I. ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS
The following attendance requirements shall apply to all College students:
A. Students are expected to attend and be on time for all scheduled classes and labs. Students should refer to the course syllabus for individual course attendance requirements. At the instructor’s discretion, students may make up work missed. When students must be absent, it is vital that they remain in contact with their instructors.
B. Any student who has not attended at least one face-to-face class meeting or completed one assignment/activity for an online class prior to or on the ten percent (10%) point of the class will be reported by the instructor as “never attended.” A student who has never attended a class by the ten percent (10%) date is no longer enrolled in the class and will not earn credit or receive a tuition refund for the course. Under extenuating circumstances, a student who has never attended by the ten percent (10%) date may petition for reinstatement in the class to the Vice
President of Instruction.
C. Any student who has been absent for two consecutive weeks in a 16-week term or one week in shorter academic terms may be administratively withdrawn from the course. A student in an online, hybrid, or blended course may be administratively withdrawn following two consecutive weeks in a 16-week term (or one week in shorter academic terms) of missed assignments, missed attendance (for hybrid/blended), and/or lack of communication with the instructor regarding course participation. Consistent with policies establishing attendance in online courses, logging into a course site but failing to perform the aforementioned actions does not constitute attendance. A grade of “FA” will be assigned for any course from which the student is administratively withdrawn.
Under extenuating circumstances, a student may petition, in writing, the Vice President of Instruction, for reinstatement in the course upon demonstrating the capacity and likelihood of satisfactorily completing requirements as indicated on the course syllabus. The Vice President, upon consultation with the instructor and/or Dean/Program Head, will make a decision regarding reinstatement into the class. Reinstatement will only be considered when the absence was due to unforeseeable and uncontrollable circumstances. Tuition refunds or credits will not result from an administrative withdrawal.
D. A student’s absence while participating in a College-sponsored or approved activity will be considered an excused absence for participating students. Such excused absences will not be considered in the student’s class attendance for drop purposes, nor will excused absences be included in the determination of a grade for “participation” of which class attendance is a part. The responsibility for making up class work rests entirely with the student. All assignments, tests, labs, class time and final exams to be missed due to College sponsored or approved activity will be rescheduled prior to the excused absences or otherwise rescheduled at the discretion of the instructor.
E. A student must be present for at least eighty percent (80%) of a curriculum class to be counted in attendance for that class. Some classes/programs have stricter attendance requirements than the 80% minimum. Information on attendance requirements will be included on the course syllabus.
In instances of extraordinary circumstance, the Vice President, with recommendation of the appropriate Dean/Program Head, may grant exceptions to the minimum attendance requirements.
F. The College provides reasonable accommodations, including a minimum of two (2) excused absences each academic year, for religious observances required by the faith of the student. Such reasonable accommodations must be requested in accordance with the procedures for this Policy and include the opportunity for the student to make up any tests or other work missed due to an excused absence for a religious observance. An accommodation request imposes responsibilities and obligations on both the College and the student requesting the accommodation. College faculty are required, as part of their responsibility to their students and the College, to adhere to this Policy and ensure its full and fair implementation by reasonably accommodating students’ religious practices or beliefs. Regardless of any accommodation that may be granted, College students are responsible for satisfying all academic objectives, requirements and prerequisites as determined by their instructor and the ollege.
1. Academic year: The sequence of fall, spring and summer semesters.
2. Reasonable accommodation: Any change in an academic course or program of study with respect to the way tasks or responsibilities are customarily done that enables a student to observe his/her religious practice or belief without creating an undue hardship.
3. Religious practice or belief: A practice or observance that is sincerely held within the tenants of that religious belief.
4. Undue hardship: An accommodation that would require significant expense or difficulty for the College or would result in the inability of the student to perform an essential function of his or her course/program of study. The determination of undue hardship is dependent on the facts of each individual situation.
Adopted: January 8, 2020
Legal Reference: N.C.G.S. § 115D-5(u); 1B SBCCC 500.99; 1G SBCCC 200.93