I expect my students to attend class. The classroom experience is intellectually unpredictable; issues arise that a teacher or a student could never have expected or prepared for. This spontaneity often leads to unplanned instruction--and learning. In other words, there is a dynamic in the classroom that cannot be reproduced by a teacher's creating a syllabus or a student's simply reading a textbook, and this dynamic provides part of the richness of the college experience. Given this statement, I do understand that situations arise in our lives that prevent us from being where we are supposed to be. Therefore, I will expect you to adhere to the following attendance policy:
For a class that meets twice a week, you may miss four sessions. Please note that I do not use the word class and session synonymously. I divide each day's class into two sessions. For my evening classes, the first session begins at 5:00 p.m., and it runs through to the break at 6:30 p.m. After a twenty-minute break, we will begin the second session at 6:50 p.m. It will conclude at 8:20 p.m. If for some reason you can't make the first session, then attend the second, or if you can't make the second session, attend the first. It is possible for you to complete the course satisfactorily (assuming that you're doing well in it) if you miss four sessions, but it is not possible if you miss five.
If you miss a class or a session, then follow the guidelines of the College Catalog, which states that "you are responsible for making up all course work missed during an absence." It would be best for you to ask a student for notes covering that missed class or session. Following that, you may wish to consult with me. There are no excused absences; this includes students who register late. Instruction begins with the first scheduled class.
If you miss five sessions within the first sixty per cent of the semester, I will withdraw you from the class. I am compelled to do this because the college is being held financially liable for students who do not attend class; therefore, this policy is essential for the college to relieve its financial responsibility within the state system. For further information about this policy, you must carefully read my link dealing with how to withdraw from a class.
If you enter a class late, I will have marked you absent. You should, therefore, inform me that you were tardy. Please don't assume that because I've seen you and know your name that I have counted you present. Any student entering a session thirty minutes after the starting time will be considered absent for that session. As with absences, I understand occasional lateness, but if tardiness is frequent, it will adversely affect your progress in the course.
