Attendance Policy
Students are expected to attend all classes in which they are enrolled. Students are responsible for the subsequent completion of all work missed during an absence. Make-up work is not guaranteed. Any instruction missed and not subsequently completed will necessarily affect the grade of the student regardless of the reason for the absence. The manner in which make-up work is administered, if at all, is left to the professional discretion of the individual faculty member. Except for absences due to College sanctioned activities, it is at the instructor’s discretion to excuse or not excuse an absence.
An instructor may request the withdrawal of a student from a class when the total number of unexcused absences exceeds the equivalent of two weeks of class and lab meetings in a course; specifically, this equates to the following allowable unexcused absences:
| Sixteen-Week Semester |
Eleven-Week Semester |
| Ten from a class that meets five times a week |
Seven from a class that meets five times a week |
| Eight from a class that meets four times a week |
Six from a class that meets four times a week |
| Six from a class that meets three times a week |
Four from a class that meets three times a week |
| Four from a class that meets two times per week |
Three from a class that meets two times a week |
| Two from a class that meets one time per week |
One from a class that meets one time a week |
| Labs are counted as a class meeting |
| Eight-Week Semester |
Five and one-half-Week Semester |
| Five from a class that meets 5 times a week |
Four from a class that meets 5 times a week |
| Four from a class that meets 4 times a week |
Three from a class that meets 4 times a week |
| Three from a class that meets 3 times a week |
Two from a class that meets 3 times a week |
| Two from a class that meets 2 times per week |
One from a class that meets 2 times a week |
| One from a class that meets 1 time per week |
One from a class that meets 1 time a week |
Attendance counting begins on the first day the student is enrolled. When an instructor requests the withdrawal (drop) of a student from a course, a grade of W will be considered if the student has at the time of the request a course grade equivalent to the numeric average of sixty (60) or higher; otherwise, a grade of WF will be given.
Attendance policies and the calculation of unexcused absences apply to students enrolled in Internet courses who fail to make scheduled contact with the instructor and/or complete assignments as listed in the course outline. Students enrolled in Nursing, Surgical Technology, Basic Peace Officer Academy, Firefighter Academy, Emergency Medical Services, Health Information Technology, Pharmacy Technician, Medical Assisting, Dental Assisting, Culinary Arts/Hospitality and Cosmetology Programs must meet more stringent attendance regulations, as described in the respective program handbooks.
Students who are required to enroll in developmental courses must participate continuously in a developmental program until all Texas Success Initiative (TSI) requirements are satisfied. Students enrolled under TSI restrictions will be withdrawn from all Vernon College coursework if they exceed the allowed number of absences in a developmental course(s), are withdrawn from the course(s) and this was the only developmental work the student was participating in due to failure on the placement test.
Students who are absent from class for the observance of a religious holiday may take an examination or complete an assignment scheduled for that day within a reasonable time after the absence if, not later than the 15th day of the semester, the students notify the instructor(s) that they will be absent for a religious holiday (Sec. 51.911 Texas Education Code).