EDUWEB College Student Attendance Policy

Purpose

EDUWEB College recognizes the important correlation between regular student attendance to successful academic achievement. Any missed classes or activities, regardless of the cause, significantly reduces the opportunity for student learning and may adversely impact their goals. Students need to be in their classes to benefit from the instructor’s guidance and from interaction. Excessive absences can negatively affect the class culture and can lead to incomplete and unsatisfactory work and lower course grades. It may also reduce the student’s capacity to meet curricular standards. As such, the College is adamant on student attendance and student attendance-roll taking. 

EDUWEB College offers blended courses.  This is a mix of live, instructor-led and pre-recorded lessons.  Students can attend in-person or remotely using online conferencing software. This policy sets forth the details related to student attendance in regards to these options. 

Scope

This policy applies to all EDUWEB College students, parents, guardians, and College staff.

Aim

The aim of this policy is to promote and foster an environment that encourages students to attend their classes and participate fully in the life of the College and to put in place strategies and programmes that may help promote continued attendance.

Policy

• Students are required to attend all classes and their teachers are required to record attendance at the beginning of each class using the ‘ATTENDANCE REGISTER’. 
• Students are allowed a maximum of three consecutive missed classes per course semester, after which they must provide a justifiable reason supported by documentation (via email) why the classes were missed.
• Students are responsible for informing their instructor or the College if they are unable to attend a class or unable to continue in a course. This can be done by- Email, WhatsApp message or Telephone Call.
  
• Some courses have standardized deadlines for submissions. They may also require instructional methods and participation for completion by the College or the external examining body. Student non- attendance may impact and affect the completion of assignments/ exams etc. 
• Attendance register will be checked weekly by the Programme Manager.

All students of EDUWEB College must establish a record of participation in academically related activities in order to comply with the College and course requirement. Academically related activities include, but are not limited to: 

• Attending a class where there is an opportunity for direct interaction between the instructor and students
• Submitting academic assignments / reports on time 
• Completing assessments
• Taking examinations
• Participating in group projects
• Participating in discussion forums

• Participating in interactive tutorials 
• Initiating contact with staff members/ lecturers

Extenuating Circumstances

Students are expected to attend all classes for which they are enrolled. The College understands that there may be instances whereby unforeseen circumstances do arise which may result in the student being excused. Students are required to inform the College immediately (as long as they’re in a capacity to do so). Under extenuating circumstances, the College may consider the circumstance presented and consider an extension or additional substantive academic support to assist the student until the circumstance is resolved. 

Students are responsible for requesting any missed assignments and or class work during their absence. If absences jeopardize progress in a course, the student’s instructor should immediately inform the Course Programme Manager. The Course Programme Manager will proceed to contact the student and initiate conversations on the student’s course progression. 

The instructor and programme manager are the individuals who review student performance standards, and evaluate their achievement to determine how student absences are accommodated. Students should take both their education and participation in activities seriously. 

Students must be notified by college staff if the instructor is unable to attend any regularly scheduled class period. In the event that the instructor does not arrive at the appointed class time or within 15 minutes after the class regularly begins then students will be excused from the class in accordance to the ‘Check In-Check Out Attendance’ (see below).

 Excused Absences

There are a number of reasons that students can be excused from their classes. These excuses may have little to no impact on their overall grade as it is can be facilitated in moderation. 

Reasons for excused absences are:

• Birth or adoption of a student’s child.
• Court summons or jury duty that cannot be postponed.
• Death in the close and immediate family.
• Funeral.
• Major Road accident
• Illness or medical needs of a child/ close loved one for whom the student is a primary caretaker.
• Observance of high religious days or due to strict religious beliefs.
• Major Road Works (Impassible)
• Required military service.
• Serious illness in the close and immediate family.
• Wedding day of student or immediate family member. 
• Personal illness (see below for details*).
• Job Interview
• Other (case by case basis)

*Personal Illness

Students are encouraged to stay home from class when they are not feeling well. Personal illness absences are designed to excuse a student from class in these instances and include absences due to:

• Isolated illness- COVID or viral infection etc.
• Symptom of illness causing a student to stay home in order to keep others healthy.
• Health emergencies.
• Appointments with health care providers that could not be scheduled at another time

(Students with absences exceeding three consecutive classes will be required to provide General Practitioner documentation regarding the extra time needed for recovery.)

Unexcused Absences

Unexcused Absences occur when a student is unable to be physically present in the classroom for a reason other than an Excused Absence reason listed above.

 Reasons for Unexcused Absences include:

• Welcoming a visitor
• Shopping trip
• Leaving home late
• Traffic
• Forgot class times
• Oversleeping
• Vacation
• Home duties

Consecutive and Prolonged Absences

A maximum of three consecutive days of excused or unexcused class absences may require action:

• If a student is absent for two or more days due to an emergency, medical condition or a disability, they should immediately notify their course programme manager or the College administrative office. (eduweb.*coursename*@gmail.com e.g. eduweb.iqm@gmail.com)
• If a student has two or more absences that are unrelated to an emergency, medical condition or a disability, student should also immediately notify their course programme manager or the College administrative office.
• It is important to note that in some cases students may be asked to provide documentation (such as General Practitioner note) to support their need to miss consecutive classes. This requirement may be needed by both the local and the external examining and or qualification body.

Check In-Check Out Attendance

The following addresses attendance for the College’s face-to-face classes:

• Students must check in at the College Security desk upon arrival and sign the ‘ENTRY LOG’ Book.  A photo identification is required upon the first day of class.
• Students must check in at the College Administration Office after leaving the College Security desk and sign the ‘ATTENDANCE REGISTER’. A photo identification is required upon the first day of class.
• Students under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. A photo identification of the parent/ guardian is required, and must be shown upon check-in and check-out at the College Security desk and College Administration Office.
• Students under the age of 18 are not allowed to leave the College compound at any time without their parent/ guardian.