Attendance Policy

Unless otherwise explicitly stated in the course syllabus, the attendance policy (see below) will apply to courses taught at IAIA. Registration in a course obligates the student to be regular and punctual in class attendance. Students in all courses are expected to attend classes regularly and to comply with class requirements to the satisfaction of the instructor. Excessive absenteeism will result in the student being dropped from a course.

Instructor’s Responsibility: All instructors must take attendance for all class sessions.

Absenteeism: Unless otherwise stated in the course syllabus, the following attendance policy will apply: Students are allowed a limited number of absences before being dropped from the course. The number of allowed absences corresponds to the number of credits in the course: one absence per credit hour (e.g. a three-credit course is allowed three absences; a one credit course is allowed one absence).

For a three-credit course, the following procedures will take place:

• After two absences, a warning will be sent to the student indicating that one more absence will result in an automatic drop from the course.

• After three absences, the student may be dropped from the course. If the third absence occurs prior to the withdrawal date, the student will receive a “W” grade. If after, the student will receive an “F” grade. It is strongly recommended that students save their allowed absences for bona fide instances of illness or real emergency.

Tardiness: Tardiness is also not permitted. Three instances of tardiness–defined as five minutes late–is the same as one absence and will be treated as such. After three consecutive or five non-consecutive tardy appearances, the instructor may drop the student for unacceptable behavior.

Missed Work: If a student is absent, he or she is required to make up all missed work. It is the student’s responsibility to check on all assignments with the instructor.

Pre-Arranged Absences: Students can request permission from their instructors to miss class sessions for appropriate reasons. Suitable reasons include student’s documented illness, death in student’s immediate family, tribal ceremony, participation in Institute-approved activities. Not considered appropriate are attendance at pow-wows, vacations, work, absences before and after holiday periods or Spring Break, and similar activities. Having an excuse after the absence, whether written or oral, does not count.  Excuses must be obtained beforehand using the appropriate form with signatures. Please note that an instructor can deny a student’s request for a pre-arranged absence.

Lack of Preparation: The instructor may ask a student who is not prepared for class (having required books, materials and supplies), or who has not completed the readings or other assignments, to leave the class and go to the Library or to another room to work on the assignment and return to class when the work is completed. The student’s subsequent absence from class will be counted as an absence or tardy appearance.