By Kayla Pinnix
CCC Journalism Program
BLACKWOOD – Camden County College has an attendance policy and it affects every student on campus. Every year students fork over thousands of dollars in tuition, some in scholarships, others in grants, but mostly out of pocket. If students are paying for this tuition, then why is attendance such a big deal?
The 2011-2012 student handbook contains information on attendance and other school policies. By Kayla Pinnix, CCC Journalism Program
According to the 2012 student handbook, Camden County College’s attendance policy is as follows:
“Camden County College expects students to attend regularly and promptly all classes and all conferences with professors. Each professor determines his or her policy for student absences from class. This written policy is to be distributed to students at the first class meeting. Should this procedure be overlooked or should a student be absent from the first class, it is the student’s responsibility to obtain the attendance policy of the professor by the end of the first week of class. Students who are absent from class for any reason are expected to make up the work missed. Excessive absences from class may lead to a grade of Not Attending (NA), or the lowering of a grade; however, in certain cases of illness or jury duty, students will be permitted to make up the work if it is academically possible.”
Ultimately, professors make the rules. This means that the attendance policy changes per class. A full-time student typically takes four classes a semester, this means four different attendance policies. With multiple classes, it may be harder for a student to keep track of their attendance.
In 2007, there was a set policy for every class on campus. Students knew how many days of each class they were allowed to miss before it affected their grade.
Transfer student Joe Gollotto experienced a difficulty with an attendance policy first hand. “I had a professor tell me no absences were excusable and every absence would affect my grade,” Gollotto said.
Gollotto said he felt since he was paying for this class he should be permitted excused absences, provided he stayed on top of his work. After already registering he said, “I can’t predict the future so I can’t guarantee I can make every class.”
Gollotto said he had to drop the class and reregister with a different professor. He’s still in the process of receiving his money back.