Attendance Policy

Central Christian College of the Bible expects its students to be responsible members of a scholarly community. Regular participation in the classroom is a necessary part of this expectation. Moreover, the heart of Central's mission is to prepare leaders for the church. An essential component of that preparation is the development of a professional work ethic that includes dependability, timeliness, and initiative.

Consequently, each student is expected to attend all classes. Students who miss classes lose opportunities to participate in the learning environment. They also develop habits which will not be tolerated in the professional workplace.

Excessive absences not only affect a student's grade and education, they may also jeopardize his financial aid, since federal regulation requires that a student make satisfactory progress toward a degree in order to retain federal financial aid.

FAILURE OF COURSE FOR EXCESSIVE ABSENCES
A student may not miss over 20% of class meetings without failing the course. This limit applies to absences for any reason, whether by choice or out of the student's control. If 20% of the total class meetings have already been missed by the midterm grade report, the student will be dropped from the class and receive a grade of FW ("withdrawal failing"). If 20% are missed after the midterm, the student will automatically receive a final grade of failing. In the case of extenuating circumstances, a student may appeal his or her excessive absences to the VP of Academics. The appeal process includes a written request and documentation of absences for illness or other circumstances. The appeal must be approved by a majority of the faculty.

COLLEGE-RELATED ABSENCES
A student is excused from classes for "college-related" absences. Such absences result from participation in officially sponsored College activities (such as intercollegiate athletics, approved class field trips, outreach trips on behalf of the college). Any work missed for a "college-related" absence can be made up if coordinated with the professor.

PERSONAL ABSENCES
A student may miss class for "personal absences". Personal absences include those that result from sickness, personal or family emergencies, and ministry-related situations (i.e., weddings, funerals, etc.) Students may miss up to one week's worth of each class without grade penalty. Work may only be made up for a personal absence with the permission of the instructor. These absences do not have to be approved beforehand. However, a considerate student will inform the instructor in advance if an absence is planned. Each instructor may handle make-up work differently, following the policy listed in the syllabus. At the instructor's discretion, two absences may be counted for each session that a student misses immediately preceding or following a school holiday.

GRADE PENALTY FOR EXCESSIVE ABSENCES
A student may be penalized for excessive absences. If more than one week (but less than 20%) of class meetings is missed, the student's grade will be penalized according to the formula given in the syllabus. The penalty may be as much as 10% of the grade for the course, at the discretion of the instructor.

TARDINESS
A student late to class will be counted tardy. Each student is expected to be in the classroom and ready to learn when class begins. A student is considered tardy if he arrives to class after the bell rings or the roll has been taken. A student who misses more than half a class period will receive two tardies. Three tardies equal one personal absence.