Class Attendance Policies
Regular class attendance is a student obligation and essential to receiving maximum benefit from the educational experience. The student is expected to attend and be on time for all classes and lab, shop, and/or clinic sessions. The student is also responsible for completing all learning activities, including tests and written assignments. Outside of the reasons listed in this policy, no right or privilege exists that exempts a student from any given number of class meetings.
Instructors establish their own class attendance policy. This attendance policy is explained in detail at the first class meeting and includes the relationship between attendance and grades. This information is also included in the course syllabus. Students who stop attending class without officially withdrawing may receive a grade of “F” at the end of the semester. For additional information, you may review Attendance Policy 401-02-01BP.
Absence for Religious Reasons
Isothermal Community College recognizes the right of students to be absent from class for religious reasons. Students may request a maximum of two excused class days per academic year for observations required by the student’s faith. In accordance with this right, the College President will establish procedures for requesting documentation and excusing religious absences.
Absence in Accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
Isothermal Community College recognizes the rights of students to be tardy or absent due to conditions covered under Title IX of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits a school from discriminating against a student based on “student’s pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or recovery from any of these conditions” (reference 34 C.F.R. § 106.40(b)(1). Requests for accommodations are the responsibility of the student and must be submitted through the College’s Office of Accessibility.
Absence of Military Service
Any covered student who is in the United States Armed Forces who has received temporary or permanent reassignment as a result of military operations, or any student who is a National Guard service member placed onto State active-duty status during an academic term, shall be granted an excused absence for the period of time the student is on active duty. Requests for excused absences are the responsibility of the student and must be submitted to the associate vice president for student affairs/dean of Continuing Education prior to the period of the absence. The College will work with the student to determine the student’s best options for course continuation or withdrawal (reference 1B SBCCC 500.1).
Signed into law on December 29, 2022, Public Law 117-328 adds to Title 38 of the U.S. Code a new section, section 3691A, “Withdrawal or leave of absence from certain education.” In accordance with Section 3691A, any covered student who is a member of the Armed Forces (including reserve components) and who receives orders “to perform a period of service” (i.e., active duty, inactive duty training, or state service). Specifically, 38 U.S.C. §3691A(a)(2)(B) provides that an educational institution may not take the following actions when a member receives orders for a period of service:
Assigning the member a failing grade,
Reducing the member’s grade point average,
Characterizing any member’s absence(s) as unexcused, or
Assessing a financial penalty on a member because of a withdrawal or leave of absence due to receiving orders for service.
Additionally, 38 U.S.C. §3691A(b) provides that an educational institution must take the following actions when a member withdraws due to receiving orders for a period of service:
Refund all tuition and fees paid for the academic term to the appropriate party. Please note that Veterans Affairs' interpretation of an academic term is the term as reported to your State Approving Agency and Veterans Affairs.
Refund payments made by the student (or on behalf of the student) to the institution for housing. Please note that in this instance, the reference to housing is not the monthly housing allowance provided by the Post 9/11 GI Bill but rather housing costs such as dorm fees.
Finally, 38 U.S.C. §3691A(c) provides that an educational institution must take the following actions when a member takes a leave of absence from a course(s) due to receiving orders for a period of service:
Assigning a grade of incomplete (or equivalent) for the course(s) during the term, and
Providing the opportunity to complete the term after the period of service.
Class Entry Prior to the Census Date
Students enrolled in any course, regardless of delivery method, must be in attendance or complete the mandatory course enrollment activity and be recorded as present at least one time on or before the census date of the course. Students who fail to attend or fail to complete the mandatory enrollment activity by the census date will be removed from the class roster and recorded as a No Show (NS). In a distance learning education context, documenting that a student has logged into an online course is not sufficient by itself to demonstrate academic attendance by the student. Students receiving financial aid should consult with a financial aid counselor to determine the impact of the NS designation on their financial aid eligibility and obligations.
Curriculum Late Course Entry, Late Registration, and Schedule Adjustments
In support of the College’s focus on learning, the College ensures that students have an opportunity to be academically successful in each course. The faculty and academic administrators are in the best position to make decisions concerning students’ ability to complete coursework within an allotted time. Therefore, students generally will not be allowed to add/change sections after the schedule adjustments deadline listed in the Academic Calendar. In addition, a student will not be allowed to enter a course past the census date, regardless of registration status, without approval by the appropriate dean or vice president of academic and student affairs.