Subject: Absences
From: "William J. Rapaport" <rapaport@buffalo.edu>
Date: Thu, 14 Oct 2010 19:59:53 -0400 (EDT)

I have been receiving way too many apologies for absences
from CSE 501.

Normally (in any course, but especially at the graduate level),
only absences for medical reasons (with a doctor's note as proof)
or for work- or conference-related reasons
(e.g., you are a part-time student
and your company requires you to be elsewhere during class,
or you are giving a conference presentation out of town;
in both cases, documentation as proof is required)
are excusable absences.

There are other exceptions, of course,
such as unforeseen family emergencies.

However, in a course for which the only obligation is attendance,
there are no other legitimate reasons for missing classes.

This includes conflicts with other meetings.
(If you have a conflict, someone must lose out.)