August 17, 2017
First day of class attendance, total solar eclipse
Dear Students,
All students who want to witness the first total solar eclipse to travel across the country since 1918 on Monday, Aug. 21, which also is the first day of the fall 2017 semester, will be able to participate without risk of being dropped for missing the first day of class.
In February, a group of faculty requested a temporary suspension of university class attendance policy that otherwise penalizes students for missing the first day of class of the semester. Provost and Senior Vice President April Mason agreed to the temporary change.
The attendance policy will resume on Tuesday, Aug. 22.
According to the university's Office of Student Financial Assistance, as long as students continue to attend and participate in coursework after Aug. 21, there will be no adverse effect on student aid if a student chooses to watch the eclipse instead of attending class on Monday, Aug. 21, the day of the eclipse.
The Office of Student Life staff is available to help answer any questions regarding this change. Contact staff at 785-532-6432 or stulife@k-state.edu.
Visit our eclipse website to learn more about the total solar eclipse and how you and other K-Staters can participate in this once-in-a-lifetime event. Since looking directly at the sun without approved protection can severely damage eyesight, the website also provides tips on protecting eyes and Manhattan campus locations to get eclipse glasses with ISO 12312-2 certification.
Go Cats!
Pat Bosco
Vice president for student life and dean of students