Regular attendance in all classes is expected of all students. The attendance policy for each course is described in the course syllabus by the professor.

Absence due to Religious Observance

Wentworth Institute of Technology welcomes and values people and their perspectives and respects the interests of all members of our community and acknowledges that absences are necessary due to religious observances.

In accordance with Section IIB of Chapter 151C of the Massachusetts General Laws, “Any student in an educational or vocational training institution, other than a religious or denominational educational or vocational training institution, who is unable, because of his religious beliefs, to attend classes or to participate in any examination, study, or work requirement on a particular day shall be excused from any such examination or study or work requirement, and shall be provided with an opportunity to make up such examination, study, or work requirement which he may have missed because of such absence on any particular day; provided, however, that such makeup examination or work shall not create an unreasonable burden upon such school. No fees of any kind shall be charged by the institution for making available to the said student such opportunity. No adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to any student because of his availing himself of the provisions of this section.”

Wentworth recognizes the breadth of religious observance among students, faculty, and staff and the potential for conflict with scheduled components of the academic experience. Students are expected to review the syllabi and notify faculty as far in advance as possible of observances. In such an event, the instructor will provide reasonable accommodations that do not unduly disadvantage the student.

Jury Duty

According to the Office of the Jury Commissioner of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, there are no student exemptions from jury duty. Like all jurors, students may defer their service up to one year from the original date. College students may be called to serve in several different circumstances:

1. Massachusetts residents who study out of state and who are summonsed from Massachusetts must serve. Again, the postponement option is available so that a student may report during the summer or vacation breaks.
2. Massachusetts residents who study in a different county in Massachusetts may receive a summons from the county where their school is located. For example, a Boston resident (from Suffolk County) who enrolls at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst (in Hampshire County), may be summonsed to appear for jury duty in Hampshire County. It is possible for students to receive two summonses, one from the home county, and the other from the school county. They must serve in response to only one summons, whichever one was issued first.
3. Out-of-state students who study in Massachusetts and live here for six months of the year or more are eligible to serve in Massachusetts. This often comes as a surprise to out-of-state students, who may come from jurisdiction where only permanent residents of that state are eligible to serve.

Jury service, on a short-term basis, can provide students with a good opportunity to fulfill one of their important responsibilities as members of the community. Wentworth Institute of Technology supports students in their fulfillment of this civic duty. Students should carefully read all materials they receive with their summons to service, which contain helpful information about confirming, postponing, rescheduling, or relocating service, and address many of the most frequently asked questions. Jury duty is an important legal obligation, and those who fail to respond are subject to criminal charges.

Students who must miss class to fulfill their jury service requirement should notify each of their instructors of the summons and make arrangements to complete any missed work. Students may also visit or contact the Dean of Students Office- Rubenstein 003, (617) 989-4702, DOS@wit.edu to request an absence notification be sent to their instructors. Please be advised, students may be required to provide their summons notice or the certificate of service when making these arrangements.

If you have any questions about jury duty, including confirming, postponing, rescheduling, or limiting your service, please contacts the Office of the Jury Commissioner (1-800-THE-JURY/1-800-843-5879). Further information can be found on the Massachusetts Jury System website.

Instructor Arrival

Students must wait at least twenty minutes from the scheduled beginning class time for the instructor to arrive. After that, unless the instructor has previously notified the class to wait for a longer period, the class may leave.