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2015-16 Non-Traditional & Graduate Catalog | Academic Procedures

Attendance

Class Attendance

The College is, first of all, an educational institution. Its purpose is to facilitate student learning in fulfillment of its mission to promote scholarship, spiritual formation, and service. Regular class attendance and active engagement with course content through participation in class are essential to meeting curricular goals and objectives.

Course instructors are expected to (1) take attendance; (2) include the College attendance policy in course syllabi; and (3) state clearly how attendance, participation, and/or unexcused absences will affect students' grades in specific courses.

Regular class attendance and participation are essential components of learning and responsible citizenship. Students are expected to attend all sessions of the courses for which they are registered.

Class Absence

All excuses for class absence should be reported to the instructor in advance when possible. Make-up of work missed may be arranged at the discretion of the professor.

When, however, an instructor finds that a student is failing because of excessive absence, whether excused or unexcused, the instructor may recommend that the student be withdrawn from the course. Absences due to late registration are considered as any other absence.

Since attendance is an essential function of learning and each student contributes to the overall learning experience, absences will adversely impact class participation grades (though the impact may vary by course and professor).

  • Non-Traditional/Cohort programs – More than one absence per course or more than three absences during the program may be grounds for administrative withdrawal from the program.
  • Online programs – Attendance in an online course is determined by on time completion of postings and assignments in the course management system.

Tardiness to Class

Excuse for tardiness to class should be presented to the instructor at the close of that class session. Three unexcused tardies constitute an absence, as does any part of a class session missed that exceeds 20 minutes.