Regular attendance is expected. When you miss class you cheat yourself out of both the material presented and your colleagues’ contributions to class discussion. You also cheat your colleagues of your contributions to the class. Accordingly, excessive absences may result in a lowering of your final grade for the course.

Some absences, I realize, simply can’t be avoided, but I don’t wish to get caught up in trying to judge between “excused” and “unexcused” absences. Instead, I allot some “personal days,” which should be used for emergency situations, illness, etc.

Four “personal days” are allotted for the semester. Absences in excess of this number may result in a lowering of your final grade. If there are serious reasons why you think you may not be able to keep your absences to the number permitted, please see me as soon as possible to discuss your situation.