Updated Absence/Tardy policy

Dear Students,

Regardless of your current absence status, please read this as it is a formal class announcement.

I have been advised by the Institute to warn students that 4 absences = failure. 

Additionally, I want to inform you that 3 tardies for my class= 1 absence

Students in the class who hit 3 absences will be notified and given a courtesy warning. Assessment of absences and conversion from unexcused to excused absences will be at the discretion of your department head. I am sorry if my emphasis of the destruction of hierarchy in art practice might have mislead anyone to think that I am capable of denying the course criteria of an accredited institution of higher education. Degrees cannot be conferred unless course and program criteria have been met by graduating students. I do not wish to devalue the legitimacy of your terminal degrees by slackening the rules. You either meet the criteria, or you don't.
 
The Math:
At this point, we have had 7 classes. If you have missed 3 classes, you have an attendance rate of 57%. If you have missed 2, your attendance is 71%. If you have missed 1, your rate is 81%. This is meant to be a mathematical snapshot to illustrate the spread we have going on in class, which is 57%- 100% attendance.

A note to those with higher attendance rates:
 I am sorry you have to listen to this stuff. I am putting it here for so that this issue maintains transparency and the hard facts are available to all. The attendance rate numbers are useful, because they reflect time spent and strengthen the depth of your practice. Congratulations, and keep up the good work.

A note to those with lower attendance rates:
It's not too late to make a choice about the way you want things to go.

A note to Matthew:
Your situation exists outside of this assessment. When you and the dept decide how you wish to proceed, we hope to see you back with us in some capacity. Meanwhile, the class should take inspiration from you and your stated goals and strive to embody them in the classwork. You are a member of our work group and we are thinking of you.

Thank you all for reading. Please retain this information in order to guide your activites.

Stacy