There are various times when students such as student-athletes, student government officers, and members of the student chapters of professional organizations leave the campus to represent the University and its values. Occasionally, an intercollegiate athletic event, field trip, or professional meeting will conflict with a scheduled lab, class, or examination. In these cases, the student is expected to notify the instructor, in writing, in advance. Faculty should allow the student to make up the missed work without penalty. All students, regardless of the activities they participate in as part of their Wentworth education, are expected to conscientiously complete all assignments in the courses of study.

The following policy was developed by the Faculty Assembly (now called the Faculty Senate) during the 1984/85 academic years and was approved and implemented that same year. It was subsequently endorsed by the academic units and the Athletic Policy Board:

There are various times when students such as student-athletes, student government officers, and members of the student chapters of professional organizations leave the campus to represent the University and its values. Occasionally, an intercollegiate athletic event, field trip, or professional meeting will conflict with a scheduled lab, class, or examination. In these cases, the student is expected to notify the instructor, in writing, in advance. Faculty should allow the student to make up the missed work without penalty. All students, regardless of the activities they participate in as part of their Wentworth education, are expected to conscientiously complete all assignments in the courses of study. As student-athletes, there will be times where you will have to miss class to compete in intercollegiate athletic events (you may NOT be excused for practices or any activity taking place in the non-traditional season). As a part of the “Student Athlete Code of Conduct,” you are required to sign before you may start practicing, the following is the procedure that must be followed in regards to missing class while representing Wentworth in an athletic contest:

Student-athletes are permitted excused absences for any classes that interfere with a scheduled athletic contest, or travel to and from said contest. Forms, which can be obtained in the Athletic Office, must be filled out and signed by both the student-athlete and a member of the Athletic Department staff no later than 48 hours prior to the class to be missed. These forms are not to excuse a student athlete from a class to go to a practice or for any other reason, and student athletes are encouraged to discuss their season schedule and the possibility of missed classes with their professor(s) at the beginning of the season. Failure to comply with this rule could result in poor academic performance, resulting in ineligibility to compete in intercollegiate athletics.

Student -athletes are encouraged to discuss any and all potential conflicts with her or her professor at the beginning of the semester or season, whichever comes first. Engaging in positive dialogue will only help the professor understand your situation better and help the Department as a whole. The excused absence forms may not be done retroactively.