It is important that you attend all class sessions. I do note who is attending each class session and who is not.  That is one of the important elements that contributes to your class participation grade (see Class Participation under the Description of Graded Components). Here is a link to Georgia Tech’s statement on class attendance:  https://catalog.gatech.edu/rules/4/. At the end of the semester, I will add up any unexcused absences and deduct points from your class participation grade. For every three unexcused absences your class participation grade will drop a letter grade.  Please work with me to keep your unexcused absences to a minimum.

Absences. A student may miss class on occasion due to medical issues, career-building opportunities, family events, or religious observances. I ask that you let me know of these events prior to your absence so that I can record an excused absence. 

Georgia Tech has a web page that describes the expectations, rights, and responsibilities of students, instructors, the Office of Student Life, and health care providers about absences. The information is intended to give students better directions as to how they should proceed to notify instructors when they are ill and need to miss class, and what kind of documentation they should provide and to whom. You can find the Georgia Tech policies at the following web page: http://www.catalog.gatech.edu/policies/student-absence-regulations/.  Please note that I do not require medical documentation for absences due to illness. If you experience a more serious condition that leads to more than a week of absences, then let’s discuss your options, ranging from working with me to access course material and notes from class discussions to withdrawing from the class.