/Institutions/Donnelly-College/json/2025-2026/Student-Handbook-local.json

/Institutions/Donnelly-College/json/2025-2026/Student-Handbook.json

Class Attendance

Attendance is one of the most important predictors of college success. Data suggests that those who arrive on time for class have a high academic career success rate. By the act of enrollment: a. The student is responsible for all coursework. b. The student is expected to regularly and punctually attend all classes, laboratories, and any other academic meetings required by the College. 

Note: Courses delivered in part or fully online have special requirements. Consult the department and/or the instructor for details.

An absence is defined as non-attendance for any reason, whether illness, emergency, or official leave. You are expected to be in the classroom and prepared for the class at the start of class. All classes start on time; if you  are not there at the start of class, you are late. Students will not be allowed  in the class after 15 minutes of the start time. Three instances of tardiness  are equal to one absence. Students scheduled to represent Donnelly at a sponsored /sanctioned activity on the date of an exam must arrange with  the professor before the exam date to reschedule the test. 

The instructor will withdraw the student from a class when the student has missed 16 percent of the class meetings prior to the last withdrawal date,  as listed in the instructor’s course syllabus. This includes all classes  scheduled during the “drop/add” period at the beginning of the term, as  well as any classes missed due to late registration. 

The following examples show the number of absences for typical classes during the fall and spring semesters:

• Classes that meet two times per week – 5 absences
• Classes that meet one time per week – 3 absences

When the instructor’s records indicate that a student’s absences have reached 16 percent, the instructor will inform the Office of the Registrar using the appropriate form for withdrawal. This policy is for all students enrolled in the A.S., A.A., A.A.S. and the Bachelor’s in Business Leadership programs at Donnelly College. Academic areas (such as the Nursing programs, etc.) requiring accreditation from organizations/agencies have their own policies to comply with the standards demanded by those agencies. 

If a medical or personal emergency requires absence of more than one week, the student should consult with their instructors and advisor regarding the advisability of continuing in classes.