Late Assignment Policy

Guidelines for Late Assignment Submissions

Strayer University understands students may face illness or other exceptional circumstances that could impact their ability to attend class and complete course requirements.  The University encourages faculty to approach late work from a perspective of empathy and understanding.  Strayer University serves busy adult students who have many competing demands.  While academic pursuits must be a top priority for our students, faculty members are encouraged to provide reasonable accommodations for students who request an extension.  The information below provides an overview of the related policy and procedures students and faculty/staff should follow in this event.

Definitions

A documented exceptional circumstance may include, but is not limited to:

•  A student's long-term (4 days or more) illness and/or hospitalization
• Natural disasters (particularly those that lead to the loss of power/internet connection at the time of the assignment deadline)
• Military deployment
• Hospitalization and/or death of an immediate family member   

An undocumented exceptional circumstance may include, but is not limited to:

• Short-term (3 days or less) illness of the student or student's child
• Unexpected circumstances related to a student's employment
• Unexpected child or elder care

Procedures

A.  Late Assignment with Documented Exceptional Circumstances

1. A student may submit work after the due date and receive credit for the assignment if the student provides documentation supporting the exceptional circumstance directly to the class instructor.
2. Students with exceptional circumstances and supporting documentation provided to the class instructor will not receive a deduction of points for work submitted during the exceptional circumstance timeframe agreed upon between the professor and student.  
3. Faculty members who have been provided documentation for a late assignment due to an exceptional circumstance must allow students to make up all assignments, including discussion posts during the agreed upon time period for the documented exceptional circumstance.                       

B.  Late Assignment with Undocumented Exceptional Circumstance

1. A student with an undocumented exceptional circumstance may submit work after the due date and may receive partial credit for the assignment.  It is the student's responsibility to communicate with the p about the late assignment in accordance with the Student Responsibilities section of this standard operating procedure.  If a student has not communicated with the professor about the late work, it is in the professor's discretion, with such discretion applied consistently across all students enrolled in their sections and consistently among all their sections of the same course, whether to accept late work.
2. Grading for late assignments with undocumented exceptional circumstances is discussed below. 

C.  Grading for Late Assignments with Undocumented Exceptional Circumstances

          1.  Students who submit work after the assigned due date with undocumented exceptional circumstances may receive a reduction of points in the following manner: 

1. Assignments submitted within 7 days after the submission deadline may receive up to a 10% deduction. The actual deduction will be determined by the professor.
2. Assignments submitted between 8 and 14 days after the submission deadline may receive up to a 20% deduction. The actual deduction will be determined by the professor. 
3. Assignments submitted between 15 and 21 days after the submission deadline may receive up to a 30% deduction. The actual deduction will be determined by the professor. 
4. The acceptance of assignments submitted beyond 21 days after the submission deadline and if accepted, the corresponding reduction of points is up to the discretion of the professor.  
5. Faculty applying deductions of points shall apply them in a manner that is consistent with the number of days that an assignment is submitted late in relation to the due date. For example, a deduction of points for an assignment submitted within seven days after a due date should be less than or equal to the deduction of points for an assignment submitted 14 days late. Faculty shall apply all point deductions in a consistent manner across all students enrolled in their sections and consistently among all sections of the same course
6. End-quarter deadlines for submission of late assignments are up to the discretion of the professor, but all assignments must be turned in prior to the end of the quarter (11:59 pm ET on the final day of the quarter) to receive credit.

        2.  This grading for late assignments section of the standard operating procedures only pertains to the academic term when the student is enrolled.

D. Exceptional Circumstances Requiring Extended Time (2 weeks or more)  

1. If the exceptional circumstance leads to an extended amount of time away (2 weeks or more) from class, the professor in conjunction with the Assistant Vice Provost should consider all options available for the student to make up work that aligns with related University policies (i.e. sit-in and incomplete policy). If unsure about the best course of action, the Assistant Vice Provost and the faculty member should consult with the Senior Dean or the Office of Student Affairs.
2. In the event the student may need to consider withdrawal because of an exceptional circumstance, the student must be informed that all noted policies on refunds and/or withdrawal fees described in the Catalog are applicable.

 E.  Student Responsibilities for Documented and Undocumented Late Submissions:

1.  Contacting the Professor

1. When a student misses a class (or is unable to sign in to an online class) due to illness or other exceptional circumstance, the student must contact the professor as soon as possible.
2. If the student is unable to contact the professor, a family member or friend of the student may inform the professor of the student’s illness or other exceptional circumstance; however, no discussions may occur regarding the student’s progress without a signed FERPA release form on file. When the local campus is contacted, the information must be relayed to the professor.

NOTE: If the student becomes ill while on campus, the student may be asked by the professor to go home (please refer to the Security Policy in this Handbook). 

 2.  Completing Missed Assignments – NOTE: item a applies only to documented exceptional circumstances; the remaining items apply to both documented and undocumented exceptional circumstances: 

1. If the student meets the “Late Assignment with Documented Exceptional Circumstances” requirement and:
   1. wants to complete missed assignments with no point deduction, the student must provide the professor and/or Assistant Vice Provost with documentation that supports the exceptional circumstance within two weeks of the conversation with the professor and/or Assistant Vice Provost. 
   2. will miss more than two weeks and may not be able to successfully complete all missing assignments, he/she should work with the Assistant Vice Provost to discuss the appropriate available options.
2. For a student taking online classes, he/she should always attempt to keep up with the online course work and assignments, if possible
3. The student will be responsible for all material missed during the period of the absence. Students should also be aware of the Attendance procedures that define what constitutes attendance. The Attendance procedures can be found in the 
   University Catalog. 
4. The student must also complete any missed postings to discussion threads or complete equivalent writing assignments as dictated by the professor in place of late discussion board entries for online classes. Make-up work given by the faculty 
   member shall be consistent with the Attendance procedures and may include any combination of exams, papers, and assignments.
5. The student and professor should agree in writing on deadlines for submitting missed assignments; however, all work must be completed by the end of the current quarter.