The college is founded on a commitment to learning on the part of both faculty and students. When students accept membership in this college's educational community, they also accept responsibility and accountability for all required teaching/learning activities. All Health Sciences students are required to follow the attendance policy of each course in which they are enrolled. In addition, there are specific attendance policies for all Medical Assisting courses (both didactic and lab components) and for all Preceptorship courses/experiences that are outlined below. These policies are firmly held and come with severe significant consequences should they be violated. All students should take care to familiarize themselves with these policies prior to the start of these courses/experiences.
Didactic (Lecture) Class Attendance in the AHS & Pre-DMS Programs
Students are expected to attend all General Education and Program Specific lecture/didactic classes, and attendance will be tracked. Students who miss a didactic class are responsible for learning all the content assigned for the missed class. Instructors are under no obligation to meet with students to review the missed material. Students are obliged to notify instructors no later than 24 hours prior to class time when an absence is expected. Each course has its own attendance policy. Be certain to familiarize yourself with these as in some courses missing more than one class constitutes a failing grade.
Minimum Attendance Requirements: Medical Assisting and Phlebotomy Didactic Classes
During the Medical Assisting/Phlebotomy lecture class meetings you will review and learn the bulk of what you need to know to pass the Medical Assisting and Phlebotomy certification exams. These courses are critically important for your success as a medical assistant and/or phlebotomist. There is a lot of content covered in each class, so it is imperative that you attend each class. Due to the nature of these courses, students who miss a medical assisting/phlebotomy didactic class will be excused ONLY once and given a written warning. Students who miss a second didactic class will be placed on a Health Sciences Warning andan Action Plan. The student will be notified by their dean that they are being placed on an Action Plan and will be required to meet with the dean, their advisor (and possible the instructor/clinical coordinator) within 3 days of the date of notification. A copy of warning and Action plan will be filed in the student record. Missing a third class will result in failing the course. NOTE the Medical Assisting courses are comprised of two components: lecture (didactic) and Lab; Failing one component will result in failure of the entire course.
**Absences related to medical reasons will be considered with proper documentation from a medicdal provider.
See Warnings and Disciplinary Actions for more information.
Laboratory Class Attendance in the AHS & Pre-DMS Programs
Students are expected to attend all General Education and program specific laboratory classes in courses that are designated laboratory courses or in courses that have a laboratory component. Be sure to check the attendance policy for each of your lab courses as each course has its own attendance policy.
Minimum Attendance Requirements: Medical Assisting and Phlebotomy Lab Classes
During lab class meetings you will practice different lab skills and competencies required of an MA and a phlebotomist. Students who miss a laboratory meeting will miss out on key instruction and practice of skills required of an MA and/or phlebotomist.
Requirements and Consequences of Missing a Med. Assisting/Phlebotomy Lab Class
- Students who miss one regularly scheduled lab class will be given a verbal warning, and must make up the missed lab class with their instructor within 1 week of the missed lab on a date determined by the instructor. Failure to make up the lab class with their instructor by the due date will result in the student being given a general written warning with the stipulation that the lab must be made up within one week of the missed make-up date. Notice of the written warning will be sent to the student and the Dean of the Health Sciences.
- Students who fail to attend the second make-up lab session will fail the course.
- Students whose make-up session must be scheduled after the last day of the semester will be given an Incomplete Grade for the course until the make-up session is completed.
- Students who miss a second regularly scheduled lab meeting (even if the first absence was made up) will be placed on a Health Sciences Warning and an Action Plan. The student will be notified by their advisor or dean that they are being placed on an Action Plan, and will be required to meet with the dean, advisor (and possibly the instructor/clinical coordinator) within 3 days of the date on the notification. Students are required to follow the Action Plan to avoid consequences. The action plan will be filed in the student record. Students who fail to meet the requirements of the Action Plan within the time frame noted in the plan will fail the course. In addition, the missed lab must be made up within 1 week from the missed lab class on a date determined by the instructor
- Students who fail to attend the make-up lab session will fail the course.
- Students whose make-up session must be scheduled after the last day of the semester will be given an Incomplete Grade for the course until the make-up session is completed. See the Incomplete Grade policy for more information about this academic status.
- Students who fail to attend the make-up lab session will fail the course.
- Missing a third regularly scheduled lab class will result in failing the course (no make-up will be provided). NOTE the Medical Assisting courses are comprised of two components: lecture (didactic) and Lab; Failing one component will result in failure of the entire course.
**Absences related to medical reasons will be considered with proper documentation from a medical provider.
See Warnings and Disciplinary Actions for more information
Inclement Weather for Didactic and Lab Classes
Please refer to the College Wide Student Handbook for the policy on inclement weather for all courses other than Clinical Preceptorships. For the inclement weather policy for Clinicals, please see Inclement Weather During Health Sciences Clinical Assignments later in this document.
Clinical Attendance Policies
See Preceptorship Attendance and Absences section for policies regarding Clinical Attendance and Absences.
Enrolling in Clinical Preceptorship -Limitation
Due to the need for students to have their knowledge and clinical skills fresh when entering a clinical environment for preceptorships, students are expected to enter their preceptorship in the semester following completion of their last medical assisting/phlebotomy course. Preceptorships are only offered once per year.
This policy supports the following stakeholders:
- The student: a student arriving to clinical and not having their skills and knowledge fresh will show the site that their skills and knowledge are not strong. It can give a negative first impression which can set a tone for the whole preceptorship
- The clinical site: Clinical sites agree to take students for preceptorships with the assumption that students have passed critical Medical Assisting and Phlebotomy courses and competencies. They rely on their preceptors being guides and mentors, not instructors. Preceptors must perform all of their regular duties in addition to their preceptor role, therefore, the agreement to take on a student is made with the assumption that a certain amount of time and effort will be spent in the preceptor role. If students need more than that, it can disrupt the clinical site’s schedule and workforce needs
- The patients: Most importantly, patients are trusting their providers to have personnel who are skilled, knowledgeable, and able to provide optimal care. Having a student who is not ready for a clinical experience can undermine the patient’s trust in the care they are receiving, and can put the patient at risk.