Attendance Policies

Meeting Expectations

We ask that those attending meetings are on time and respectful to any speakers. Please refrain from using electronics while presenters are speaking unless you are actively taking notes. We do this to ensure our presenters feel welcomed and respected, as well as to make sure members are actively engaged in the presentation. Occasionally, there may be a time when technology is encouraged, but unless otherwise noted, please refrain from using it. If there is a special circumstance for which you need to use electronics at the meeting please speak with an E-board member before the meeting commencing.

If at any point this policy is not followed, the E-board retains the right to revoke your attendance credit for the meeting.

Missing a Meeting

Before the Meeting

Absence

You must fill out the Meeting Absence Form, located under the "meetings" tab, at least 24 hours before your expected absence.

If you are unable to submit the form or need to be in contact with the E-board for a special circumstance, please email Psi Chi (psichislu@gmail.com). In this email please include the following:

- Your first and last name
- The date of the meeting you will miss
- Your reason for missing
- Proof supporting your reason for missing

Tardiness

You must email Psi Chi within 2 hours of your expected tardiness. In this email, please include the following:

- Your first and last name
- The date of the meeting you will be tardy to
- Your reason for tardiness
- Proof supporting your reason for tardiness

Please note that if you are more than 15 minutes late to a meeting without having contacted Psi Chi before the meeting your tardiness with be counted as an unexcused absence for the semester.

After the Meeting

You contacted Psi Chi prior and your reason is excused:

You must complete the appeal form after the meeting you missed.
There will be appeal question(s) for you to answer in the appeal form.
- The question(s) will be based on the meeting minutes sent out after the meeting.
Both the meeting absence form and appeal form (with your answers to the appeal questions) are required.
- If you do not answer the appeal question(s), you will not be excused.

You contacted Psi Chi prior and your reason is unexcused:

Your first unexcused absence will be your unexcused absence for the semester.
Any subsequent unexcused absences during the semester will place you in bad standing.

You did not contact Psi Chi and your reason is excused:

Without having contacted Psi Chi before the meeting, you are unexcused and will not receive attendance credit for the meeting.
In the case of an emergency, please reach out to the E-board immediately.
- You can always email us at psichislu@gmail.com
- For convenience, you can also reach out to Lizzie (Secretary) via call or text at (417) 439-2022 or via GroupMe

You did not contact Psi Chi and your reason is unexcused:

First unexcused absence for the semester:

- This meeting will be your unexcused absence for the semester.

Second+ unexcused absence for the semester:

- You are in bad standing

Excused absences

What is Excused?

All absences require proof to be approved as excused. Some of the following absences require specific proof, which is listed below the category of absence. If a type of proof is not specified, a screenshot of a text, email, calendar event, etc. is sufficient. If you are uncertain, please email us at psichislu@gmail.com.

The following reasons are considered to be excused:

- Work
  - - For a semester-long placement that was determined before the semester began, please fill out the Meeting Absence Form before the second Psi Chi General Body Meeting as proof.
    - For a sporadic occurrence, please fill out the Meeting Absence Form within 24 hours of the meeting you will miss as proof.
      - If at any point it appears you are purposefully avoiding attending meetings by scheduling work during meeting times, the E-board will contact you for a member status evaluation.
- Class
  - - Please submit your class schedule from Banner Self Serice as proof.
- Meetings or events for another club, organization, etc.
  - - You are not automatically excused unless you submit proof that you:
      - Hold an E-board position in an organization that meets at the same time as Psi Chi
      - Are an SI (supplemental instruction) leader and lead an SI session (through SLU's Student Success Center – Academic Support) that is scheduled during the time Psi Chi regularly meets
      - Are a peer tutor and hold one-on-one tutoring sessions (through SLU's Tutoring and University Writing Services) with students during the time Psi Chi regularly meets
      - Are a writing consultant and hold writing consultations (through SLU's Tutoring and University Writing Services) with students during the time Psi Chi regularly meets
    - If this is a reoccurring conflict, please contact psichislu@gmail.com to work out a schedule for you to be able to attend the Psi Chi General Body Meetings and take part in your other obligation.
- Study Abroad
  - - Please fill out the Meeting Absence Form.
      - Indicate that you are making a semester-long appeal and complete the prompts that follow.
- Sickness
  - - You must obtain and submit a doctor's note as proof.
      - Otherwise, your absence is considered unexcused.
        In the case that you are unable to visit a doctor for proof, you must meet with one of the advisors and the President to discuss your illness and needs.
    - In extreme circumstances, please contact us at psichislu@gmail.com.
- Weather Emergencies
  - - If you are a commuter (such that you do not live close to campus and must drive in each day), and inclement weather causes your commute to become dangerous, please email psichislu@gmail.com at some point BEFORE the meeting begins.
      - If you contact the E-board after the meeting, it will not be considered an excused absence.

Emergencies

In the case of emergency circumstances, you are automatically excused.
- Please email us at psichislu@gmail.com as soon as you have the opportunity, closely following the meeting you missed.
If an emergency requires long-term accommodations, please contact the E-board.

Making Up an Absence

If you miss a meeting during the semester, you are allowed to make up ONE missed attendance by doing one of the following:

- Attend a Nu Rho Psi event:
  - - You must sign in, let them know you are in attendance for Psi Chi, and then request that they let us know you were in attendance.
      - We do not check in with Nu Rho Psi after their events to see if Psi Chi members were in attendance, so we must be informed to be able to record the make-up event and update the attendance tracker.
    - We will often let the general body know ahead of time when some of these events are, but that may not always happen.
- Write a 2-3 page summary of recent psychological research:
  - - The summary should include an overview of what research was done, how it was done, the purpose or real-world application of the research, and your own personal takeaways from reading the article.
    - Double-spaced, 12 pt font, Times New Roman, APA citations.
- Writing an article for the Psi Chi Newsletter (PCN):
  - - This could be a typical monthly article, working as photographer, writing a summary of a psychology special event, etc.
    - If you select this option, you must get in contact with the PCN Editor, Sara Qalbani, and discuss how you can best accommodate the PCN that month.
    - Note that this option might not be available if it is not needed by the PCN Editor, but this is rare.
- Additional opportunities will be made available to the general body as they come about!

Bad Standing

Meaning

Bad standing refers to your membership status as it pertains to your involvement in Psi Chi throughout the semester.
- Keep in mind that you are allowed one unexcused absence per semester — you will only be placed in bad standing once you have missed more than one meeting for unexcused reasons.

When and How it Happens

You are placed in bad standing when you do not comply with membership requirements.
This most commonly happens when you accumulate more than one (1) unexcused absence in a single semester.

How to Know if You're in Bad Standing

The Psi Chi Executive Board will reach out to you via email following the meeting or event that places you in bad standing to let you know that you are now considered to be in bad standing.
You are also welcome to email psichislu@gmail.com at any time to inquire about your membership status.

How to Return to Good Standing

- If you are considered to be in bad standing and:
  - Have missed two meetings, but have yet to make up an absence:

- - - You may return to good standing by completing any of the opportunities explained above in "Making up an Absence"
  - Have already made up one absence this semester, but still have two or more unexcused absences:

- - - Please contact the E-board immediately at psichislu@gmail.com. We will determine a plan of action based on your circumstances and work with you to figure out the best solution.

Consequences of Bad Standing

- When placed in bad standing, your membership benefits are suspended until you return to good standing. Most notably this means:
  - You will not receive a free honors graduation cord.
    - If you would still like to receive one for graduation day you must purchase one for $15.
      - It should be noted that, even in bad standing, to be eligible to purchase a graduation honor cord, you must attend at least 2 meetings, in person, per semester.
        Semester-long excused absences will not be required to follow this since this type of appeal would not place a member in bad standing.

- - You are not eligible to apply for awards and grants.
- The purpose of bad standing is to emphasize the importance of engagement with psychological material and the community. We ask that all members maintain a high caliber of commitment to our organization through attendance and involvement. We want your membership in Psi Chi to be something you engage in, which cannot be done if you are not in attendance.

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