|
Attendance-Withdrawal Policy
Attendance
Attendance in class is a key factor of success in college. The following procedure applies to regular academic and career/technical credit programs, including online courses. It does not apply to non-credit or continuing education activities. Some programs in nursing and allied health-career fields or non-credit programs require more stringent attendance policies which will be followed and will be stated in the departmental regulations for the program of study.
The primary method by which the College communicates with its credit students concerning attendance is the students’ College- issued email account. All credit students are responsible for activating their College email account within three (3) days of registering for classes for the first time and for checking it frequently (at least three times each week) when classes are in session.
All instructors will take roll at each class meeting and will maintain an attendance record for each student. Attendance will be recorded for all students beginning the first day of the class. The student is responsible for all assigned work, including work which occurred prior to the student’s enrollment in the class. Absences recorded prior to the student enrolling in the course will not count against the absences addressed in the Notice of Absence/Excessive Absences Policy. Absences pertaining to the Notice of Absence/Excessive Absences Policy will begin with the first day the student is enrolled in the class. Students must attend 80% of the meetings for each course in order to receive credit for a course. Online courses will require completion of content-related assignments to be considered present in a course. Logging into the course will not count toward attendance.
Instructors will make certain that each student is aware of all College policies and procedures concerning attendance, excessive absence notification, and withdrawal. The student is responsible for reading all related requirements in this Catalog and the Student Handbook.
Students should be aware that beginning with Fall 2011, class attendance will be used as one factor in determining the release of the balance of financial aid.
Tardies
Failure to report to class at the beginning of the class period equals a tardy. Three tardies equal one unexcused absence. Students who miss more than fifteen (15) minutes of a class will be marked absent. A student who leaves the classroom without the instructor’s permission will be marked absent.
Excused Absences
HCC recognizes two types of excused absences: those for personal emergencies, and those for official school activities. The student is allowed to make up the work missed during excused absences. Excused absences are still absences on the student’s record.
Student absences may be excused by the instructor for personal emergencies such as illness, death in the student’s immediate family, or other valid unavoidable circumstances. It is the responsibility of the student to inform all instructors when absences are due to personal emergency. Instructors may require written documentation, such as verification of illness on a physician’s letterhead.
Official absences are those resulting from student participation in important activities officially sponsored by the College. Students will be provided with an Official Absence Notice by the proper College official. It is the responsibility of the student to provide the instructor with the Verification of Official Absence form or letter. A student will be allowed to make up the class or laboratory work that was missed during an official absence. Excused absences are still absences on the student’s record.
Unexcused Absences
All absences not due to personal emergency or official school activities are unexcused. Students who are absent from a final exam without the approval of the instructor will receive a course grade of “F”.
Excessive Unexcused Absences
All Notifications of Attendance (NOA) will be sent to the student’s College-issued email via the online attendance system. Excessive unexcused absences are defined as follows:
On-Campus Classes:
1. Full-term fall and spring classes - day or evening class, after the number of times that the class meets in one week plus one, based on a full semester length class.
2. Eight (8) week term - after four (4) absences.
3. Four (4) week term - after two (2) absences.
4. Summer session - evening classes, after two (2) absences.
Online Classes:
1. Sixteen (16) week terms after two (2) absences.
2. Eight (8) week terms after one (1) absence
3. Four (4) week terms after one (1) absence
NOTE: Online courses require completion of content-related assignments to be considered present in a course. Logging into a course will not count toward attendance.
Notice of Absence (NOA) Procedure
All instructors will take roll at each class meeting and will maintain an attendance record for each student. Attendance will be recorded beginning the first day of the class or the first day the student registers for the class, whichever is later. All instructors will make certain that each student is aware of all College policies and procedures concerning attendance, notification of absence procedure, and withdrawal and will stress the student’s responsibility for reading all related requirements in the College Catalog and the Student Handbook.
A weekly attendance summary will be sent to each student summarizing their weekly attendance each Saturday. A NOA may be sent to the student any time the instructor becomes concerned about a student’s attendance.
A NOA will be sent to the student by the instructor when the student has accumulated the number of unexcused absences outlined above.
A NOA requires the student to continuing to go to class, return to class at the next class period following an absence, and/or contact the instructor immediately to discuss the following options:
Withdraw from the class with a “W” during the withdrawal period
Withdraw from all classes during the withdrawal period. (See a counselor in Counseling Office) Be dropped from class with a grade of “WP” or “WF” after any additional absences
If the student is absent for more than 20% of the number of meeting times, or fails to return to class and/or contact the instructor at the next class meeting time, he/she may be dropped from class with a grade of “WP” or “WF.”
The Office of Financial Aid is notified of the assigned “WP” or “WF” for excessive absences and the last date of attendance for any student receiving Financial Aid or Veterans Benefits.
NOTE: Withdrawal from a class or from school is permitted only during specific time periods during a term. See the College Calendar.
No-Show Policy
A No-Show student shall be defined as a student who has never attended a class. Students attending at least one time should understand that they will be charged for the class. In the case of required co-requisite courses, a student cannot be dropped as a No- Show in one course and continue to be enrolled in the co-requisite course. No-shows for online courses are determined by completion of work during the first week of the course. Logging in to the course only will NOT count as completion of work.
Single Course Withdrawal (withdrawing from one or more classes, but not from all classes)
Before considering withdrawing from a class or classes, a student should be aware of the following information:
1. Students on Financial Aid, Veterans Benefits, Scholarships or Federal Student Loans should note that dropping a class or classes may lower or stop benefits or cause repayment to be due immediately.
2. To live in a residence hall, students must maintain full-time enrollment which is fifteen (15) semester hours or more during the fall and spring. During the summer, the requirement is three (3) semester hours per summer term.
3. Any student withdrawing from either a lecture or laboratory science course must withdraw from both at the same time except during the last week of the withdrawal period (with the exception of the BIO courses). NOTE: Any student wishing to take a continuation academic science course must have credit in both the lecture and lab before being allowed to take the continuation lecture or continuation lab.
Classes which are dropped during the drop/add period are considered schedule changes and do not appear on the student’s record. Students wishing to withdraw from one or more classes (but not from school), may use their My.Hinds account to do so. (Tuition and fees must be current for students to withdraw using their My.Hinds account.) The periods during which a student may withdraw from a class and the grade assigned are indicated below. (See the College Calendar for exact dates)
1. Full term classes
A student’s record of performance begins with the second week of classes. After the drop/add period, a student cannot withdraw from a class until the beginning of the eighth week except by withdrawing from school. A student may withdraw from a class beginning with the eighth week through seven (7) calendar days before the first day of the final exam period. The Drop for Excessive Absences Grade may be processed until three (3) calendar days before the start of the final exam schedule. See note below.
2. Distance Learning classes
A student’s record of performance begins the first day of the class or the first day the student registers for the class whichever is later. Students may begin to withdraw from online classes beginning the day after the drop/add period until the last day to withdraw as indicated on the College Calendar. Notices of excessive absences are emailed to the student’s college-provided account up to seven (7) days prior to the last day to withdraw. See note below.
3. Eight-week classes
A student’s record of performance begins with the third scheduled class meeting. After the drop/add period, a student cannot withdraw from a class until the start of the fifth week of the term except by withdrawing from school. A student may withdraw from a class beginning with the fifth week until three (3) calendar days before the start of the final exam schedule. The Drop for Excessive Absences Grade may be processed until seven (7) calendar days before the start of the final exam schedule. The Drop for Excessive Absences Grade may be processed until three (3) calendar days before the start of the final exam schedule. See note below.
4. Four-week classes
A student’s record of performance begins with the second scheduled class meeting. After the drop/add period, a student cannot withdraw from a class until the 12th class meeting except by withdrawing from school. A student may withdraw from a class beginning with the twelfth class meeting and until three (3) calendar days before the final exam day. The Drop for
Excessive Absences Grade may be processed until three (3) calendar days before the final exam day. See note below. NOTE: Failure to withdraw from a class and not attending class, may result in the student’s receiving a Drop for Excessive Absences Grade of “WP” or “WF.” If a Drop for Excessive Absences has been initiated by the instructor prior to the student’s withdrawal, a grade of “WP” or “WF” will be assigned; otherwise, a grade of “W” will be assigned when the withdrawal process is completed by the student.
Withdrawal from College
Prior to the start of a term, students wishing to officially withdraw will not be liable for fees (other than non-refundable fees). Students can use their My.Hinds account to remove themselves from all classes.
After the start of a term, to withdraw from the College at any time prior to five (5) working days before the first day of final exams for day/evening classes during a regular semester (three [3] days during the summer), a student must contact a counselor who will initiate the withdrawal. Students in Distance Learning courses must contact a counselor to initiate the withdrawal by the date designated on the College Calendar. (NOTE: This date is earlier than the date for on-campus classes). The grade at the time of withdrawal from the College will be “W” in all classes in which the student has not been dropped with a “WP” or “WF” for excessive absences. It is the responsibility of the student to complete and return the completed Withdrawal Form to the Counseling Office within twenty-four (24) hours of initiation of withdrawing.
|
