USRR Proposed Amendment: Excused Absences (7-day Notice)

University Senate

To: KU Faculty, Staff and Students

From: Ani Kokobobo, University Senate President

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

The Faculty Rights, Privileges and Responsibilities (FRPR) committee has sent back to the University Senate Executive Committee (SenEx) a revised draft of the Excused Absences proposed policy for Article 2 of the USRR, attached.

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 Procedure and Faculty Rights Privileges and Responsibilities Committees. The changes would 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. Overall, the new policy will lead to better consistency across campus.

The University Senate discussed the policy on Nov. 3 for a first read and will take it up for 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 noon on Nov. 30, 2022.

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