Attendance and Participation

General Guidelines

The following guidelines are designed to ensure a commitment to education and the development of necessary skills and knowledge in the field of Physical Therapy. Full participation in the learning environment is an essential component of professional behavior and aligns with attendance expectations in clinical practice. Additionally, the DPT program is required to ensure that our students are regularly present to maintain our accreditation. We strive, however, to balance these demands with an understanding that health and wellness are also vital to learner success. 

  • In-person attendance is required for all scheduled lectures, lab sessions, small group discussions, and team-based learning sessions, as well as other unique sessions specified by Course Directors in their syllabi. Each of you contributes to small group learning by being an integral part of the clinical team approach, sharing your expertise, and contributing to problem-solving (and ultimately providing high-quality patient care)
  • Zooming into class for lectures, discussions or labs is not allowed. Course directors will not offer any zoom options for any scheduled in- person classes. You may not ask a classmate or course director to “video you in” for class. All students should be able to focus fully on their own learning and participation in class.
  • Learners are expected to adhere to the following guidelines, including proper notification of absences due to illness or emergency, arriving on time, and accruing no more than three discretionary days per academic year. If you are not able to meet expectations, you will be asked to work with your Course Directors and assigned Faculty Advisor to remedy any concerns. Be sure to check your course syllabi for attendance and participation policies specific to each course in addition to these guidelines.
  • We make every effort to finalize the schedule one to two quarters ahead, though changes to your cohort’s calendar do occur and we ask that you accommodate any emergency or last-minute updates. Some classes may be scheduled in the evenings or on weekends if necessary.

Absence Due to Illness

If you must miss class due to illness or emergency (including mental health needs or death of an immediate family member), please notify your Course Directors and submit the Absence Notification Form (link also on Student Resources CLE page) as soon as possible and before class begins.

  • If you are not present and we have not heard from you, there are concerns about your health and safety. In addition, plans for the class or activity may have hinged on a certain number of people or your specific participation in a team or group. Notifying us in advance that you are ill demonstrates respect for all those present.
  • If it is not possible to complete the form and notify your Course Directors before class, please be sure to do so within 24 hours of the missed class.
  • For any absences due to illness during a clinical experience, refer to our Clinical Education page.

Approved Discretionary Absences

All students are allowed up to THREE approved discretionary absence days per academic year (June to May) for personal and professional commitments (a partial day off counts as a full discretionary absence). You do not need to take discretionary days if you are taking vacation during a regularly scheduled break. This approval process replicates polices of physical therapy employment in a clinical setting.

  • Please make your request to your Course Directors directly. If there is more than one class scheduled that day, please contact ALL Course Directors for that day’s classes. If approved, please submit the absence through the Absence Notification Form (link also on Student Resources CLE page).
  • Submit requests as far in advance as possible and at least seven days prior to the absence.  
  • Examples of discretionary absences are:
    • Professional activities or conferences (e.g., CSM)
    • Continuing education courses
    • Personal commitments or important family events (e.g., weddings)  
  • Discretionary absence days will not be approved:
    • On days of course assessments (written and clinical)  
    • During clinical experiences
    • During blocked courses for which course assignments and examinations cannot be made up during the same academic year  
    • The day immediately preceding or following an academic scheduled break or holiday
    • When guest patients or special lecturers are scheduled
    • During all inter-professional learning experiences (IPE and ISPE activities)
    • If five students have already requested that day as discretionary absences

Reading Days

Days designated as “reading days” on the Google calendar may be in the week preceding the last week of instruction. There are usually no classes scheduled on those days, but learners should remain available for make-up exams, additional clinical assessments, or any other additional class-related activities. It is also expected that learners will use this open time to prepare for exams or work on their EBP project or other important learning activities.

Policy Non-Compliance

Repeated issues with attendance, tardiness, or participation, or the use of a discretionary absence that has not been approved will be referred to the Academic and Professionalism Review Committee (APRC). Excessive absences may result in restrictions or limitations on clinical placement opportunities.

Missed Work

Learners are expected to make up any missed coursework. If you take more than three discretionary absences, you may be required to complete additional independent study assignments to demonstrate competency in the missed material as determined by the Course Director.

Accommodations for Religious Observances*

The UCSF/SFSU DPT program is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all areas, including being respectful of religious practices and beliefs. In compliance with California State Education Code section 92640 and SFSU Academic Senate Policy S19-S2J2, we will make a reasonable attempt to accommodate learners’ observance of a sincerely held religious belief or practice. If you need to request a religious accommodation, you are required to submit the request to your Course Director(s) within the first week of the term. If your request falls during a clinical experience, the time off may need to be made up depending on the requirements of the clinical setting.

Tardiness

You are expected to arrive prepared and on time. Late arrival to any class, lab, or clinic is disruptive and disrespectful to the instructor, colleagues, and patients. It is at the discretion of the Course Director to allow/disallow late students to enter the class or lab, or to deduct points from their grade for tardiness. Please refer to individual course syllabi for details.

Jury Duty Summons

The program can compose a deferment request letter on your behalf if you are summoned for jury duty. However, jury duty is a legal obligation, and our general guidelines do not supersede the processes of any jurisdiction. Court processes may vary, so please contact the number on your summons should you have any questions. It is your responsibility to mail the deferment request letter along with your summons. Only a letter or notification from the court serves as an exemption. To request a letter, please submit the following information via email to the Student Affairs Administrator as soon as possible after receiving your summons:

  • Court House Name & Full Address
  • Your Name & Mailing Address
  • Group #
  • Badge #

Employment During the Curriculum

The DPT program is a full-time endeavor. In order to develop the skills and professional identity of a physical therapist, you are strongly encouraged to focus on the curriculum and the co-curricular and extracurricular demands of the program. Class and laboratory schedules will not be adjusted due to any learner’s work demands, and learners are expected to accommodate any changes in the schedule, including emergency or last-minute changes. Employment in any capacity that could be considered practicing physical therapy without a Physical Therapy License is not recommended.

Lecture Recording Policy

The program recognizes that there are occasions when faculty or students may wish to record (audio and/or video) lectures to support learning. Faculty members will ask permission to record a lecture. If a student believes there are good academic reasons to record a lecture on their own, the student should contact the Course Director to request permission prior to making any recordings. Any transcriptions/video/audio recordings are for the sole purpose of academic activities in the course and cannot be shared without permission of the course director. Compliance with this policy is expected and non-compliance may be a reason for a referral about professional behavior to the Academic and Professional Review Committee.

 

*Adapted from UCSF Schools of Dentistry and Medicine policies.