attendance policies

OBNurseShelley · Nov 22, 2003

Are you receiving financial aid? If so, when you withdrawl from classes, you're only allowed so many before you're put on financial aid probation. Doesn't sound like youre school is being unreasonable, talk to whomever you can regarding being dropped now that you have absenses. But sometimes, you have to pay the consequences for being unable to show up. Better get used to it. MOST nursing programs, allow for VERY few absenses, excused or not. It's just not tolerated.

CarVsTree · Nov 22, 2003

I've only withdrawn from one class in my life so I'm not sure what the policy would be for multiple classes.

Did you w/d early enough in the semester to receive a W rather than a WF? I'm sure that 2 WF's would put you on probation since that is still a failing grade.

As for the attendance policy, it it says it allows 3 absences and you have 4 I would imagine they'll withdraw you. That's how it reads to me. Hopefully since you are doing so well in the classes they will make an exception for you.

Tough policies, but I'm afraid it won't get any better in the nursing program. Most schools leave very little (if any) leeway for absences.

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Nov 22, 2003

Hi Nursetracy!

If it's not in your syllabus, there is probably a section in your student handbook covering attendance. Generally, and as stated in my handbook, anything over 10% (in a 16 week term figure 3 absences) unexcused absences will cause an automatic withdrawal by the instructor or a failing grade and, if you are receiving financial aid, can cause the aid to be withdrawn. I don't know how many classes you've missed but if you miss 3 or more health science classes, you're definitely at a disadvantage.

Withdrawals count as attempts on your transcript. An unfinished attempt is counted in your GPA the same way an F would, as I found out a few years back. Academic probation will also exclude you from receiving financial aid. It took me two semesters of straight A's and B's, 20 credits, to get to the point where I could appeal my academic probation successfully. Yes, you can appeal for financial aid purposes and maybe win, but otherwise you're generally stuck. The moral of the story: go to ALL classes and don't register for a class unless you're sure you can see it through to the end.

nurse2btracy · Nov 22, 2003

Hi!

I do not have a problem with not being able to have any absences. I just think that this policy should have been discussed. We do not have a student handbook - just the course catalog. I will have to check that. The professor made it seem like it was a policy for the office technology department and not for any other departments.

Tracy

Ortho_RN · Nov 22, 2003

Well in my nursing program we are only allowed to miss 12hrs... That isn't much, especially when clinicals are 8hrs/day.

They are changing it next semester to 8hrs a semester.

Thats pretty tough, but they figure how can you be a good nurse and learn skills when you can't come to class..

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Nov 23, 2003

Your college must have a college catalog for the year. The policies will be stated in that catalog. Professors with tenure have more leeway than those that do not. They can be more independent with policies than the untenured if they choose to, but it will only apply to THAT particular class.

SirJohnny · Nov 23, 2003

Nursetracy:

- Your college (if in USA) definitely has a course handbook or course catalog with all the rules, policies spelled out. If nothing else, to pretect their butts for legal reasons.

- Professors are not expected to cover these policies - it's up to the students to know ahead of time. Sounds tough, but that's the way it is.

- I am an instructor at a local technical college. I don't even know what the rules are. I don't care. I am there to teach, give & grade assignments and exams, and assign grades based on the results.

- Every night, I have to take attendance and enter it into a computer system. The school handles it from there.

- I believe it has more to do with financial aid policies than anything.

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- Personally, I ask that my students come to class. I deduct 3% of the TOTAL grade for each missed class. This is MY policy, the school agrees, so I use it. In this case, I DO inform the students of MY policy.

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- Regarding skipping classes:

- NEVER, EVER, EVER skip a class or lab. Drag your kids to class if you have to. Just sit in back and keep 'em quiet. One lady in A&P 102 class brings her 10 yr old son to lab. He sits there and plays Nintendo on his Palm. Doesn't bother anyone. Do what you gotta do -- but don't ever miss class.

- Nursing program in NY has tough attendance policy. We are currently negotiating what the policy will be if the airplane fails to arrive in Syracuse before class starts. I am flying from Indiana to New York every other weekend for clinicals. I get in Thur nights at 10:30PM, and class starts at 12:00 noon on Fridays. So hopefully I will have time to get to school if plane delayed, etc.

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- My advice:

- Don' t miss any more classes.

- Talk to your professor(s), see what they have to say. It may be a school/financial aid thing.

- Don't panic until grades come -- might be sweating all for nothing.

- Keep talking to the nursing program -- if that's what you want to do.

Good luck.

John Coxey

iliel · Nov 23, 2003

The attendance policy is the same at my school. Prof's don't have to write it in the syllibus, it's up to you to read the student handbook and find out your schools policy.

IMHO, I try to miss as little class as I have to, I think I've missed one this year (I won't drive in rain in rushhour in this town!) I try to contact the prof to lest he/she know I'm not comming, but only if it's a Prof that takes roll. Classes like my A&P don't care.

However if you don't go or you drop, understand that you could be taking away a spot from a student that really needs to/ want's to be there. Try to keep your attendance up!

Good luck and speak to an advisor about the effects, there may be something you can do.

iliel · Nov 23, 2003

Originally posted by John Coxey
- Nursing program in NY has tough attendance policy. We are currently negotiating what the policy will be if the airplane fails to arrive in Syracuse before class starts. I am flying from Indiana to New York every other weekend for clinicals. I get in Thur nights at 10:30PM, and class starts at 12:00 noon on Fridays. So hopefully I will have time to get to school if plane delayed, etc.

John, that's crazy, why do you need to travel so far for clinicals! How does the school set that up with a student, do they pay, do you pay, are there other students who have to travel that distance?