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Policies - 10.0 - 10.2

10.0 Attendance and Leave of Absence

Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to establish criteria for student class attendance and absence, as well as outline disciplinary action for excessive and unexcused leave.

10.1 Attendance

Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to ensure regular attendance by the students of the School of Health Professions for all classes and clinical rotations.

Policy Statement
Students are expected to report on time for all scheduled activities. In the event of unscheduled absence or tardiness due to illness or other serious reasons the student must abide by the following: 

Notification - Students are responsible for informing the Program if they are going to be tardy or absent from class.  The Program should be notified at least one hour prior to the beginning of the scheduled activity (i.e. lecture, exam, clinical rotation, student laboratory) on each day of the absence.  An absence should be called into a program official and clinical preceptor/coordinator.

Tardiness - Classes, labs, and clinical rotations are to begin at the scheduled time.  Being late to class or clinic is disrespectful to the patients, faculty, and your fellow classmates.  Excessive tardiness (more than three occurrences in a semester) will be reviewed by the Program Director and Dean for possible disciplinary action.

Absences - Excused absences will be handled on an individual basis by the program director.  Excusable reasons for absence are limited to illness, subpoena, death or illness in the immediate family, jury duty, military service, subpoena, religious observance and faculty approved attendance at professional conferences.  Not reporting an absence is considered unexcused.  Scheduling of any elective physician appointment or other personal appointment must be cleared by the program director in advance of the date or the absence is unexcused.

Unsatisfactory attendance leading to disciplinary action
Absences, tardies and early departures that are not scheduled and are not approved by the Director are considered as unexcused occurrences. The Director keeps a record of unexcused occurrences on student file. It is the responsibility of the Director/Faculty Advisor to give proper counseling to the student as soon as a problem is evident. If a student has had more than two (2) unexcused occurrences in 60 days or three unexcused occurrences in 90 days the Director must take disciplinary action as stated in the policies of the individual programs.

Consequences of excessive absences include:

  1. A student who is absent because of illness for three continuous days or more must submit a physician's statement indicating the nature of the illness, the requirement for absence, and a release to return to school.
  2. Absences of three or more consecutive days will be reviewed by the Program Director and Dean for the possibility of a leave of absence, requiring the student to repeat the classes or clinical rotations missed.
  3. Absences exceeding two classes or 50% of the course content within one course may necessitate a makeup period at the conclusion of the course, which might delay a clinical rotation or anticipated graduation date.
  4. Students may be required to complete additional out of classroom assignments to make up work due to any absences.  It will be at the discretion of the Program Director if makeup work is required for absences.  It is the student’s responsibility to contact the Program Director immediately following the absence to arrange for the makeup work or exam(s) involved.  It is the student’s responsibility to contact the program official immediately following absenteeism or lateness regarding course work or exam make-up.  Not reporting an absence is considered unexcused.

The Class Attendance policy is published in the Health Professions Student Catalog.

10.2 Holidays

Purpose
To inform students of legal holidays when the School of Health Professions will be closed.

Policy Statement
Annually the Texas State Legislature establishes recognized holidays. The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center then establishes the holidays for the institution. The School of Health Professions will follow the holiday schedule established by the institution and will also designate additional official school holidays. Students will be informed of the holidays at the beginning of each semester.


© 2009 The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center