Initiating body:	Academic Senate
Contact:	Academic Senate Chairperson 438-8736
Revised on:	10/2009

2.1.20 Equitable Treatment of Students Participating in University Sponsored or Other Mandated Activities of Limited Duration

Policy

Illinois State University deeply values and supports the required participation of students in Sanctioned University Activities. Instructors will provide such students with reasonable accommodations for completing missed exams, quizzes, and other required work. In courses that allow dropping a low grade or grades, faculty must offer the student reasonable accommodation for making up work missed due to a university-sanctioned activity and may not require that missed work be counted as the low grade to be dropped. The Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs will determine Sanctioned University Activities. It is the responsibility of the student to 1) inform instructors of scheduled absences in advance when possible, 2) where possible and as soon as possible, provide a schedule of all semester absences, and 3) arrange to complete missed classroom work. Ultimately, students are responsible for material covered in class. In the event of disagreement regarding this policy, the issue will be directed to the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost for arbitration.

Examples of Sanctioned University Activities

Examples of Sanctioned University Activities: 

1. Intercollegiate Athletic Competition - 19 sports (11 women's and 8 men's, including student athletes, student athletic trainers, student athletic managers and cheerleaders).
2. High Profile Students Serving the University's Interests
   1. Area Meetings (Admissions)
   2. Annual Legislative Breakfast
   3. Board of Trustees Meetings
3. Academic Dept./Major
   1. Competitions related to major (i.e., Judging Teams) or an academic department (i.e., Forensics)
   2. Fine Arts Performances, e.g. Dance Association, Madrigal Singers, etc.
   3. Marching Band Performances
   4. Model Illinois government or Model UN Competitions
   5. Professional Association Conferences (e.g., Illinois News Broadcasters Association, National Press Photographers Association, etc.)
   6. Research Symposium

Example of Mandated Activity

Illinois statute requires that students serving as volunteer emergency workers be provided reasonable accommodation in regard to absence from class caused by the performance of his or her duties as a volunteer emergency worker.

Other Requests

Other requests should be channeled through the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs. In the event of a disagreement regarding this policy, the issue will be directed to the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost for arbitration and appeal.