NOTE: This new policy will take effect starting Fall/Late Fall 2025. If you are currently enrolled in the Summer or Late Summer 2025 semester, please see the current policy here: Graduate Attendance Policy (Until Summer/Late Summer 2025)

 

United States immigration laws require international graduate students with F-1 status to be continually enrolled in full-time status. At HU, this requires maintaining a minimum six-credit course load every semester of enrollment (one course must be an in-person course).   

Each executive format course will include two mandatory in-person sessions per semester. The schedule is announced in advance on MyHU when registering for the courses, and the Academic Calendar. Students should plan accordingly to ensure attendance.  

Failure to attend an in-person session will result in termination of your SEVIS record, which requires immediate departure from the United States.


Extenuating Circumstances 

In cases of extenuating circumstances, absences may be waived on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the Attendance Review Committee. Documentation will be required for ALL absences

Documentation of extenuating circumstances leading to an absence must be submitted no later than 48 hours from the time of the class meeting. Submission of documentation does not guarantee a waived absence. 

Please see below examples of extenuating circumstances, and suggested documentation: 


Illness, Injury or Medical Condition: 

If you are experiencing an illness or medical condition which will impact your attendance, you must provide documentation from a medical professional to substantiate the illness or medical condition. The documentation must be prepared on official letterhead and include: 

    • Your name 
    • The date of the visit 
    • The date of the absence and the date you may return to in-person classes 
    • Signed by the medical professional 


Absences due to illness, injury or medical conditions without documentation from a medical professional will not be excused and will result in SEVIS termination. 

Please note: If you are experiencing an illness or medical condition that will cause absence for more than one in-person session, you must instead request a Reduced Course Load (RCL). Please find more information here and contact the International Student Office to discuss your eligibility: Reduced Course Load Overview and Eligibility : International Student Office 


Travel interruptions: 

If you experience travel interruptions such as a flight/train delay/cancellation, vehicle breakdown or inclement weather, you must provide documentation of the interruption, such as: 

  • An email or other notification from the airline or train company detailing the delay or cancellation. The documentation must include: 
    • Your name 
    • The date/time of the original booking 
    • The updated date/time (in the case of a delay)  
  • Documentation from a towing company or repair shop in the case of a vehicle breakdown 
  • Documentation from an official source, such as the National Weather Service, detailing the weather conditions that impacted your travel.  


Bereavement:  

If you will be absent from a session for bereavement, please provide documentation such as an obituary, or written verification from a funeral home, burial society, crematorium, religious institution, or government agency. 


Religious Observances:  

If you will participate in a religious observance resulting in absence from an executive session, you must inform the International Student Office one week in advance of the absence. Please submit a ticket to the ISO outlining the specific religious observance and the date of the absence. 


Other circumstances: 

If you are experiencing an extenuating circumstance not listed here, please contact the ISO prior to the absence to determine if the absence can be waived. 


Additional Notes 

  • If a student is registered for two or more executive courses, the student is expected to attend all sessions for all the courses. Attendance is taken and accumulated for each class separately from one another. 
  • As an F-1 student, you must ensure that your in-person attendance is accounted for. 
    • You must communicate with your instructor if you are unsure whether your attendance was recorded accurately. 
    • Regularly check your attendance records for accuracy. You can find your attendance records in Canvas by navigating to the "Attendance+" option on the course page. 
  • If your SEVIS record is terminated and you file for reinstatement or an alternative immigration status after termination in SEVIS, it is your responsibility to secure and pay for private immigration counsel to assess what options are available to regain a legally recognized immigration status, as well as take appropriate legal steps to achieve a recognized immigration status. 
  • For students arriving on an initial I-20: You must arrive in the US prior to the program start date, and you must attend the first in-person executive session.   


If you have any questions regarding the attendance policy, please contact the International Student Office.