Attendance and Conduct Policies
Attendance
The nature of professional education requires that students maintain regular attendance to ensure proficiency in all areas of performance. The purpose of this attendance policy is to support the educational process by encouraging student responsibility for attendance, while recognizing that occasional circumstances arise necessitating planned or unplanned absence.

Prompt and regular class, laboratory, and clinic attendance is the responsibility of each health professions student. If for any reason a student is unable to attend a scheduled academic assignment, it is his/her responsibility to inform the appropriate instructor, supervisor, or program director before the absence occurs, whenever possible. If this is impossible, an explanation for the absence should be presented immediately upon return.

A student is responsible for studies missed during an absence and may be required to make up essential experiences whether excused or unexcused. More than three total unexcused absences per term are sufficient for placement on professional development probation. Instructors are not required to offer make up exams or tests that were missed during unexcused absences thus the possibility of adversely affecting academic standing exists.

Evaluation of the reason for an absence and determination as to whether it is classified as excused or unexcused is the responsibility of the immediately involved instructor and/or program director. A decision may be appealed to the department chairperson in disputed unexcused cases that adversely affect the academic and/or professional development standing of the involved student. If further consideration is necessary, an appeal may be made to the Dean.

Definition: An absence is defined as nonattendance of any scheduled class, laboratory, or clinic assignment. For example: If a student, without excuse, misses one full day in which five classes meet, he/she will have accumulated five unexcused absences.

Any student missing one week of class or three consecutive class sessions without notification of the cause to the program/faculty may be considered as withdrawn from the College. Failure to preregister for two consecutive terms without notification of the cause to the program will be considered as a voluntary withdrawal from the College. Student must reapply for admission in order to register.

Professional Conduct
The college has adopted a code of professional conduct which all students are expected to follow. Each student’s professional conduct will be observed by the faculty, both full time and clinical, and will be evaluated each semester.

A student receiving an unsatisfactory professional conduct evaluation will be counseled by the program director and/or department chairperson and one or more faculty members. Upon recommendations of the department chairperson and approval by the dean, a student who receives an unsatisfactory evaluation on professional development for one or more semesters may be required to withdraw or be dismissed from the College of Health Professions.

Under the code of professional conduct, a student enrolled in the College of Health Professions is expected to

• appear and conduct himself/herself in a professionally acceptable manner.
• be cognizant of and adhere to the channels of authority.
• be academically and professionally honest.
• show respect for and be mutually supportive of fellow students, faculty, and staff regardless of race, religion, sex, nationality, or economic status.
• identify truthfully and accurately his/her credentials and professional status.
• refrain from performing any professional service which requires competence that he/she does not possess or which is prohibited by law, unless the situation morally dictates otherwise.
• accept responsibility for relating incompetence and unethical conduct to the proper authorities.
• regard as strictly confidential all information concerning each patient and refrain from discussing this information with any unauthorized individual, including the patient.
• show respect and consideration for the patient, regardless of race, religion, sex, nationality, or economic status.
• be guided at all times by concern for the welfare of patients entrusted to his/her care.

Personal Conduct
Students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner meeting the accepted standards of health care professionals.

Appeal Process
Refer to the Student Honor Code.