Faculty Focus

Question:

How should I handle requests from student athletes to miss course assignments, 
 reschedule exams, and so on?

Answer:

In June 2006, the Academic Senate approved Guidelines Concerning Scheduling Conflicts Between Academic and Other Student Obligations.

Based upon these guidelines, most faculty members attempt to accommodate student athletes in their requests to represent the university at away games for their respective sports, provided the student athlete communicates a potential conflict in advance of any off-site competition and makes up the missed work. The ASC, a unit under the supervision of the Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning, advises student athletes to communicate with their instructors about any potential conflict at the beginning of the semester. This generally involves providing the faculty member, in the first week or two of the semester, with a game schedule for the entire season, and noting any possible conflicts. Students are also asked to remind faculty the week prior to any discussed conflict. There are various possibilities for accommodation, including allowing students to attend another section of the same course, allowing them to hand in coursework or take an exam in advance, during or after the period of travel, having the ASC coordinate proctoring the exam while the student is on the road, and so on.

Question:

A student athlete in my class has a lot of away games. 
How should I deal with their attendance pattern?

Answer:

Intercollegiate athletic competition does occasionally conflict with class attendance, although National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Department of Intercollegiate Athletic policies on missed class attempts to keep these conflicts to a minimum (Please see U.C. Berkeley's Guidelines Concerning Scheduling Conflicts Between Academic and Other Student Obligations).

If a student athlete's schedule necessitates periods of absence, it is the responsibility of the student athlete to communicate any potential conflict with course requirements well in advance of such a conflict. However, if the student athlete's participation and performance in a course is greatly undermined by their athletic schedule, you should advise them early on that their academic performance may be negatively affected. It is also possible that you and the student athlete can reach a mutually satisfactory accommodation on the issue of class attendance.

Question:

The semester is more than halfway over and one my students just found out 
 that their team has been advanced to the finals.
This will require them to travel (and miss class) more than they originally anticipated. 
What do I do?

Answer:

If a student athlete has provided the faculty member with a game schedule at the beginning of the semester, highlighting any potential conflicts with class meetings and assignments, you should already have had advance warning of possible post-season play. While the time of post-season play is known in advance, the location of the competition will depend on tournament brackets, seedings and bowl invitations, etc. There are several possibilities available for accommodating the student athlete while insuring that they complete the course requirements to the faculty's satisfaction.

Possible accommodations include having the student athlete attend an earlier section of the same course, allowing them to hand in coursework or take an exam in advance, during or after the period of travel, etc.

Additional Questions:

If you have questions regarding any such requests by student athletes enrolled in your courses, or you have additional questions not answered by the above text, please contact the Director of the Athletic Study Center, Derek Van Rheenen, Ph.D.