Dealing with Excessive Absences
1. Make sure students note the departmental policy regarding unexcused absences. It is delineated on the syllabus.
- If, without official excuse, a student misses eight (8) classes of a French course that meets five (5) times a week, the instructor is expected to report the student to the Chairman and the Dean for withdrawal from the course.
- If, without official excuse, a student misses six (6) classes of a French course that meets three (3) times a week, the instructor is expected to report the student to the Chairman and the Dean for withdrawal from the course.
- If, without official excuse, a student misses four (4) classes of a French course that meets two (2) times a week, the instructor is expected to report the student to the Chairman and the Dean for withdrawal from the course.
Please note that once a student misses [number] classes, departmental policy requires that the French instructor remove the student's name from the class roster. The student must then drop the course through ISIS before [date], the "drop" deadline for this semester.
Students who remain in the course and exceed the limit of acceptable absences after the drop date has passed, will have to obtain a WITHDRAWAL form from Garrett Hall, which the TA will sign. The student then files the form at Garrett Hall by [date], the withdrawal deadline. The course will stay on the student's record with the grade of "W". After the "withdrawal" deadline, a student may not withdraw but must remain in the class and receive the grade s/he has earned--usually an "F" if the case of excessive absences.
Absences will be excused for:
- personal illness (reported before or during the class period)
- death in the family; illness in the family which requires the student to return home
- observance of religious holidays (reported before the class period)
- participation in University sponsored varsity sports events (students must present this information in writing in the first few weeks of the semester).
- Students whose extenuating circumstances require special attendance accommodations in all courses should ask their Association Dean to provide this information to all of their instructors.
Note: Multiple absences, even if excused, may inevitably lower the student's grade since so much practice takes place in class.
Note: Students should treat absences from classes as they would any missed appointment or absence from a job. Contact (or have a friend contact) the instructor before or during class - not after the absence has occured.
Note: Tardiness will lower the participation grade.
2. After the first absence beyond what you consider tolerable (this depends upon how many days per week your course meets, whether the student has been in touch with you, etc.) speak to the student at the first opportunity. Make clear that you are , indeed, maintaining attendance records and that you have noted his/her absences and will permit no more absences without serious cause. Make a note of the date on which you spoke to the student.
3. After the third absence beyond a tolerable limit (second after you have spoken with the student) send the student a letter by regular mail or electronic mail (messenger mail can be very slow) and copy to the student's association dean and the Language Program Director. Keep a copy for your own files. Be sure to refer to the discussion you had with the student and mention the date of this discussion.
4. If this does not produce results, send the next letter to the student's dean and then get on with more important things. Send a copy of the letter to the Language Program Director and keep one for your files.
5. If the student indeed misses 8 [6/3] classes, get in touch with the student's dean or ask the Language Program Director to take over from there. You may not drop students from your class list after the last day to drop classes. Students who exceed the total number of allowed absences after the drop date may receive a "0" in participation or in the course. This decision should be handled case-by-case, in consultation with the student's association dean.
