Attendance for didactic courses is tracked through the Course Key attendance tracking system.  It is the student’s responsibility to sign in at the beginning of class and to sign out at the end of class by scanning the QR code for the class date.  Students that leave class early must also sign out by scanning the Course Key QR code at the time they leave their course.

To change an entry for the attendance system, faculty must verify whether the student was present or not.  The student will need to complete a Request to Change Attendance Form and submit it in person to the faculty member for an authorization signature.  The student submits the signed form to the registrar.  If approved, the registrar will process the change in Course Key.  Changes to attendance need to be completed by the end of the next class period for the course in which the login or logout entry was missed.  Students that submit frequent requests for change in class attendance entries face disciplinary counseling for failing to comply with attendance tracking requirements.  Faculty will receive copies of student forms once changes have been completed by the registrar.   

The college does not have excused and unexcused absences.  Students are allowed absences totaling no more than 20% of the total contact hours for each course.  Illnesses and other circumstances should be covered by the 20% total allowable time to miss.  Each faculty member determines the penalty when a course is missed. 

Zooming for a course is only allowed for inclement weather when the college is closed.  Zoom may also be allowed for extended illnesses and must be authorized by the Associate Dean of Nursing or Faculty Chair.  Documentation may be requested depending on circumstances.  Some courses are not as adaptable to an online format and faculty have discretion to alter or modify the plan based on the individual course. 

Establishing Attendance Week One

Students must establish attendance in all courses (online, hybrid, and face-to-face) each quarter during the first week of class in order to determine financial aid eligibility.  While the attendance policy allows student absences totaling no more than 20% of the total contact hours for each course, students must attend the first course of each class (online, hybrid, and face-to-face) during week one of each quarter. 

If a student cannot be in attendance during the first class in a course to establish attendance, s/he must have a documented notice in writing to the College Registrar prior to the course beginning.  Even if a student notifies a faculty member, s/he must also notify the College Registrar in writing.  Funding for a student will not occur for a course until attendance has been established. 

For students who do not attend the first class of each course and establish attendance and no documented prior exception has been granted (i.e. Title IX related absence), then financial aid disbursements will not be made for that course and students will be dropped from the course during the add/drop period.

Online Learning Courses

Online Learning Courses are presented in weekly module units.  The weekly attendance period begins Mondays at 12:00 am and ends on Sundays at 11:59 am Mountain Standard Time (MST).  Absences must be reported and submitted at the end of every module to the Registrar. 

Beginning with the first course module, faculty are required to keep complete and accurate records of student attendance for all classes taught.  One module is equal to one week.  Students are allowed absences totaling no more than 20% of the total contact hours for each course.

Online courses will, at minimum, have weekly requirements for student participation.  Online attendance activity within the online (virtual) classroom, which usually includes but is not limited to, posting in a graded discussion forum, or submitting a written assignment.  Faculty must include at least one weekly participation requirement per module per course in order to track and define attendance.  Students should refer to individual course syllabi for specific attendance requirements.

Students who do not officially withdraw after the add/drop period or who are not automatically dropped at the end of the first week of the course are responsible for full tuition of the course regardless of their participation in the course.  Students who stop attending the course without appropriate notification to the College about withdrawing will receive a final grade of "W" for administrative withdraw for the course.  

Blended Learning Courses

Attendance is taken in every face-to-face class or weekly online module session. Faculty are required to keep complete and accurate records of student attendance for all classes taught. One blended learning (hybrid) experience or module is equal to one week. Students are allowed absences totaling no more than 20% of the total contact hours for each course.  Absences must be reported and submitted at the end of every face-to-face class or weekly online module session to the Registrar. Blended courses will, at minimum, have weekly requirements for student participation. Faculty must include at least one weekly participation requirement per module per course in order to track and define attendance within the different learning environments. Students should refer to individual course syllabi for specific attendance and tardiness requirements.

Web-Enhanced Courses

Attendance, defined as the student being physically present in the classroom, is taken in every web-enhanced (face-to-face) class session. Faculty are required to keep complete and accurate records of student attendance for all classes taught. Students are allowed absences totaling no more than 20% of the total contact hours for each course.  In the event of an absence or tardy, the ability to make up missed work will be in accordance with faculty syllabi requirements.  Minutes tardy and the amount of time missed for partial attendance will be recorded by faculty. Absences must be reported and submitted at the end of every class to the Registrar. Beginning with the first class period, faculty are required to keep complete and accurate records of student attendance for all classes taught. Absences must be reported and submitted at the end of every class and at the end of every quarter to the Registrar via Anthology and Canvas

Attendance Discipline for eCombination and eCompanion Classes

Step-by-Step Discipline (Warning/Probation/Temporary Suspension/Termination)

• Step One: The student is placed on attendance warning the subsequent quarter after a student fails to meet the attendance requirements; time period is one quarter.
• Step Two: The student is placed on attendance probation the subsequent quarter after a student fails to meet the attendance requirements and is already on attendance warning; time period is one quarter.
• Step Three: The student is placed on temporary suspension the subsequent quarter after a student fails to meet the attendance requirements and is already placed on attendance warning for one quarter and attendance probation for one quarter; time period is one quarter. After the student has been temporarily suspended for one quarter, he/she is eligible to return to Platt College. If a student continues to not meet the attendance requirements upon return, he/she will return to step one.
• Step Four: Termination is issued when a student is placed on temporary suspension and fails to return to the College after the temporary suspension time period elapses. After a student is terminated from the College, the student must reapply for entry.

If a student misses two consecutive weeks of all classes enrolled in at Platt during the quarter:

The Registrar will notify the financial aid and the appropriate administrator.  The student will be contacted by the Registrar.  An absence of two weeks’ worth of all courses during a single quarter will cause the student to be terminated from his/her enrollment at Platt College.  After a student is terminated from the College, the student must reapply for entry. Students placed on attendance warning, probation, temporary suspension, or termination will be notified by the Registrar via the approved method for official communications according to Policy 07:11:00 College Communication.

B. Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program Clinical Learning Experiences:

Clinical Experience Absence

Attendance for clinical orientation(s), and all clinical rotations, is mandatory.  Inability to attend required clinical orientation will result in a failure for the entire clinical course.  Students that are more than 10 minutes late to their clinical orientation, will be dismissed from the clinical learning environment, resulting in clinical course failure.  A failed clinical course will constitute a course failure and the student will be required to repeat the course in its entirety (didactic, laboratory, and clinical) to achieve a passing grade. Students that are more than 10 minutes late to their clinical rotation, will be dismissed from the clinical learning environment, resulting in a daily clinical failure.  Clinical start times will be designated by the clinical instructor and/or clinical site.  Students who receive a daily clinical failure will be charged to make up the missed clinical experience. A failed clinical day will result in a charge of $600 per clinical experience.

Students who receive one daily clinical failure will have the opportunity to remediate their failure with a make-up. However, if the student receives a second daily clinical failure within the same quarter, the student will receive a failing grade for the clinical component of the course, resulting in a failing grade for the course in its entirety. This is necessary because clinical evaluation and progress is dependent on the student attending the entire allotted clinical time. See Policy 02:06:00 Uniform Grading Policy.

A student may be excused from a clinical learning experience for the following two reasons:

• Acute illness (fever of 101°F or above, nausea and/or vomiting, diarrhea, or any other condition classified as contagious, such as conjunctivitis)
• Attendance at the funeral of an immediate family member

In the event of illness or an unusual circumstance, students are required to notify the clinical instructor, clinical placement coordinator, simulation lab coordinator (if applicable), and clinical agency (if applicable) of an absence or tardy at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the clinical day. Failure to notify the applicable individuals will result in a daily clinical failure, failing grade for the day, and a charge of $600 will be assessed to make up the missed clinical experience. Documentation from a medical provider stating the date and time you were seen must be provided to the CPC and/or SLC by fax or in person within 72 hours of the missed clinical experience. In the case of a funeral, the funeral program must be provided to the CPC and/or SLC within 72 hours of the missed clinical experience clinical.

If the student has an excused absence(s) totaling more than two (2) days of the assigned clinical or simulated clinical, the student will be removed from all components (didactic, laboratory, and practicum) of the nursing course, per Policy 02:24:00 Satisfactory Academic Progress, and retake the course components the next time the course is available. This is necessary because clinical evaluation and progress is dependent on the student attending the entire allotted clinical time. See Policy 02:06:00 Uniform Grading Policy.  Exceptions include documented active military orders, reviewed and approved title IX accommodations and/or documented required court service for students.

Clinical Experience Make-up 

Make-up hours are scheduled and assigned by the CPC and/or SLC.  Make-up hours are assigned when the earliest appropriate placement slot is available. This may mean that these hours extend into successive quarters of the program. The student will receive  the letter grade of F  on their transcript until the required clinical hours are successfully completed. The clinical hours must successfully be completed with a passing grade before progressing forward in nursing courses. Students may not take two clinical courses in the same quarter except for Quarter 11.

Please be advised that missing (excused or unexcused) clinicals could mean that graduation dates will be delayed until the required make-up clinical learning experience is successfully completed.

Returning to Clinical After Illness or Injury

Major illness, injury, surgery, communicable diseases, and pregnancy require a physician or mid-level provider's documented medical clearance using the Physical Exam Attestation form in the appendix of this policy.

In order to attend clinical, the student must attest to his/her ability to meet the Technical Standards with or without reasonable accommodation.

Students with casts, splints, or a condition that inhibits movement also need a physician or mid-level provider's clearance.  Individual clinical agencies may not allow the student to provide direct patient care in certain instances necessitating a course withdrawal. Students not meeting the physical and/or emotional requirements of agencies may request a leave of absence.

Students with a fever of 101°F or above, nausea and/or vomiting, diarrhea, or any other condition classified as contagious, such as conjunctivitis (pinkeye), may not attend clinical. The excused absence policy will apply and will require medical documentation.

Illnesses occurring at the College or clinical site may require transport by emergency medical services (EMS). Students are financially responsible for their own medical care, including emergency transportation from the College or clinical site.

Any behaviors that place a student, patient/client, or others at risk for injury because of failure to follow safety regulations, or that jeopardize the present and continued use of a clinical facility may result in dismissal from the program.

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