i. Rationale for Attendance Policies
Studio art and design courses provide significant opportunities to complete coursework during class meetings, with the guidance and support of the faculty. Each class meeting can build on the experience of the one before it. The fundamental instruction for art and design courses relies on student participation as an essential method for learning. If a student misses too many classes, he or she may miss a significant portion of any hands-on experience, as well as the skills and techniques taught that will be necessary in future courses. It is crucial to recognize that even if excused, absences can negatively impact a student’s academic performance because they will miss out on key benefits, such as full classroom interaction and the opportunity to ask questions while the material is being presented. Student contributions during class time constitute a significant component of the learning process. Students should not miss a class to do homework or study for another class. Some students mistakenly think this is prioritizing; in reality, it is poor time management.
ii. Overall Attendance Policy That Applies Irrespective of Major, Department, or Faculty of Record
Regular attendance in all classes is required. Students are expected to arrive on time and remain in class for the entire period scheduled. The responsibility for work missed due to any type of absence rests with the student. Tardiness, early departure or other time away from class in excess of 15 minutes per class session may be considered absence for that class session. Classes missed due to late registration are counted in the general absences permitted for the class.
In most cases, more than two absences in a course that meets once per week, or more than four absences in a course that meets twice per week will result in a grade of F. Regardless of meeting schedules, students who miss more than 13.3% of a course will fail the course, barring exceptional circumstances.
Excused absences
If a student is unable to attend class due to routine illness, the student must visit the student health center, urgent care, or an approved online medical care provider. The student should contact their academic advisor and provide the appropriate documentation from the student health center, or other clinical professional. The academic advisor will communicate any approved absence to the relevant faculty of record. For more information about excused absences from the student health center, please see the medical absence policy on the Health Services website.
Exceptional Circumstances
Documented exceptional circumstances include but are not limited to: death in the family, serious medical conditions, hospitalization, observance of religious holidays, reasonable disability accommodations, and other special/unforeseen circumstances beyond the student’s control. Numerous absences due to any reason, including exceptional circumstances, may warrant course withdrawal or failure.
Documentation must be submitted to Academic Advising within two weeks of the absence to be considered for excusing. Exceptional circumstances are determined on a case-by-case basis in an interactive process with the student, faculty of record, Department Head, Program Director, or other Ringling College professionals, as needed, often in consultation with the Fundamental Alterations to Curriculum Committee. Known circumstances, such as religious holidays, should be discussed with the faculty of record in advance of the absence. Absences that are deemed exceptional will not affect the final grade. Students with questions about exceptional circumstances should consult their academic advisor for instructions for consideration by the Fundamental Alterations to Curriculum Committee.
For courses being delivered online via Zoom, students are required to always have their video camera on and their audio on when appropriate. As expected, when attending a course in person, students must be engaged, showing their entire face, and actively participating as appropriate during the scheduled class time. Students may wish to utilize an appropriate virtual background.
iii. Attendance Policy Determined by Faculty of Record
At the determination of the Faculty of Record, other absences can carry a grade penalty on the final grade percentage up to:
1. For courses that meet twice a week:
- Two absences may drop a final course grade 5%.
- Three absences may drop a final course grade up to 10%.
- Four absences may drop a final course grade up to 15%.
- Five or more absences will result in a failing grade.
2. For courses that meet once a week:
- Two absences may drop a final course grade up to 10%.
- Three or more absences will result in a failing grade.
Again, students with exceptional circumstances should consult their academic advisor for instructions for consideration by the Fundamental Alterations to Curriculum Committee.
Ringling College will make every effort to reasonably accommodate students' disability-related academic needs. However, neither the college nor an individual faculty member is required to waive essential or fundamental academic requirements of a course, regardless of the nature of a student’s disability.
The complete policy is posted to the Ringling website http://www.ringling.edu/policies-and-procedures/