Faculty Legislation II-110: Election Day Observances

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Policy Number:

UW-856

Old Policy Number:

2947

Responsible Office:

Office of the Secretary of the Faculty

University Policy

Rationale/​Purpose:

The idea for faculty and instructional staff to offer students flexibility during election days goes as far back as 1970 when an Ad Hoc Committee on the Calendar urged individual members of the faculty to make accommodations for students who choose to miss class in order to participate in the election process. Most recently during the pandemic, instructors were asked to provide flexibility to students working at polls as they filled in for many regular election officials who were unable to work.

This proposal would codify the suggestion of flexibility into a new Faculty Legislation II-110: Election Day Observances.

Policy:

Students must inform instructors at least two weeks prior to an election day about their commitment to work as an election official. Students will not receive a grade deduction for not attending class, and instructors will attempt to keep election days free of major assignments.

Instructors will announce early in the semester that students must notify them two weeks prior to an election about their anticipated absence to work at the polls and should include this information on their course syllabi. Make up work may be scheduled before or after the regularly scheduled requirements.

Instructors are also asked to provide flexibility to students reporting they may be tardy or absent the day of an election due to waiting to vote at the polls.

 

History: added by Fac doc 2947 on 2021-05-03

Related UW-Madison Policies:

UW-5059 Voting and Serving as an Election Official 

Policy Administration

Approval Authority:

Secretary of the Faculty

Policy Manager:

Secretary of the Faculty

Contact:

Secretary of the Faculty -- Heather Daniels, sof@secfac.wisc.edu, (608) 265-4562

Effective Date:

05-03-2021

Date Issued:

05-03-2021

Retrieved:

04-27-2024 07:37:18