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Attendance

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance and consistent study are the two factors which contribute most to success in college work. College students are expected to attend all sessions of the classes in which they are enrolled. Failure to attend class can result in a lower grade or in being dismissed from a class.

Priority in a class is established at the time of class registration. Registering for and failing to attend the first class meeting will forfeit any priority in that class and students may be dropped from the class roster in order to accommodate other students wishing to register in the class.

If, in the opinion of the instructor, a student’s absences in a specific class would prevent the successful completion of the course requirements, the student may be dropped from the class. In the event of extenuating circumstances such as a verified illness, accident or conditions beyond your control, the instructor may allow the student to continue under special arrangement.

Withdrawal

Withdrawal from a course or courses shall be authorized through the last day of the 14th week of instruction (or 75 percent of a term, whichever is less). The academic record of a student who remains in a course beyond the time allowed by district policy must reflect a symbol as authorized other than a “W.” No notation (“W” or other) shall be made on the academic record of the student who withdraws during the first four weeks or 30 percent of a term, whichever is less.

Students may attempt a course a maximum of 3 times including withdrawals where a "W" symbol is recorded.

Students have the right to file a petition if they believe they either should or should not receive a “W” or wish to enroll in a course where they have exceeded the maximum number of “W”s due to extenuating circumstances. An academic Excused Withdrawal (EW) is allowed under Title 5 § 55024(c)(1) and can be granted for one of the following reasons.

1.  An extraordinary condition is defined in Title 5 § 58146 and includes an event that affects the entire population such as a fire, flood, earthquake, or pandemic, and may result in the college cancelling classes or in a student withdrawing from classes.

2. An extenuating circumstance is defined in Title 5 § 55045 and includes a student specific circumstance such as an accident, illness, or other circumstances beyond the control of the student.

Extenuating circumstances may include:

  • Medical emergency (including accident, serious illness, non-elective surgery for self or immediate family).

  • Personal emergency or hardship situation (such as loss of job or job transfer, family or child-care dependency crisis, and death of an immediate family member).

  • Incarcerated student who is released from custody or involuntarily transferred before the end of the term.

  • Immigration action against the student.

Academic Renewal

If a student receives a sub-standard grade (“D” or “F” or "FW") the student can petition to disregard this course for purposes of calculating GPA. (Title 5 Sections 55045 and 55046) Students may petition to have their academic record reviewed for academic renewal of substandard academic performance under the following conditions:

  • Students must have achieved a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 since the term in which the substandard grade(s) to be removed was/were earned. The courses used in this GPA calculation must be from an accredited institution and total at least 12 units; and

  • At least one regular semester must have passed since the completion of the coursework to be removed.

Up to 24 units of course work may be eliminated from consideration in the cumulative grade point average.

When academic renewal procedures permit previously recorded substandard coursework to be disregarded in the computation of a student’s grade point average, the student’s permanent academic record should contain an accurate record of all coursework to ensure a complete academic history. Academic renewal procedures may not conflict with the District’s obligation to retain and destroy records or with the instructor’s ability to determine a student’s final grade.

The Dean of Student Services or Academic Exceptions Committee designee must approve the Academic Renewal Petition.

Reversal of Academic Renewal actions may occur if the College finds there are documented extenuating circumstances. A petition must be submitted along with documentation supporting the extenuating circumstances to the Dean of Student Services for a final decision.

Student Petition Forms are available online.