CLASS ATTENDANCE

Go to class! It cannot be emphasized enough that there is a direct correlation between classroom attendance and academic success. Accordingly, attend your classes, not just regularly, but every time one of your classes meets.

Normally, team travel is counted as an excused absence; however, be aware that certain classes, for example English, Math, and History have very strict attendance rules. If you exceed the specified number of absences, you automatically fail the course even if your grades are excellent. There is no such thing as an “excused absence”. Whether you are hospitalized or on a team trip, it is still counted as an absence.

Because regular class attendance is so important, your class attendance as well as your academic progress are monitored by the athletic-academic coordinator.

You should inform your professor if illness requires you to miss a class. If a conflict is caused by away games, your professors are usually more than willing to assist you in resolving this conflict. You are strongly encouraged to provide advance notice to your professor when a conflict will occur.

Notice: Your professor can and will drop you from the roll for non-attendance. This could affect your eligibility!!

Your instructors will also have attendance policies in each of your courses. The attendance policy is stated in the syllabus which is given to you at the beginning of each semester of the days which you will miss due to team travel; however, some professors have a maximum of three or four absences regardless of the excuse. It is imperative that you see the athletic academic coordinator if your instructor advises you to drop.

Further, your Financial Aid Agreement may be cancelled if you fail to attend classes (see item #5 on Financial Aid Agreement).

INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS ACADEMIC SERVICES

The Athletic Academic Coordinator, Beth Goetz, and the academic advisors monitor and evaluate the academic performance of student-athletes. Academic advisors assist student-athletes with any questions or concerns regarding their studies. In addition, the advisors provide access for student-athletes to counseling, advising, problem resolution and tutorial assistance.

The Academic Coordinator in athletics should not be confused with academic advisors in academic departments. Student-athletes are encouraged to take advantage of both services.

Required Meetings with the Academic Coordinator

All first semester freshman, first semester junior college transfers and any other student in his or her first semester of athletic participation are required to meet with the Academic Coordinator on a regular basis. The Academic Coordinator schedules meetings at the beginning of the semester. Meetings will be held in Coach Goetz’s office in the Mark Twain Annex.

Progress Reports

During the course of each semester, the athletic academic coordinator sends progress reports to each student athlete’s instructors. This monitoring system is intended to provide the advisor and coaches with an accurate reflection of the athlete’s academic performance. Any student-athlete receiving “D’s”, “F’s”, or excessive absences on these reports will be required to meet with the Academic Coordinator.

STUDY HALL POLICIES

All freshman, new transfer students, and anyone under a 2.5 GPA are required to attend 4 hours of study hall per week.

You will find that study hall is operated under strict supervision, but you need not think of study hall as a penalty. Set goals for yourself each evening. When you are working hard on something, two hours pass quickly.

Study Hall Rules

1. Arrive promptly.
2. Come to study hall prepared to study. That means have the required books, papers, notebooks, etc.
3. Do not disturb other student-athletes who are trying to study.
4. Radios, magazines, etc., are not allowed in the study hall.
5. Proper attire must be worn in the study hall.

Penalties for Not Attending

Students who are required to attend study hall must attend all their classes and all study hall sessions. These absences carry very specific penalties which will be enforced. The following are the penalties for all student-athletes who incur an unexcused absence. All absences are counted except for those excused by your coach.

1st Absence = “Free absence” No repercussions.
2nd Absence = You are required to make up the two hours of missed study
hall during the following week. If not made up, it will be counted an additional absence.
3rd Absence = You will be suspended from one team practice session and
will attend a make-up session during practice time.
4th Absence = You will be suspended from team practice one week and
from any competition during the week of suspension.
Make-up session will be conducted during practice times.
5th Absence = Your future at UM-St. Louis will be decided by an
evaluation of your conduct by the Athletic Director.

* If you fail to make up a missed study hall session, the missed make up will be counted as another study hall absence. All study hall absence records will be recorded.

Getting Out of Study Hall

The guidelines for being released from study hall are clearly established at the beginning of each semester during the orientation session. A true assessment of your grades cannot be made until the end of the semester. If your grades reflect that you will be in good academic standing with a 2.5 GPA, you will be released from required study hall. Still, you can use study hall anytime you wish for as long as you are associated with UM-St. Louis Athletics. In fact, some students may wish to self-impose study hall on themselves when they know that a particular semester will be difficult.

How to Drop or Withdraw From a Class

You must consult with your coach, your athletic academic coordinator, and your faculty advisor, and the compliance director about reduction of hours. Give your athletic coordinator the receipt of your drop/add slip for the course in question. We will hold this receipt in your file just in case someone forgets to post it.

Step by Step
1. Get the advice of your instructor.
2. Discuss with your faculty advisor.
3. Discuss with your head coach.
4. Discuss with your Athletic-Academic Coordinator and Compliance Director.
5. Get a drop card after receiving the Athletic Coordinator’s permission.
6. Get your faculty advisor, and instructor signatures.
7. Turn in a copy of your drop form to the Athletic Coordinator.
8. Be certain you are still enrolled in 12 hours after the drop.

Drop Courses may be dropped through the fourth week of a regular semester and the second week of a Summer Session.

Withdrawal From the fifth through the twelfth weeks of the Fall or Winter semesters ) for summer session, the third through sixth weeks) student may withdraw from a course with an “Excused” grade, providing they are passing the course and receive the approval of their instructor, adviser, and dean’s office representative. See the athletic-academic coordinator for the last date to drop or withdraw form a class without a fee.

Faculty Advisor

You will be assigned a faculty advisor in your field of study. For example, if you are a Sociology major, one of the Sociology faculty members will also be guiding you through your degree, offering course suggestions and advise. When you need a signature on any official form, it is your faculty advisor’s signature that is needed. You will find that your faculty advisor can offer you sound advice in your many college decisions.