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The college reserves the right to evaluate individual cases of nonattendance. In general, students are graded on the
basis of intellectual effort and performance. In many cases, class participation is a significant measure of performance,
and nonattendance can adversely affect a student’s grade. Therefore, a student may be dropped from any course
after he has accumulated three absences. Instructors must follow the procedures outlined below in dropping for
excessive absences.
Limitations to the Number of Withdrawals from Courses
A new THECB rule has been established to address a new law enacted by the legislature regarding the number of
withdrawals (“Ws”) that a student may have during his academic career (THECB Rules: Chapter 4, Subchapter A, 4.10).
The law states that any student whose first semester in college is Fall 2007 or later may not have more than six
unexcused withdrawals (“W’s”) during his academic career. This applies to a student’s academic record from all higher
education institutions that he may attend. If a student has six unexcused withdrawals, he will no longer be allowed to
withdraw from a course without receiving a grade in the course (which will be an “F”) on the TVCC transcript. Whether
a withdrawal is excused or not will be determined by the faculty member and the Associate Vice President of
Correctional Education.
Procedures to Drop Students for Excessive Absences
1.
Students may be dropped upon recommendation of the instructor after they have accumulated three
absences. A drop form must be completed by the instructor and Associate Vice President.
2.
TVCC shall determine the reason(s) for the absences and inform the instructor of any extenuating
circumstances that might alter the drop proceedings, i.e., illness, medical, bench warrant, paroled, etc.
This should be done from the date the drop is requested.
3.
If it is determined that the student should be dropped, the Associate Vice President shall initiate final
drop procedures by completing the appropriate drop forms and submitting them to the appropriate on-
site college personnel, who will then present the forms to the TVCC Administrative Office.
4.
The instructor shall be notified of the drop by the Unit Education Office. An official TVCC signature should
accompany the drop notification. This will expedite the situation and allow the instructor to be notified as
quickly as possible.
5.
A student who is dropped because of excessive absences shall receive the grade of “W.”
6.
Instructors must check roll each class meeting.
Additional Texas Department of Criminal Justice Policies:
Class Attendance
A student who enrolls in a course and misses three class meetings without notifying the college instructor may be: 1)
dropped from that course, 2) suspended from enrollment during the following academic semester, and 3) suspended
from enrollment during the following six-month workforce training cycle. The student will be allowed to continue with
any courses in which he is simultaneously enrolled and attending.
A student who is dropped from one or more academic courses in a semester for a reason other than release, bench
warrant, unit transfer, medical, or administrative request, when paid by WSD, will be suspended from enrollment
during the following academic year.
A student who submits an I-25 for partial or full payment of college tuition will be immediately withdrawn from all
coursework in which he is currently enrolled if insufficient funds exist in his trust account.
Eligibility for the next semester will not be affected if the student drops a course for which he paid with personal funds
or Hazlewood benefits.
Attendance in Developmental Courses
TSI policy states that during each semester in which a student is enrolled, he or she must participate and be enrolled in
a remedial course or other remedial program provided by the institution. Students must enroll and attend required
