as possible in the semester (ideally within the first week or 10 days of the term). Student-athletes must then notify their professors of any conflicts between scheduled classes or major class events (presentations, etc.) and athletic contests. Babson College strongly urges faculty members to exercise a reasonable degree of flexibility and understanding in providing excused absences based upon these conflicts (for those students who have provided the necessary conflict information early in the semester).
Through early notification and flexibility, Babson College hopes to provide students with the opportunity to fully participate in both the College’s academic program and its intercollegiate athletic programs.
Babson’s class attendance policy in cases of religious observance or intercollegiate athletic competitions in no way excuses students from meeting the academic demands of the course. Professors will determine the work and time frame that will most fairly makeup for the missed class time and assignments.
Cancellation of Classes
Members of the college’s Crisis Response Team have developed a plan to monitor and address potential inclement weather providing for the safety and security of members of the Babson community. With over 85% of our undergraduate students living on campus, the College generally remains open during inclement weather. In rare circumstances, the College determines school closure or delay based on 1. State of Emergency declared by the Governor and/or 2. Severe weather conditions that make it difficult to keep the campus roads and parking lots cleared. Since safety is the College’s highest priority, students are advised to exercise their own judgment regarding traveling to campus during inclement weather and to communicate directly with their professors about specific issues regarding travel. Staff and faculty are also advised to exercise their own judgment regarding traveling to work or remaining at home and some may choose to schedule class through WebEx or other available systems during inclement weather.
Courses that are taught in either a wholly online or Blended Learning format will not be cancelled but will move to an alternative delivery format. This includes closures that occur during a F2F session. In these circumstances students are expected to be available from the safety of their home, hotel, or office for Virtual Classroom sessions which will be conducted in lieu of the in-person F2F. If the campus is closed students may not come to campus. Students are expected to follow the instructions of Babson staff who will email updates and directions in the event of a campus closure.
During inclement weather, members of the Babson community can obtain updates regarding advisories and the status of College operations by accessing the Babson homepage, INFO phone line 781-2394636,the Emergency Preparedness page of the Babson website, and local news and radio channels (WBZ/Channel 4/WBZ 1030 AM, WHDH/Channel 7/WRKO 680 AM, WCVB/Channel 5, WFXT/Fox 25).