Gwynedd Mercy University 2025-2026 University Catalog 17
The University believes that in order to learn from faculty instruction and from one another, students must participate in all learning opportunities, be present at all classes, and submit all out-of-class weekly assessable learning activities. The policy is intended to encourage students to make choices that support their educational goals.
Definition of Attendance for Courses in an Online Program Students are considered present for the week if they post to a discussion forum or submit any assignment or other deliverable via Canvas during the instructional week( Monday – Sunday). Failure to actively engage in the course by posting to discussion forums or submitting assignments will result in an official absence.
If a student is absent and has not submitted coursework for any 2 consecutive class sessions( putting student out of program attendance for 14 days), then the student will be administratively withdrawn from the student’ s current course and earn the grade of“ WA.” Additionally, the student will be dropped from all future courses and administratively withdrawn from the program unless attending a concurrent course.
If, prior to the instructor’ s posting of the second absence, a student writes to their advisor from their GMercyU e-mail that they intend to be absent for two weeks but wish to continue with the next course, the student will not be withdrawn from the program. The student will only be withdrawn from the course in which the student has been marked absent, for which they will receive a grade of WA. The student will remain enrolled in future courses. The e-mail communication will be attached to the administrative course withdrawal form.
If a new student is absent and has not submitted assignments for the first 2 class sessions of their very first program course, then the student will be dropped from the course and all future courses. Since this student does not have a University transcript, they are considered“ never enrolled.” If a student is taking more than one course at a time and they have attended other courses, then only an administrative course withdrawal may be necessary.
If a student is absent for non-consecutive class sessions, then the student will earn a final grade from the instructor based on the course policy.
Residencies Attendance Attendance for all days of scheduled residency is mandatory. See Program Handbook for more information.
Instructional Hour Federal regulations require that the university confirms all courses meet the required number of in-class instructional hours. For all undergraduate programs and non-lab courses, Gwynedd Mercy University defines an“ instructional hour” as a 50-minute session. While GMercyU is committed to an outcomesbased approach to curriculum and assessment in accordance with its accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education( MSCHE) and other program accrediting associations, it also complies with and endorses the requirements of the Pennsylvania Department of Education on what constitutes a semester credit hour of instruction( 22 PA. Code Chapter 31.21. b). The standard states that“ a semester hour represents a unit of curricular material that can normally be taught in a minimum of 14 hours of classroom instruction, plus outside preparation or the equivalent as determined by the faculty.” The institution also supports the federal regulations for credit hours( 34 CFR 600.2) as“ One hour of