Pine Technical College
Policy and Procedure
Policy No.: 307R Date: 11-22-99 Revision Date:
9-10-01
Division/Dept: Student Affairs Revision Authors:
Phil Schroeder, Kathy Arola
Subject: Absence and Attendance Policy
Authorities:
Higher Education Amendments of 1998
MNSCU Policies
Policy:
It is the policy of Pine Technical College to prepare students for the
world of work and, at the same time, to insure that student retention and
completion in technical programs remains as high as possible. In order to
prepare students for the self-discipline necessary to retain a job in industry,
Pine Tech will require students to attend classes punctually and regularly so
that learning objectives can be accomplished and so that good attendance habits
can be formed and then translated to the workplace. Further, in order to track
and identify at-risk students, Pine Tech will require faculty to report students
who are excessively absent so that a prompt intervention might result in a
student successfully completing a program rather than dropping out.
Pertinent Information:
To achieve these goals, faculty members must maintain timely and accurate
attendance records. An absence is recorded each time a student is not in
attendance during a regularly scheduled period of instruction. The recording of
an absence does not depend on the cause for absence, and it applies to both
instructional and laboratory sessions. The recording of absences begins the
first day of scheduled classes each semester. Each instructor will make every
effort to enable students to make up missed work. However, it is the student's
responsibility to make arrangements with the instructor to complete the work, or
contact Student Affairs to withdraw from the course.
A student is considered excessively absent from a course when:
1. he/she is absent from three (3) consecutive periods of instruction after the
date enrolled; or
2. the total absences equal the number of periods of
instruction scheduled in two (2) calendar weeks; or
3. in the judgment of the instructor, the student is not
making satisfactory progress due to absence from class, and it is not feasible
for the student to make up the class work missed; or
4. the student has exceeded allowable limits in absences
according to the policy of external accrediting or sponsoring agencies.
Exceptions: For courses conducted in a flex lab setting, courses in which the
majority of instruction occurs over the Internet or via an academic intranet, or
courses for which the student has been required to lease/rent a laptop computer,
the instructor shall clearly state attendance requirements in the course
syllabus. Pine Technical College recognizes that in each of the above-mentioned
circumstances, it may not be necessary for the student to attend class on a
regular basis in order to complete the necessary assignments
If a student is absent and unable to complete the coursework due to extenuating
circumstances such as a serious illness, surgery, etc., the student may be
requested to furnish documentation supporting the reason for the absence to the
instructor and/or the Dean of Student Affairs. If the student is otherwise
making satisfactory progress in the course, the student may want to request an
‘I’ grade. However, if the number of absences are deemed excessive and the
instructor feels it is not feasible for the student to make up the class work
missed, the student will be advised to withdraw from the course.
Procedure:
1. Faculty will be required to keep daily attendance records.
2. On the first day following the period in which the student becomes
excessively absent as defined in "Pertinent Information" above, the instructor
will notify the counselor as required below:
A. The instructor attempts to contact the student and
completes the Progress Report form (Attachment A) and forwards it to the
Counselor, including any specific recommendations. (The Counselor will follow-up
with the progress report or may assign it to an available Academic Advisor.).
B. The Counselor interviews the student, if possible.
I. If the student wishes to continue
and it is feasible to complete the course:
a. The
counselor will facilitate an agreement between the student and the instructor,
which outlines specifically what is needed to continue and timelines for
completing the make-up work.
b. The
counselor and student will meet within two weeks to review the student’s
progress and thereafter, as needed.
II. If the student wishes to
continue, but it is not feasible to complete the coursework missed, OR they do
not wish to continue:
a. The
counselor will advise the student to withdraw within the timeline, otherwise, a
grade will be posted.
b. The
counselor will discuss the impact of the withdrawal/grade on their academic
progress.
III. If the student cannot be
contacted, the efforts will be documented on the progress report and the grade
posted at the end of the term
Reviewed by Leadership Team: 09/10/01
Reviewed by Faculty Senate: 09/12/01
Approved:
Robert L. Musgrove, President
Reports Available: Progress Report