9/25 WE DID IT: DNA’s Attendance Policy Reform at Duke

This week, we’re revisiting the issue of attendance and withdrawal policies—and how they continue to create barriers for students living with chronic illness, disability, and neurodivergence.

Up until today, students who missed more than three classes per semester could face academic penalties, and those who missed around ten classes were often called into meetings about medical withdrawal. For students with chronic conditions—where symptoms are unpredictable, cyclical, and often unavoidable—this policy created fear and inequity. Many of us were told that missing class meant we couldn’t keep up, even when our grades and engagement proved otherwise.

In 2023, DNA formally appealed this policy to the Dean of Students Office after collecting feedback and experiences from affected students. After nearly two years, we have successfully pushed for the removal of the three-class attendance cap for students with documented disabilities. This change was a major win for accessibility and a recognition that missing class does not equate to failure.

But there’s still work to be done. Many departments continue to interpret or enforce policies differently, and the culture around attendance and “rigor” at Duke still leaves disabled and neurodivergent students feeling unseen.

At this meeting, we’ll talk about:

• Ableism in academic policy — how “rigor” often excludes chronically ill and neurodivergent students.

• Advocacy strategies for navigating conversations with deans and professors who don’t understand fluctuating conditions.

• What meaningful inclusion would look like—from hybrid class options to flexible participation models.

• How to collectively advocate for change through student organizations and university committees.