Remember the rules state that if they miss "more than" 10 consecutive days or "more than" 20% of the total program hours. You are right, the make up hours must be made before they exceed the 20% rule.
Frank Hammack
at my campus, we must terminate if they have missed 10 consecutive days. Our studnets can do make up work. It is my understanding the education dept tries to do make up work with our students as much as they can (and within guidlines). We keep a close eye on attedance and double check it often to ensure accuracy.
Hi Bobbi,
A school is allowed to have a stricter policy than CSC rules as long as it is published in your attendance policy. The CSC policy states that a student cannot miss more than 10 consecutive days. If they show up on time on day 11, they would be able to remain in school as long as they have not exceeded 20% of the program hours. Make Up work is not a problem, however if you are making up time, you must have the policy approved by CSC before implementing.
Gerald Parr
1. When a student misses more than 20% of the program that is in excess of 200 clock hours. 2.When the student misses 25% or more of a course of 200 clock hours. 3. When 10 consecutive days are missed. Those who do not return from an LOA on the date noted as their return date they must also be terminated.
Misty,
Your answer is correct with one correction. Item number 2 should read When a the student misses 25% or more of a course of 41 to 200 clock hours in length.
Gerald Parr
A school must terminate a student if they miss 10 consecutive school days, violate the max time frame of 150% of their total clock hours, or violate their max LOA.
Gabriel,
You make some good points about the termination of enrollment in relationship to attendance. The rule does state in 807.243(a) that a school shall terminate the enrollment of a sudent who accumulates the lesser of (1) "more" than 10 consecutive school days; (2) "more" than 20% of the total course time hours in a program with course time of more than 200 hours; (5) any number of days if the student fails to return as scheduled from an approved leave of absence.
Gerald Parr
A school must terminate a student who accumulates the lesser of the following amounts of abesences more than 10 consective days, more than 25% of a course of 200 clock hours or less, more than 20% of a course in excess of 200 clock hours. Also, they must be terminated if they do not return from an approved LOA.
So after the student returns on the 11th day does the count begin again?
Valentin,
Technically, if the student returns at the beginning of class on the 11th day, you would not have to drop them per the TWC CSC policy; and yes, the count starts again if the student is absent later (unless your policy is stricter than TWC CSC). If the student is late on the 11th day, they have violated the policy by "exceeding" 10 consecutive days of absence and therefore must be terminated. Students who do this or otherwise accumulate high absences also risk being dropped for exceeding 20% of the program hours, again - per the TWC CSC policies. These students should be advised (and the school should document such) of the consequences of repeated absences.
JP Mehlmann
Our attendance policy mirrors TWC policy. We added a second control which prevents diploma students from making up hours until they reach 15% absent rate. This prevents students from missing and then making up hours and graduating with prefect attendance.
Miguel,
Yes - the TWC CSC policy allows up to 20% absence prior to termination. Any make up policy must also be approved by the TWC.
Thanks,
JP Mehlmann
If the student has exceeded 205 absences overall for their program. They are allowed to make up hours prior to reaching their termination percentage.
Kristina,
As long as your attendance policy follows the TWC policy and, your makeup policy is approved, then you should be in compliance.
JP Mehlmann
In our campus,
If a student has more than 10 consecutive days missed
If the sudent misses more than 20 %of the course
If the student does not return from an approved LOA
Of course before the student is dropped, we do take extra measures to prevent this from happening.
Cecilia,
Yes - prevention is the best solution to reducing attrition. If you have a make up policy, such policy must be TWC CSC approved.
JP Mehlmann
It would seem that the instructor then has the moral obligation to drop the student if they are late on the 11th day. Is "late" subject to interpretaton as not all classroom policies regarding tardiness are not equal; at least at my school. What if the class at some point had a substitute instructor and mis-marked someone who was in class but was counted as absent? What recourse would that student have and who would be liable for the burden of proof; the student or instructor?
Ronald,
Students sometimes show up on the 11th day, (or the 10th day to avoid being dropped). The school has a LEGAL obligation to drop the student if they are late on the 11th consecutive day. The rules are specific on this. The situation of mis-marking attendance is the exception rather than the norm. The school's attendance records, whether manual or computerized are subject to review and must be accurate. The burden of proof does not rise to the level of a court proceeding - if the student says he/she was present and the records show absent, then they were absent. If a mistake is made and caught quickly, the school must document any action taken to remedy the situation. Students should be well aware of the attendance policies from receipt of the catalog, orientation, and other communications. Dropped students who dispute the attendance records are free to follow the school's grievance policy. I suggest they attempt to re-enter classes at the next start date or as soon thereafter as possible. Attendance monitoring should be the responsiblility of a registrar or administrative person, in addition to the Dean of Education (i.e. NOT someone whose job performance is evaluated on retention). It is black and white and must be done correctly since this is a very critical area of compliance.
JP Mehlmann
Having reached out to several different campuses with regard to 5% makeup policy, it appears there are multiple attendance practices in place. It is my understanding that a 'make-up' is to be the exact length of class time that was missed with the same objectives covered. Am I missing something?
Angie ,
The TWC is particular that the number of contact hours in the program are delivered. If the student does not attend the full make-up period, they would receive attendance credit for time attended. I agree that the same objectives should be covered in the make-up as in the class time that was missed although I don't see that this is in the rules. The TWC, School Director Resource Guide states: "A school may elect to have a make-up policy. Schools must submit make-up policies to TWC for approval before they implement the policies and publish them in the school catalog. If the school elects to have a make-up policy:
• A student may make up no more than 5% of the total clock hours of a program.
• The student must make up the hours before he or she violates the attendance requirements.
JP Mehlmann
