Attendance

Students’ full attendance and participation in class supports the quality of the educational experience for all class participants, particularly in courses that incorporate group work and peer critique. Attendance and participation in class therefore will be important factors of your grade. Students are expected to attend all enrolled classes regularly and be on time, remaining for the duration of the class period. ArtCenter does not permit students to audit classes (students may not sit in or visit a class in which they are not enrolled, including field trips). A student who is absent due to serious or ongoing medical or personal issues should contact the Center for Student Experience (CSE) as soon as possible for additional advisement in addition to informing their instructor and department representative (chair, director or coordinator).

Students should refer to each class syllabus for specific expectations about attendance, participation, communication with the instructor(s), etc. Please note that for some courses attendance is mandatory, and in these cases missing one class period, including the first class period, may result in a failing grade.

Excused Absences

An absence may be excused by an instructor if there is a medical reason, family emergency or extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control. Note that excused absences are always at the discretion of the instructor(s). Students are advised to contact their instructors as soon as possible (or in advance of missing a class, if possible), using the instructor’s preferred method of communication, as a professional courtesy to explain why they have missed or will miss a class. Students who are absent are required to discuss missed content with their instructor as soon as possible. Excused absences do not automatically change any class or college-related requirements or deadlines.

Unexcused Absences

Any absence that is not excused is considered an unexcused absence. Students who are absent are required to discuss missed content with their instructor as soon as possible. If students accumulate unexcused absences, it may culminate in a failing grade at the discretion of the instructor:

• For full-semester (14 week) courses that meet once per week, 3 or more unexcused absences may result in a failing grade of “N” (“Non-Attendance”) for failure due to lack of attendance.
• For full-semester (14 week) courses that meet twice per week, 4 or more unexcused absences may result in a failing grade of “N” (“Non-Attendance”) for failure due to lack of attendance.
• For courses meeting less than the full (14 week) semester, unexcused absences totaling 20% or more of the course may result in a failing grade of “N” (“Non-Attendance”) for failure due to lack of attendance.

Students who stop attending courses will NOT be automatically dropped. In order to drop a course, a student must either drop the course during the Week 1 add/drop period or file to withdraw from the course before the Week 9 deadline. For further information, see the “Add/Drop and Course Withdrawal Policy.”

Being on Time and Staying in Class

Showing up to class at the scheduled start time of the course and remaining for the duration of the class period is important to the educational quality of students’ learning. If a student arrives late or leaves early without the instructor’s permission on more than 3 occasions in a course, the pattern of behavior may constitute unexcused absences at the discretion of the instructor.

• Please note that federal financial aid satisfactory academic progress regulations require successful completion of at least 67% of all units attempted. For further information, please contact the Financial Aid Office.
• For further information about dropping courses and add/drop deadlines, please contact the Enrollment Services Office.
• Please refer to the Add/Drop and Course Withdrawal policies and procedures.