Social Work Department|
Social Work Department Attendance Policy
Values Statement: The Metropolitan State College of Denver’s (MSCD) Social Work Department adheres to the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards. In abiding by the standards of the national governing body, CSWE, the MSCD Social Work Department provides students and the surrounding communities a measure of confidence regarding competent, well-prepared professional social workers at the undergraduate level. In addition to presentation of course content such as concepts and theories, social work education provides socialization into the profession—the development of an identity as a social work professional. Therefore, classroom sessions meet several learning objectives through the use of lecture, text review, guest speakers, interactive exercises, and student discussion. In order to ensure optimal development of the professional identity, classroom attendance is vital. There is no substitute for transactions in the classroom among peers. Discussion includes the negotiation and consensus of terms (i.e., the language of the profession), values, provision of new insights and interpretations, and enhancement of both verbal and non-verbal communication skills. Most importantly, students learn from their colleagues; absenteeism creates the void of missing voices. While there are other opportunities for socialization into the profession (Student Association of Social Workers membership and involvement, participation in the department listserve, faculty advising), the most consistent occasion resides in the interaction among students in the classroom with the instructor serving as facilitator. Consequently, the MSCD Social Work Department presents the following attendance policy.
Absences: In each Social work class in which a student is enrolled, the student may miss, as unexcused absences, only as many class sessions per semester as the number of times the class meets in a week. Any additional absences will lower the student’s grade by 10% (one letter grade) for each week’s worth of unexcused absence. Absences from Field Seminar will effect the seminar portion of the grade. Classes that meet once every two weeks will be considered as meeting once a week, for the purposes of this policy If more than 25% of the class is missed for any reason, the student must present his/her situation to the Social Work Attendance Committee for permission to continue. The purpose of the Attendance Committee is to review the individual situation and determine whether the student should continue in the program at this time, or may require time off to resolve the issues and refocus on their education. If the Attendance Committee does not give permission to continue, the student must take an incomplete or fail the class, regardless of whether the absences are excused or unexcused. In the event that a social work course has been taken twice, resulting in a grade lower than a ‘C’ as a result of poor attendance, the student will NOT be allowed to take the class again for a period of one year. The student will be advised of the Committee’s decision, and of any corrective action plan, by the Student Coordinator. For on-line or hybrid classes, students must be present in Discussion during each Session of the semester. Since the department determines an online course to be meeting an equivalent of once a week, a student may have only one "absence" from Discussion. Any additional unexcused absences from Discussion will result in a grade reduction of 10% (one letter grade) in the overall course grade.
Students may miss no more than 25% of any class, whether the absences are excused or unexcused.
Documentation of excused absences is required. The student is responsible for getting documentation to the professor within one week of the absence. Weather concerns: if class is held and you are not present, you will be counted absent. Your personal safety is your responsibility; there may be times you choose not to come.
Excused Absences: Religious Holidays Jury Duty Death in the family Field Placement – only for court appearances or in cases of emergency if requested by the Field Instructor Personal injury/illness Emergency – with instructor agreement. Seriously sick child/family member - students are asked to have a back up plan for sick children so that they do not have to miss class. Car breakdown – only if it happens on the way to class. If your car is in the shop, please make other arrangements to get to class. Professional Conference, or if giving a presentation – with instructor approval only. Special request – such as other class field trip, life cycle events or special meetings during class time – with instructor approval only.
Tardies and Departing Class Early: A student is considered to be tardy, or to have an early departure from class, when s/he is five to fifteen minutes late to class, or leaves early, depending on the length of the class period (five minutes for a 1 hour class, 10 minutes for a 2 hour class and 15 minutes for a longer class). The accumulation of three tardies, or the equivalent amount of time as an early departure, equals one absence. Every tardy, or early departure, beyond the third will be counted as an additional absence unless the professor has prior knowledge of and has excused it. Special circumstances will be considered by the professor within one week of the tardy or early departure. It is the student’s responsibility to bring any special circumstances to the attention of the instructor.
Forms of Documentation for Excused Absences, Tardies or Early Departures: Acceptable forms of documentation will be left up to the discretion of the professor and/or attendance committee. Professors are encouraged to address their interpretation of “acceptable” forms of documentation at the time the syllabus is passed out.
Attendance Committee: This committee is comprised of the Student Coordinator and two other social work faculty who do not currently have the student in class. The committee will actively seek recommendations for action from all faculty involved in the student’s current situation. The goal of the attendance committee is to develop an intervention plan for the student’s current attendance situation. The intervention plan will be given to the student in written form, by the Student Coordinator, within one week of the committee meeting. Failing to comply with the intervention plan will result in disciplinary action that may include termination from the program. An attendance committee meeting must be scheduled within one week of the faculty request; participants will be notified verbally. Each student appearing before the attendance committee has the right to have a faculty, or student, advocate present.
Responsibilities: Professors are responsible for taking attendance. A sign in sheet that requires a student signature may be passed around at the beginning of every class session. It is the responsibility of the students to make sure they sign this sheet. If a student is tardy, the professor will put a T next to a student’s signature. In Field Seminar, attendance will be tracked in the student’s file.
Non-social work majors: A copy of the attendance policy will be distributed with every syllabus for Social Work classes. The policy applies equally to all students.
Attendance Policy Acceptance
Keep the attached attendance policy for your records. Put your name on this form, sign and date it and return it to the Social Work office.
_________________________________________________________ Student Name: Please Print
I have read the attendance policy for the Social Work Department. I understand that the policy applies to all social work classes. I understand the policy and agree to follow it.
______________________________________________ _________________________ Student Signature Date |