As a federally recognized accrediting agency, the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is required to assure that member institutions are meeting their Title IV program responsibilities as well as complying with specific regulations accreditors must enforce as a part of their recognition by the U.S. Department of Education.
The University of Iowa is allowed to require attendance once and still be considered an institution that does not take attendance. To establish federal financial aid eligibility, students must attend all registered classes at least once during the first ten days of each semester. If instructors report a student as not attending, financial aid may be canceled or reduced.
A Note from the Office of Student Financial Aid
The Office of Student Financial Aid does not want to cancel aid for students who are participating in academic engagement but whose instructors did not verify this activity. If a student participates in only one activity, they should be reported as attending even if this doesn't meet the course expectations. If instructors initially report a student as not attending and then the student participates in an academic activity, the instructor can email osfa-attendance@uiowa.edu to certify the attendance for the student for financial aid purposes.
