General Policy
Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU) supports students’ participation in activities outside their educational schools and programs that contribute to their professional development. These include attending conventions or specialty meetings, continuing education activities, professional organizations meetings, community activities, voluntary service activities, and others. However, students must be aware that their academic performance remains a priority, and they are expected to meet all the academic requirements of their curriculum. Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress to be eligible to request participation in extracurricular activities. These activities will require authorization from the Office of VP for Academic Affairs and the corresponding School or Program Department Director/Coordinator.
Procedures to be followed
Any student interested in participating in an extracurricular activity during a time that the student has scheduled academic activities must request written authorization from the School or Program Department Director/Coordinator by applying to Participate in Extracurricular Activities during Academic Periods. The request must include an explanation of the extracurricular activity, its purpose, expected time commitment, and potential benefits to the student’s development. The authorization must be requested at least two weeks ahead of the date that the extracurricular activity will be initiated. Students must provide all the evidence available to sustain the request.
It will be the responsibility of the School or Program Department Director/Coordinator to evaluate the paperwork submitted by the student and make the recommendation to the VP for Academic Affairs, who will make the final authorization. The student must abide by the School or Program Department Director/Coordinator’s determination and will accept the responsibility for the material covered and learning activities missed during the absence period. Students will be responsible for providing a plan on how they will be covering the activities missed while participating in the extracurricular activity requested.
Authorization from the VP for Academic Affairs to attend extracurricular activities does not obligate a school or program to make special arrangements or to organize additional activities to substitute for the missed period by excused students. Authorized absences to participate in extracurricular activities will be counted as “excused absences” for the purpose of the PHSU Attendance policy. Attendance is defined as participation in academic activities registered by the faculty. Participation in the courses will be measured based on participation in the academic activities included in the syllabus as part of the course requirements.
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