Lab class runs 8 until noon, Monday to Friday.
While in your program courses, some of you may have a schedule different to that of the lab. If, for any reason, you cannot attend class during those hours, you need to contact me in advance of the absence so we can make arrangements to accommodate.
Reasons I accept for missing class:
- providing care or going to appointments for your dependants
- family emergencies or responsibilities
- prescheduled paid work*
- any health problem or health-related appointment
- major life events**
*You are expected to have a clear schedule for class. Our programs at VaCC are concentrated, so each course only lasts a week or two. It's imperative, therefore, that you are proactive about participating during class hours. Otherwise you'll be largely on your own to teach yourself. This is a bigger concern in courses with larger workloads or that are notoriously tricky, like Excel or Office Skills.
Needing to go to work during class will not lose you attendance points, however, if you a. have a set work schedule and usually take your VaCC classes in the afternoons or evenings, b. have pre-discussed a work-mandated extra shift or activity with me, or c. can make a case for the necessity.
Ideally, you would let your work know about your lab courses with enough notice that they can give you different shifts for the week or two you attend lab. Please check your schedules and make a note of each lab course so you can plan for those weeks.
**Weddings, moving house, graduations, funerals, births, religious ceremonies, relatives visiting from overseas, etc etc are all valid reasons to be absent, as long as they are isolated incidents and you have informed me before the day in question.