Administrative Procedure 5020

Regular attendance is an obligation assumed by every student at the time of registration.  Extenuating circumstances are verified cases of accidents, illnesses, other circumstances beyond the student’s control, and other conditions defined by the Governing Board and in published regulations.  Leaves of absence of one week or longer for health or personal reasons must be requested from the Chief Student Services Officer (CSSO) or designee.  Students who withdraw from classes are responsible for initiating the drop process by appropriate deadlines.

Students are expected to attend the first class meeting.  Students who are not in attendance at the first class meeting are considered “no-shows” and the faculty may drop such persons in order to give their seats to non-registered students seeking to enroll.  Also, a faculty member may withdraw a student from semester-length courses at any time for excessive absence through the 9th week of the Fall/Spring Semesters, and 60% point of the class for Summer and courses less than a semester in length.  As a guideline, absence is considered excessive if a student misses three class meetings or the equivalent of one week of class attendance, or according to absence guidelines as published in the course syllabus.

Absence due to a verified illness may be accepted as an excused absence for a limited period of time.

Students are expected to notify faculty by e-mail and/or phone message if they are absent for a medical reason.  Students are expected to make appointments for medical and dental treatments at times other than when classes are scheduled.  Students anticipating or encountering extended absences due to medical, personal, or family emergencies should contact the Dean, Student Support Services.

It is the student’s responsibility to officially withdraw by stated deadlines either online or in person in Admissions & Records.  Students failing to officially withdraw by the deadline may receive an “F” or “FW” grade.

Religious Accommodations

The District shall permit any student who is eligible to undergo the test or examination to do so, without penalty, at a time when that activity would not violate the student’s religious creed.  The student shall notify the instructor before the religious holiday.  This requirement shall not apply in the event that administering the test or examination at an alternate time would impose an undue hardship which could not reasonably have been avoided.