One of the most vital aspects of the college and university experience is attendance and punctuality in the learning environment. Regularity of attendance is necessary, whether in an online course or in an on-campus course, for students to derive maximum benefit from a course and to maintain a satisfactory academic record.

Students should confer with their instructors before anticipated absences or immediately after unavoidable absences. Assigned work must be made up at the discretion of the instructor. Students absent from classes due to participation in university-sponsored groups may make up tests, quizzes, and other missed assignments in a reasonable time without grade penalty.

Ultimately, each student bears the responsibility to be aware of, and to comply with, attendance and punctuality requirements. However, the recording and reporting of student attendance in a course offered in a traditional format, such as a course meeting in a classroom on campus, are not the same for an online course.

Students registered in an on campus course are expected to be in regular attendance beginning with the first scheduled class session. Faculty members report to the Registrar students registered for a course but who do not attend any classes before the end of the Late Registration (Drop/Add) period, as "No Show" students. A faculty member may reinstate a student, reported as a "No Show" in his or her course, who attends class on or before the Census Date.

Students who do not attend at least one class in a course on or before the Census Date forfeit their registration in the course. Their reinstatement will be made only under the most unusual circumstances. Procedurally students must petition in writing, using the General Petition form available at the Registrar’s Office, for reinstatement. The petition shall include a detailed explanation for the nonattendance and provide evidence of illness or other valid reasons for the absences attached thereto. Reinstatement requires the recommendation of their instructor and consent of the department chair.

Students who miss twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the total possible time for a course, before the "Last day to withdraw from a course" as set forth in the Academic Calendar, will receive a grade of "W" for it. After that date, the grade will be a "WF" and counted in a student’s GPA.

Faculty members are responsible for administering the attendance rules for their respective courses, for excusing absences, for determining how missed work should be made up, and for assessing grade penalties. An instructor may drop a student from a course whenever the instructor concludes that a student’s class attendance or punctuality endangers the student’s success or places other students at risk.

Each instructional department may have an attendance policy for that department that allows for tardiness and fewer absences if the department faculty so determine. It is the responsibility of department faculty to ensure that students are made aware of the minimum attendance regulations for courses offered in that department. In any event, faculty members should state the specific attendance requirements for their course in their plan or syllabus and provide that information in writing to students at the beginning of the semester.

Students registered in an online course must complete at least one assignment in the course before the end of the late registration period. To complete this assignment, students should go to E-Learning Login. Then enter their Login name and Password and select the Log On button. When the Study Plan screen appears select the course and click on view. Then follow the instructions for the first lesson of the course (normally students will be asked to complete an Icebreaker Assignment).

Faculty members report to the Registrar students registered for a course but who do not complete this assignment before the end of the Late Registration (Drop/Add) period, as "No Show" students. A faculty member may reinstate a student, reported as a "No Show" in his or her course, who attends class on or before the Census Date.

All students, however, must complete and submit to their instructor one written assignment as posted on the Distance Learning announcement page on or before the Census Date for an online course. Students who fail to complete this assignment on or before the Census Date forfeit their registration in the online course. As in the case of a traditional course, their reinstatement will be made only under the most unusual circumstances. Procedurally students must petition in writing, using the General Petition form, for reinstatement. The petition shall include a detailed explanation for the nonattendance and provide evidence of illness or other valid reasons for the absences attached thereto. Reinstatement requires the recommendation of their instructor and consent of the department chair.

Students who fall behind in an online course and have not completed twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the total assignments and other required activities for a course, on or before "Last day to withdraw from a course" as set forth in the Academic Calendar, will receive a grade of "W" for it. After that date, the grade will be a "WF" and counted in a student’s GPA.

Students enrolled in a telecourse, blended course (a combination of an online and a traditional course), practicum, internship, or any other curriculum course, are to regularly participate. Refer to the instructor of the course and the course syllabus for specific details. In any event, the "No Show" rules and the 10% census date rules apply for all courses offered by the College, although they have to be made to fit the circumstances of the specific course.

Students are expected to attend all classes punctually. If late for class, a student is expected to give an explanation of the tardiness to the faculty member.