Attendance
Regular attendance and engagement
It is important that you attend all your timetabled classes and tutorials. There is a very strong correlation between the success of a student and their attendance. To put it simply, if you do not attend regularly, you are unlikely to succeed. To help ensure that you make full use of the learning opportunities that are available, the department monitors the attendance of students throughout the year by taking a register at each timetabled teaching session or personal tutorial.
Your tutors will also be providing you with material and tasks to engage with before and after taught sessions. Working through this in your own time is just as important for your success as attending classes, and is an integral part of teaching and learning on the Foundation Year.
University and departmental policy
The University has a formal system for recording attendance which we follow in our department. It is therefore imperative that if you are absent from a class you inform us as soon as possible, by emailing dll@sheffield.ac.uk . It is also appreciated if you let the module tutor know that you will not be able to attend.
If your attendance becomes a cause for concern you will be invited for a meeting with your Personal Tutor or the Student Support and Welfare Team to discuss any difficulties you are having. If you continue to miss classes, your progress will be reported to the Programme Director and where necessary, we may institute the University's Progress Concerns Process. Continued non-attendance could result in you being withdrawn from the programme. If you are having problems, we want to help, so it is really important that you let us know if you are having difficulties with attendance.
You should always attend punctually for taught sessions. Lateness will be recorded on the register and students may be refused entry to the classroom if the tutor feels it is inappropriate for them to join the session at a late stage. Students who regularly arrive late will be asked to meet with staff to discuss this. If you know you are going to be late, please let the tutor know in advance if possible.
Reporting Absence
We understand that you may occasionally need to miss a class. It is important that you manage this appropriately and take steps to catch up what you have missed. We cannot guarantee that staff will be able to provide additional support if you have missed a class, although they will always do their best to guide you on how to catch up in your own time. If you are unable to attend a session please contact DLL giving reasons by emailing dll@sheffield.ac.uk or by telephone to 0114 222 7000.
If you are absent for between 1 and 7 calendar days, because of a short illness or short term personal circumstances, you should complete the DLL Student Self-Certification Form . We will monitor patterns of self-certification and may ask to speak to you if you are submitting these forms regularly.
More details and direct link available on the DLL Student Hub in the section called ‘Attendance and Absence’.
For longer term illness or other personal circumstances, you should contact the Student Support and Welfare Officer, Maria Baldam at DLL for advice and support at the earliest opportunity – email dllstudentsupport@sheffield.ac.uk