We are exceptional as an HEI in that we have a 100% attendance policy. Other music conservatoires are similar.
Enforcement is our issue. I am in the process of sorting out the detail of our new student handbook information for next year but it will make it even clearer that we intervene with a warning immediately after one lesson of principal study (instrumental etc tuition) is missed without valid reason, and two lessons of academic or other activities. Continued violations are treated seriously and may result in coming before our very own 'Judge Jeffrey' (ie me as Academic Registrar) and, ultimately, termination of course of study. As we pay a substantial amount for individual tuition this is regarded very seriously.
I have to have systems in place (ie paper and e-registers) to be able to do this 100% and scrupulously fairly, and this is very much the downside of this. Students are of course entitled to submit medical and other evidence for non-attendance, though we had to set up a special arrangement for the 10% or so of our students who were not in College at the start of this term due to the travel disruption caused by volcanic ash. On one occasion we actually intervened with an airline to get the student back sooner than they were intending.
I wouldn't necessarily advise other to go down this path as we do it for sound academic and financial reasons specific to our institution and subject, but it certainly happens in one corner of the HE sector.
I'll happily send our new regs and guidance to anyone who wants to see the sharp end of this issue when they are ready shortly.
Best wishes
Mike Milne-Picken
Academic Registrar
Royal Northern College of Music
124 Oxford Road
Manchester
M13 9RD
T (44) 0161 907 5331
F (44) 0161 273 8188
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www.rncm.ac.uk
-----Original Message-----
From: Admin-student [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of David Ealey
Sent: 20 May 2010 09:16
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Attendance Regulations
We are currently looking at our regulations around student attendance.
Currently we have a requirement to attend but do not specify a set amount of classes that must be attended. I know that some institutions set a percentage that must be met for the student to be able to pass the course/module and in other cases students are only allowed to miss a set number of classes before being withdrawn.
If anyone is willing to share their regs on this I would be grateful and am happy to post a summary of current practice.
Thanks
David
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David Ealey
Deputy Academic Registrar (Student Administration) Academic Registry London Metropolitan University 166-220 Holloway Road London
N7 8BD
Companies Act 2006 : http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/companyinfo
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