Sent: January 12, 2024

From: OfficeoftheRegistrar@umontana.edu

To: Staff/Faculty

Dear UM Faculty and Staff,

Thank you for joining us for spring semester 2024. As we approach the first day of classes, I write to remind you that all courses must offer concrete opportunities for academic engagement during the first fifteen class days. See below for acceptable attendance-taking methods.

This measure ensures that the University can determine whether a student began participating in their classes during the first fifteen class days. Federal financial aid regulations require the University to provide this information in the event that a student receiving aid withdraws from the semester.

Throughout the semester, you may receive notifications from UM Solutions Center requesting a last date of academic engagement for a student who has withdrawn. Please aim to respond to these notifications within two business days in order to ensure that the University meets the federal deadlines for returning the student’s financial aid.

Thank you all for helping the University to maintain this important measure of compliance so that our students can continue to receive financial assistance towards the cost of their education.

Kind regards,

Office of the Registrar

Attendance-Taking Methods

Recommended: Moodle

We recommend using Moodle to offer academic engagement opportunities as the Registrar’s Office now has access to pull activity logs without needing to contact instructors directly.

Examples of simple methods for tracking activity in Moodle for large classes:

• Offer a brief “I have read and understood the syllabus” quiz
• Open a discussion forum for students to introduce themselves

Other Methods

Other methods of tracking attendance are also acceptable; however, the Registrar’s Office will need to contact the instructor directly to obtain the student’s last date of academic engagement.

• Utilize the Attendance Tracking module in CyberBear
• Incorporate iClicker activities into in-person class meetings
• Hold an in-class quiz or weekly assignment
• Issue Early Alerts in Navigate

Also acceptable is any method not listed above that records students’ academic engagement in a class.

Academic Engagement

What constitutes academic engagement?

• Attending a lecture, recitation, or lab (in person or online) where there is opportunity for interaction between students and the instructor
• Submitting an academic assignment
• Taking a quiz or exam
• Participating in an interactive tutorial, webinar, online textbook activity, or other computer-assisted instruction
• Participating in a group project or study group assigned by the institution
• Participating in an online discussion forum
• Interacting with the instructor about academic matters (during office hours, via email, after class, etc.)

What does not count as academic engagement?

1. Logging into an online class or tutorial without any further participation
2. Participating in academic advising
3. Living in University housing
4. Participating in a meal plan