| MULTIMEDIA ARTS AND SCIENCES: ATTENDANCE POLICY The faculty of the Multimedia Arts and Sciences support a rigorous attendance policy in all classes. Consistent and prompt attendance develops responsible professional behavior and insures that students have access to the full range of experiences and information necessary to complete class assignments and acquire the skills and knowledge emphasized in a university education. Absences and Tardies Student absences during the semester are not expected to exceed the number of times the class meets in one week. (Example: For a class meeting thrice a week, absences should not exceed three for the semester. For a class meeting once a week, only one absence for the semester is acceptable.) Students failing to attend the first day of class may be dropped from the class by the instructor. Tardiness is defined as being ten minutes late for class, or departing from class before it has been formally dismissed by the instructor. Two tardies are counted as one absence. Students should be informed that the allotted absences are to accommodate routine illness, weddings, car trouble, etc. Doctor appointments, advisor conferences, trips to supply stores and labs, employment, etc., should not be scheduled to conflict with class. Using the allotted absences is considered average. Faculty cannot be placed in the position of determining which absences are excusable and which are not. All students are expected to attend class on a regular basis. Prolonged illness should be verified by a physician and may require the student to withdraw from class if he/she cannot complete work in a comprehensive and timely manner. Notification of Attendance Problem Students whose attendance matches the allotted number of absences may receive written and/or verbal warning. It is advised that students also maintain a record of their absences. An absence or tardy accrued following what is allowed may result in one or more of the following: - Additional warnings from the Instructor. - Removal from the class for attendance violations. (Before the official withdrawal deadline, and student's transcript will carry the word WITHDRAWAL.) - Reduction in the overall grade for the semester. (An unsatisfactory attendance may result in a failing grade.) Preparation for Class Students are to be prepared at the start of each class with assigned work and supplies. Students who do not participate in class critiques or individual discussions with faculty when scheduled to do so should not expect private critiques with faculty at a later date. Students who miss lectures and class discussions due to absences must obtain notes for the classes missed and assignments from a responsible classmate prior to the next class period. While faculty will be happy to clarify information for students who are confused, instructors cannot repeat lectures or elaborate on project descriptions on an individual basis. Students should make every attempt to obtain general information from classmates before discussing details with faculty. Evaluation Final grades are the result of three areas of evaluation: PROCESS, REALIZATION, and PROFESSIONALISM. While attendance and class preparation appear to relate most directly to PROFESSIONALISM (attendance, deadlines, verbal articulation, and participation), they also affect other areas of evaluation. Faculty members rely on classroom observation and discussion in evaluating a student's PROCESS. Students that attend class and are prepared for the scheduled activities/discussions, reveal valuable information about their performance that may not be evident in the portfolio. In the absence of such information, faculty must resort to an unsatisfactory rating in evaluating the student's process. The final evaluation of work (REALIZATION) involves more than totaling the grades on individual projects and/or determining that all assignments have been completed. Faculty members assess students' abilities in realizing concepts and controlling the visual and technical elements of communication throughout the semester. Improvement and the mastery of increasingly complex material are evaluated. Students that miss lectures, project explanations, and class discussions may be able to complete projects within deadlines but rarely demonstrate the understanding of students who attend regularly. Since faculty organize courses of study so that projects build one upon another, students who miss information or fail to understand early projects are at a disadvantage throughout the semester. It should be further noted that faculty are frequently called upon to recommend students for professional positions upon graduation and are contacted by potential employers as references. In such instances, reliability is always discussed. Students with a responsible record of attendance are likely to receive favorable recommendations. Student Commitment Having read the above attendance policy statement, you are now aware of the importance of responsible attendance and class preparation as well as the conditions which constitute acceptable behavior. Please click the link below, acknowledging that you fully understand the policy. click to sign electronically >> |