Attendance Reporting

Attendance reporting is federally required for the purpose of monitoring attendance and ensuring the accurate payment of federal funds by the Office of Student Financial Aid, Scholarships, and Veterans Education Benefits. APSU does this using the grades of FN and FA. In addition, state programs such as the Tennessee Lottery scholarship also require attendance grade reporting.

Failure to follow the procedure for FN and FA grades may result in a federal or state audit finding and financial penalties for the University for overpayment of funds. Faculty are encouraged to read the section on Dropping Courses, Grades Awarded, Withdrawals in the current APSU Undergraduate Bulletin for more information.

After a student has officially registered for a class, the student is considered to be a member of the class unless the student officially drops the class, officially withdraws from the University, is removed from the class by administrative authority, or is permanently excluded by the Student Academic Grievance Committee. All financial obligations are retained when the student discontinues class attendance without officially dropping or withdrawing from the University.

The FN grade is to be given only when a student has never attended class.

• An FN grade must be reported within the first 14 days of class.
• An FN grade entry requires a last date of attendance. The last date of attendance should be reported as the first day of class.
• The FN grade is considered to be an official withdrawal from the class and may impact the enrollment status of a student (full-time to part-time).

The FA grade is defined as “the grade to be assigned as of the date at which the faculty member has determined the student has stopped attending class and is no longer receiving instruction.”

• A grade of FA, to include the last date of attendance, must be reported within 14 days of the last date of attendance.
• If the faculty later agrees to allow the student back into class, the FA grade may be removed and the student should notify the Office of Student Financial Aid, Scholarships, and Veterans Education Benefits of the grade change.

The F grade is not an attendance grade and should be given when a student has failed but continued to attend class through the end of the term.

• A student who stopped attending class cannot earn an F grade.

Note: If a grade of FN or FA is changed after submission, an email from the professor confirming active participation in the class may be required. A grade change to F or W does not indicate participation in the course and will not allow reinstatement of financial aid. For additional information, you may refer to the University Bulletin and/or Faculty Handbook.