Attendance Policy
Students are expected to regularly 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. It is the instructor’s discretion to excuse or not excuse an absence other than the following 3 exceptions:
- The student is absent due to Vernon College sanctioned activities or travel
- The student fails to attend classes or engage in other required activities because the student is called to required military service that is of a reasonably brief duration (Texas Education Code 51.9111).
- The student is absent from classes or other required activities, including examinations, for the observance of a religious holy day (Sec. 51.911 Texas Education Code).
A student whose absence is excused may not be penalized for that absence and shall be allowed to complete an assignment or take an examination from which the student is excused within a reasonable time after the absence. The maximum period a student may be absent without significantly interfering with the student’s ability to learn the course material, complete course assignments, and succeed academically during the applicable semester will be determined by the Vice President of Instructional Services.
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. Labs are counted as a class meeting.
| Sixteen-Week Semester |
Ten-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 |
December and May Mini-Terms
Two from a class that meets four times a week
Two from a class that meets three times a week
One from a class that meets two times a week
|
| Eight-Week Semester |
Five 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 online 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, Pharmacy Technician, Medical Assisting, Dental Assisting, Massage Therapy, Culinary Arts/Hospitality, Barber, 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 TSIA2 restrictions that exceed the allowed number of absences in a developmental course(s) will be withdrawn from the developmental course and any corequisite.