USRR Amendment: Excused Absences (21-day Review)

To: KU Faculty, Staff and Students

From: Ani Kokobobo, University Senate President

Re: Review of Amendment to the University Senate Rules and Regulations

In accordance with the University Senate Code 1.8.3., I am forwarding for 21-day review amendments to the University Senate Rules and Regulations Articles I and II that the University Senate voted on 12/1/22. The amendments were approved by the University Senate. An explanation of the amendments follows:

The proposed changes to the University Senate Rules and Regulations will provide guidance to faculty and students on excused absences. The policy has been drafted using language from other AAU institutions as a guide and edited with help from Student and Faculty Senate members including input from the Academic Policies and Procedures and Faculty Rights Privileges and Responsibilities Committees. The changes replace the current policy sections that deal with exams and final exams and cover all work missed by an excused absence.

The goal of the revisions is to provide a concise policy that provides the definition of an excused absence, the scope of reasons for an excused absence, the responsibilities of the student and faculty in the event of an excused absence, and the process for appeal. This new policy will benefit students by providing the right to make up work that was missed for specific reasons that constitute an excused absence. The new policy will also benefit faculty by providing guidance on handling excused absence requests from students. As the policy indicates, faculty and students also have the ability to work through the Student Support and Case Management Office and the Student Access Center.

Since the policy addresses only absences that fall outside the control of students, we do not expect it to change the overall amount of student absences. We do, however, believe that the new policy will lead to better consistency across academic units on campus.

The University Senate discussed the policy on Nov. 3 for a first read and then had a vote on Dec. 1, 2022.

Specific changes:

USSR Article 2, new Section 2: University Excused Absences.

• Amendment to USSR Article 1:
  • 1.3.8, 1.3.9, and 1.3.10 were deleted on Section 3, and the substance added to new Section 2, Article II.
  • 1.4.4, 1.4.5, and 1.4.6 were deleted, and substance added to Article 2. Section 2.

• Amendment to USSR Article 2.1.
  • 2.1.3 and 2.1.4. were deleted and substance of 2.14 moved to Article 2. Section 2.

Please note that it is a requirement that proposed changes to the USRR code be sent to all faculty, staff, and students, but no action is required on your part unless you wish to submit a written comment. Please forward your written comments on the proposed amendments to the University Governance Office (govern@ku.edu) by Feb. 7.

Please contact the University Governance Office (govern@ku.edu) if you have any questions regarding these amendments.