College Catalog 2019-20

EAST CENTRAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE

The student should discuss with the instructor the impending absence before it occurs if possible or immediately after his/her return to class if the absence was an emergency. The student is responsible for all work missed regardless of the reason for being absent. Instructors will record and report attendance promptly for each class meeting up to and including the last regularly scheduled class meeting of each semester. 1. Students should review their schedules before the semester begins to make sure they are enrolled in the appropriate classes. Once classes begin it is important students attend every class meeting. Students should be aware that there are challenges involved in adding a class after classes have begun. Students will be counted absent for class meetings missed during the drop/add period. Students are responsible for any work missed in the class prior to their enrollment and cannot expect due dates to be altered. If one or more class meetings have been missed, students are advised to speak to the instructor prior to adding the class to determine if adding is appropriate. Students who add a class at the end of the drop/add period may have little to no opportunity to drop the class. 2. Official absences are those incurred when students miss class while officially representing the College. The College sponsor of the group reports the list of students officially representing the College in MyEC, using the Official Absence Form. Official absences will not count in the total number of absences allowed. 3. Unofficial absences occur when students who are not representing the College miss class. Total unofficial absences per class may not exceed two for a class that meets once per week, four for a class that meets twice per week, six for a class that meets three times per week, eight for a class that meets four times per week or ten for a class meeting five times per week. Exceptions to this policy include classes that meet less than a full semester; Mississippi Virtual Community College classes, healthcare education classes, and some of the Career & Technical classes. The instructor will notify students of the absentee policy in those particular classes in writing at the beginning of the semester. Tardies which equal the number of times the class meets per week will constitute an unofficial absence. (Exception: For classes which meet once per week, three tardies will constitute an unofficial absence.) If a student exceeds these numbers of absences he/she will be cut out of class and will be administratively withdrawn. If a student is administratively withdrawn before the Friday of the week that equates to 75% of the term, the student will receive a final grade of “W” for the course. If a student is administratively withdrawn after the Friday of the week that equates to 75% of the term, the student will receive a grade of “WF” for the course. 4. The student who misses announced tests or class assignments due to unofficial absences must have approval of the instructor to take make-up tests or to complete assignments. To be considered for approval, the student must be prepared to present a valid reason for having been absent. 5. The student has the right to appeal if he or she feels that there were extenuating circumstances for exceeding the allowable number of absences or for being cut out of class. The student should meet with the instructor at the next class meeting after missing over the limit allowed. The instructor will explain the appeal process. The instructor will counsel with the student and discuss the reasons and excuses. If the student is readmitted, he/ she will sign a form stating that they will not be tardy or absent from the class for the remainder of the semester and if they are, they will be dropped and will not have the opportunity to appeal again. If the student is denied reentry by the instructor the student will have the opportunity to appeal to the Academic Division Chair, Director of Career & Technical Education, Dean of Healthcare Education, or Dean of eLearning depending upon the course in which the student is enrolled. Should the matter not be resolved to the student’s satisfaction through the appeal to the appropriate administrator, the student has the right to appeal to the Vice President for Instruction within 24 hours. Such appeals must be made in writing with all reasons for the appeal given. The last step in the appeals process will be the meeting with the Vice President for Instruction. The student must continue to attend the class through the entire process. 6. If the student has extenuating circumstances that prevent him/her from returning to class, he/she MUST

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