Department Policies

Attendance Policy

Students and instructors promote the College core values of respect and responsibility when they attend the full class period and are actively engaging in all of the class activities. Arriving to class late, leaving class early, slipping in and out for personal business, etc., are all disruptive to the learning environment not only for the individual, but also for the entire class. Thus it is expected that students attend on time and stay for the entire class period. It is important to recognize many division classes meet in excess of one hour per day. Thus, a day's absence may result in more than one hour of absence from a scheduled course.

Attendance Policy WTCC Student Handbook: Absences from class are a serious deterrent to good scholarship. The College, therefore, stresses regular class attendance, but recognizes that students should have an opportunity to develop personal responsibility and should have some discretion in attendance to meet the demands imposed by other responsibilities. Students anticipating absences should notify their instructor in advance. If prior notification is not possible, the student should contact the instructor immediately upon returning to the College to determine the next course of action.

Students are expected to be in attendance at least 90 percent of all scheduled class hours. In the event that a student's absences in a class exceed 10 percent and the absences are not justified to the satisfaction of the instructor, the instructor will submit Student Course Withdrawal Form to the Financial Aid Office or to the email drop box designated for withdrawals to document the last date of attendance. An absence is defined as missing one-third or more of any regularly schedule class meeting.

Students are also expected to arrive to class on time and stay for the entire class period; arriving late or leaving early disrupts the learning environment. Because even the most conscientious students occasionally experience extenuating circumstances, classroom doors will not be locked to enforce this policy, although doors may be locked for security or pedagogical reasons. Doors will be opened for tardy students. A pattern of tardiness and/or early departure will have consequences. Tardies and early departures will be considered part of students' attendance violations. Tardies and early departures not justified to the satisfaction of the instructor will be equated to absences at a rate of one absence per two tardies and/or early departures. Students should see course syllabi or other course documentation for specific details.

Student Course Withdrawals received for students with a last day of attendance prior to or on the 60-percent point of the term will result in a grade of "W."

Student Course Withdrawals received for students with a last day of attendance after the 60-percent point of the term will result in a grade of "WF" or "WP" as indicated by the faculty. A grade of "WF" indicates that the student was failing at the time of withdrawal and will count the same as an "F" grade in the grade-point average calculation. A grade of "WP" indicates that the student was passing at the time of withdrawal and will count the same as a "W" grade in the grade-point average calculation.
RefID#1602_Attendance Policy_9-Students

Accommodating absences due to religious observances WTCC Student Handbook: Wake Tech recognizes its legal and ethical responsibilities to accommodate students who must miss classes to participate in religious observances. North Carolina law requires that students be permitted at least two excused absences per year for these purposes. Wake Tech students are allowed two class days of excused absences per academic year for religious observances.

It is the student's responsibility to contact the instructor for each course in which work will be missed. The student must provide written notification to the instructor within the first two weeks of the semester, identifying the religious observance and date of the planned absence.

Faculty members must provide a suitable accommodation for affected students. Specific accommodations may vary, depending on course content, mode of instruction, and size of class.

Examples of suitable accommodations include but are not limited to:

• Establishing a class policy allowing all students to drop one exam or assignment grade;
• Providing an opportunity for a makeup exam or equivalent assignment;
• Allowing extra-credit assignments to substitute for missed class work; and
• Other reasonable accommodations determined by the course instructor.

Students are responsible for missed class content. Students must request and should be provided with any instructional materials given out during their absence. RefID#1612_Religious Absences_1-Curriculum Education