Students are expected to attend all class sessions of the courses in which they are enrolled. Each instructor may set his or her own policy relative to attendance as it pertains to being permitted to continue in the course and grade received. Absences reduce the value of the learning experience and also reduce the probability of passing the course successfully. Failure to attend class does not constitute an official withdrawal. The responsibility for withdrawal prior to the published withdrawal deadline always lies with the students. Students are financially responsible for costs associated with classes that they have withdrawn from after the published Add/Drop date. (Student Handbook pg. 3)

North Central Missouri College does not have a standard, college-wide attendance policy.  However, each NCMC instructor is required to have an attendance policy for each course taught.  Each instructor’s attendance policy is stated in the syllabus and is unique to his/her course. The policy should be read and understood by the student prior to enrolling into a course. NCMC strongly encourages students to attend classes on a regular basis as registration for any NCMC course presupposes that the student will attend all scheduled classes, laboratories, and clinicals. Research indicates successful college students attend class regularly. Most failures, dropped courses and poor grades result from poor attendance. NCMC has designed a schedule of classes for each course that meets the Carnegie unit definition of class time necessary for students to complete the course. Class time at NCMC also contributes to academic success and provides the student with the experience of understanding the attendance expectations of a career. In all cases students should notify their instructor on all absences. Instructors will make every effort to work with reasonable advance notices of absences due to college events and/or emergencies. It is, however, ultimately the student’s responsibility to make arrangements for missed assignments, tests, lectures, deadlines and other academic activities associated with the lack of attendance.

The college strongly encourages class attendance in class for the following reasons:

1. There is a strong correlation between attending classes and academic success.
2. Material is presented in class that is not in the textbook.
3. Class time has been assigned to each student and that is their time to receive instructor assistance, which is important to the successful completion of the course requirements.
4. Extensive learning takes place between faculty and students during class time. This time is also a chance for students to think critically, question and clarify ideas and information.