Purpose

Regular attendance is essential for academic success and program completion. This policy establishes attendance requirements, procedures for reporting absences, and consequences for excessive absences. Many of our programs are funded by government agencies that require strict attendance tracking.

Attendance Requirements

Minimum Attendance

Students must maintain:

80% attendance for all scheduled class sessions
100% attendance for clinical rotations and externships
On-time arrival for all sessions (tardiness counts as partial absence)
Full participation when present (not just physical presence)

What Counts as Attendance

To be marked present, students must:

Arrive within 15 minutes of class start time
Remain for the entire class session
Actively participate in class activities
Complete any in-class assignments or assessments
Sign attendance sheet or check in electronically

Types of Absences

Excused Absences

Absences may be excused for:

Illness: Personal illness with doctor's note (for absences over 2 days)
Family Emergency: Death or serious illness of immediate family member
Medical Appointments: Scheduled medical/dental appointments with documentation
Court Appearances: Required court dates with official documentation
Military Duty: Active duty or reserve obligations
Religious Observance: Major religious holidays (with advance notice)
School-Sanctioned Events: Pre-approved educational activities

Note: Excused absences still count toward your total absences but may allow for makeup work and do not trigger immediate consequences.

Unexcused Absences

Absences are unexcused when:

No notification is provided to instructor
Reason does not meet excused absence criteria
Required documentation is not submitted
Student leaves class early without permission
Student is asked to leave due to behavior or intoxication

Tardiness

Tardiness policy:

1-15 minutes late: Marked tardy (3 tardies = 1 absence)
16-30 minutes late: Marked as half absence
More than 30 minutes late: Marked as full absence
Leaving early: Same rules apply in reverse

Reporting Absences

Notification Procedure

Before Class

Notify your instructor BEFORE the class start time via:

Email to instructor
Phone call to main office: (317) 314-3757
Student portal absence reporting form

Provide Reason

Briefly explain the reason for your absence. Be honest and specific.

Submit Documentation

For excused absences, submit documentation within 3 business days:

Doctor's notes
Court documents
Death certificates or obituaries
Military orders

Make Up Work

Contact instructor within 1 week to arrange makeup work for excused absences.

Consequences for Excessive Absences

Warning Level (10-15% absences)

Verbal warning from instructor
Email notification to student
Meeting with instructor to discuss attendance
Development of attendance improvement plan

Probation Level (16-20% absences)

Written warning placed in student file
Meeting with program director
Attendance probation status
Notification to funding source (if applicable)
Risk of course failure

Dismissal Level (Over 20% absences)

Automatic course failure
Dismissal from program
Loss of funding eligibility
No refund of tuition or fees
Must reapply for future enrollment

Special Circumstances

Extended Absences

For extended absences (more than 3 consecutive days):

Contact program director immediately
Provide medical or other documentation
Discuss options: makeup work, leave of absence, or withdrawal
Extended absences may require program restart

Leave of Absence

Students may request a leave of absence for:

Serious medical conditions
Family emergencies
Military deployment
Other extraordinary circumstances

Leave of absence must be approved in advance and may affect funding and completion timeline.

Online/Hybrid Programs

For online or hybrid programs, attendance is tracked through:

Login activity and participation in online sessions
Completion of assignments by deadlines
Participation in discussion forums
Attendance at required in-person sessions

Funding Source Requirements

Students with government funding must be aware:

WIOA: Requires 80% attendance; excessive absences may result in funding termination
Vocational Rehabilitation: Must notify counselor of attendance issues
Veterans Benefits: VA requires reporting of absences; may affect benefits
Employer Sponsorship: Employer may have additional attendance requirements

Appeals

Students may appeal attendance-related dismissals:

Submit written appeal within 5 business days of dismissal notification
Include documentation of extenuating circumstances
Appeal reviewed by Academic Affairs Committee
Decision rendered within 10 business days
Committee decision is final

Contact Information

For attendance questions or to report absences:

Email: Contact Us
Phone: (317) 314-3757
Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM EST
Emergency Line: (317) 314-3757 ext. 911 (after hours)

Related Policies:

Policies & Compliance

Attendance Policy