Attendance and Absence Policies

Regular attendance is seen as essential for academic success. It facilitates active engagement in coursework, ensures continuity in learning, and fosters a collaborative educational environment. The following policies are designed to encourage consistent attendance while providing clear guidelines for managing absences.

Attendance Policies

• First Warning for Absences: If a student misses three hours of lectures in any course, they will receive a first warning. This initial warning serves as a reminder of the importance of attendance and an opportunity for the student to address any barriers to regular attendance.

• Second Warning: A second warning is issued after an additional three hours of absence, bringing the total to six hours. This stage is more serious and may involve a meeting with the Course Instructor or Academic Advisor to discuss the reasons for the absences and strategies to improve attendance.

• Consequences of Excessive Absences: Accumulating a total of nine unexcused hours of absence in any course will result in a failure of that course. The Program Director will notify the student of this outcome. It’s crucial for students to understand that excessive absences can significantly impact their academic progress.

• Policy for Annual System Students: For students following the annual system, the allowable absence hours before warnings and failure are doubled. This adjustment acknowledges the different structure and pacing of the annual system compared to the semester system.

Managing Absences

• Communicating Absences: Students are encouraged to communicate with their Course Instructors about any anticipated absences, especially those due to extenuating circumstances.

• Documentation: In cases of illness or other serious matters, providing appropriate documentation can help in considering the absences as excused.