STUDENT CLASS PARTICIPATION:

The new curriculum, with its reduced lecture hours and increased independent study, will necessitate more focus on the teaching sessions which are held. The MCC has developed this new attendance policy, which has been approved by the Dean.
Attendance Policy:
Class attendance reflects self-discipline, acceptance of responsibility and the development of professionalism. The new curriculum will emphasize participation in small group sessions and clinical case presentations that build on the fundamental information presented during the lecture sessions. Medical students are therefore expected to attend all educational activities.
1. Medical students are expected to attend all educational activities including lecture, small group and laboratory sessions, and other assigned activities.
2. Attendance shall be monitored at educational sessions.
3. Students are required to sit for examinations at the scheduled time.
A student may request an "excused absence" from the aforementioned activities if he/she arranges this with the Course Director in advance or provides appropriate documentation consistent with University policy (i.e., medical). The Associate Dean of Academic Affairs may also provide justification for an absence if other institutional priorities necessitate such an occurrence.
The student who signs an attendance record for another student is in violation of the Honor Code. Adherence to the Honor Code reflects integrity and professionalism. The Honor Code shall be strictly enforced.
Specific Recommendations for Unexcused Absences:
Students will be allowed a number of unexcused absences equal to or less than 5% (rounded up to the next whole hour) of the face time of a course without penalty (note exception for "graded" exercises). This allows for minor illnesses, car trouble, family crises, malfunctioning alarm clocks, etc. Beyond this initial 5% of the course face time hours, each unexcused absence would cause a deduction from the final grade point average equal to the proportion of the course represented by the hours missed. For example: If the face time in a course is 50 hours, 5% of 50 is 2.5 hours and that would be rounded to 3 hours. If a student misses 4 unexcused hours of class, the additional unexcused hour represents 2% of the face time of the course and results in a 2% reduction in the final grade.
If an unexcused absence occurs for a graded or formally assessed session, the student will receive a failing grade for that session as defined in the course policy.
Attendance at lectures will be recorded by use of assigned seating monitored by student class officers.