Attendance

Being a successful student begins with attending class regularly. You play an important role to keep the classroom a vibrant and interesting learning environment. Coming to class should be your first priority if you want to improve your reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. Instructors take attendance during every class and the Center for International Education monitors attendance weekly. Absences are only allowed in the case of a documented medical or family emergency.

Students with F-1/J-1 visas must be full-time (18 hours or more) and attend regularly in order to remain in status with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Failure to meet the guidelines of the Intensive English Language Program attendance policy may lead to the withholding of a student’s certificate of completion, being placed on attendance probation, or being dismissed from the program which would terminate a student’s F-1/J-1 visa status.

Part-time students are subject to the same attendance policy and should attend class regularly. Part-time students who have excessive absences will be dealt with on an individual basis by the Center for International Education office.

Attendance Tracking Policy

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

It is the student’s responsibility to count their own absences and obtain medical excuses that can be reviewed on a case by case basis. When students are absent, they are encouraged to email their instructors. It is polite to inform instructors so that they can let students know what assignments they missed. Students are responsible for all class work, quizzes, and exams that occur during their absence.

CLASSROOM POLICIES

Each instructor in the Intensive English Language Program will have his/her own classroom policies outlined in the class syllabus. If a student violates these classroom policies, he/she may be asked to leave class and will be considered absent for the entire duration of the class.

Students will not be marked absent if:

  • Class is canceled;
  • SSU is closed;
  • They are required to attend a meeting at a SSU department or take an exam, but only IF they notify their teachers of their absence before the meeting; or
  • They are observing a religious holiday, but only IF they notify their teachers of their absence BEFORE the holiday.

TARDY POLICY

Students must come to class on time. Students who do not come on time are tardy. Students who arrive more than 20 minutes late or leave class more than 20 minutes early will be marked tardy. Being tardy two times equals ½ an absence. Being tardy 4 times equals 1 absence.

ATTENDANCE POLICY DETAILS

ATTENDANCE PROBATION

A student must attend at least 80% of each class to be eligible to study in the Intensive English Language Program. Attendance starts the first day of scheduled class.

When a student misses:

10% of any one class (see chart above), a Reminder Email will be sent to the student and the sponsoring agency.

20% of any one class (see chart above), a Warning Email will be sent to the student, the class instructor(s), and the International Student Advisor.

More than 20% (see chart above) of any one class and overall program attendance exceeds 54 hours (21 hours during summer sessions), the student will be placed on Attendance Probation for the remaining term and no more than one additional term. An e-mail will be sent to the student, the class instructor, immigration advisors, and the sponsoring agency informing them that the student has been placed on attendance probation. The student must meet with the Director to review enrollment requirements and consequences of attendance probation and create and sign an action plan that lists steps to improve one’s attendance.

ATTENDANCE DISMISSAL

If a student has poor attendance during any two terms in the Intensive English Language Program, the student will be dismissed. Dismissal from the Intensive English Language Program is a serious immigration matter and can result in the termination of a student’s I-20.

If a student is on his/her second term of Attendance Probation, the student will be dismissed from the program immediately after missing more than 20% of any one class. If a student is dismissed, the student shall complete the rest of the term, but will leave the program at the end of the term.

Dismissed students must transfer to another school or return to their country. Dismissed students who want to return to the Intensive English Language Program may request reinstatement after an absence of one semester.

APPEAL PROCESS

Under special circumstances, students can appeal their probation or dismissal. To appeal, a student must do the following:

  • Submit a formal letter to the Director of the Intensive English Language Program within 14 days of being notified of the dismissal. In the letter, answer the following questions:
  1. Why do you believe you should not have been dismissed?
  2. If you were reinstated to the Intensive English Language Program, what steps would you take to improve your academic standing and/or attendance?
  3. Provide any relevant documentation.

The Directors of the Center for International Education office will make a decision and notify the student in a timely manner. If a student is reinstated, he/she will be placed on a Third Term of Academic Probation. If the student does not receive a passing grade and/or continues to have attendance issues, he/she will be dismissed from the program without further appeal.