Policy:

Federal regulations (34 CFR 668.22) require that when a recipient of Title IV grant or loan assistance withdraws during a payment period or period of enrollment in which the recipient began attendance, Clarkson College must determine the amount of Title IV grant or loan assistance that the student earned as of the student’s withdrawal date.

Procedure:

The school must demonstrate that the student has remained in academic attendance through a specified point in time. Clarkson College is classified as an institution that requires attendance to be taken throughout the semester. The last attendance date is the unofficial withdrawal date for federal funding. The Financial Aid and Scholarships Office will monitor the attendance of federal funding recipients weekly and notify the student via email after two (2) consecutive missed class periods. A return to Title IV fund calculation will be performed if the student does not return to class within five (5) business days (not including holidays or breaks). Any unearned federal aid must be returned to the Department of Education within forty-five (45) days after the last date of attendance.

Students must attend all classes (on-campus/online) in which they are enrolled and follow the attendance policies of individual programs as specified in the course syllabus. Each program determines specific attendance policies to ensure regular and substantive interaction between faculty and students. Students in skills laboratory courses, clinical courses, practicums, and internships must adhere to attendance protocols. Classes may be made up within the same semester at the discretion of the faculty. In those cases where a crisis (as identified by the course faculty) has occurred, all appropriate Clarkson College parties should be notified.

Per 34 CFR 668.22, the determination of the student’s last date of attendance must be based on an academically related activity, as documented by the school. The school must verify that the activity is academically related, and that the student attended it.

Academic attendance and attendance at an academically related activity include, but are not limited to:

• Physically attending a class where there is an opportunity for direct interaction between the instructor and students
• Submitting an academic assignment
• Taking an exam, an interactive tutorial, or computer-assisted instruction
• Attending a study group that the institution assigns
• Participating in an online discussion about academic matters
• Initiating contact with the course faculty to ask a question about the academic subject studied in the course.

Activities, where a student may be present but not academically engaged, include:

• Living in institutional housing
• Logging into an online class without active participation
• Participating in academic counseling or advisement

STUDENT ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES

1. Faculty are expected to inform students of Clarkson College attendance policies in writing in all their course syllabi.
2. Each faculty member must take daily/weekly attendance in all theory, lab, clinical, and online class sessions.
3. Faculty are expected to report attendance via MyCC weekly.
4. The Registrar’s Office will monitor attendance. After two (2) consecutive missed class periods for all registered classes, students will receive an email notification. The email will include specific classes missed and potential consequences. The student will be advised to contact the faculty member immediately to regain continuity of class requirements. Failure to do so may result in course failure, possible administrative withdrawal/dismissal from the program, and return of federal funds.
5. The Instructor, Program Director(s), Course Program Director, and Academic Advisor will be copied on the email sent by the Registrar's Office to the student.
6. The Registrar’s Office will communicate with the Department of Financial Aid and Scholarship any student out of compliance with the attendance policy. For students receiving federal funding, if the student does not return to class within five (5) business days (not including holidays or breaks) after missing two (2) consecutive class periods, an R2T4 calculation will be performed. Any unearned Title IV aid will be returned to the Department of Education within forty-five (45) days of the last date of attendance.
7. The Program Director or Academic Advisor will attempt to email or call the student after the class non-attendance notification is sent. If no communication is returned and there are concerns about the student's well-being, the Program Director or Academic Advisor may initiate a well-check on the student and will follow the SW-34 Missing Student policy. No academic information will be shared with the contact outside of FERPA guidelines.