Class Attendance
Given the demands of the college's degree and certificate programs, the amount of material covered in classes, and the nature of the curriculum, students are required to arrive on time and remain in class for all class sessions. Students who miss more than a specific number of classes within a course will automatically fail that course and must repeat the entire course. Faculty members may have established their own requirements regarding attendance. Refer to course guides for all such requirements. Students are responsible for finding out the specific requirements for each particular class and instructor.
Missing Classes
If a student is absent for a class in which daily participation is graded, the student will receive a grade of zero for that class. Students who miss the specified number of classes in a course taught in a classroom setting (as described below) shall automatically fail that course and will have to retake it.
Attendance for online courses is determined by the student's participation in the course activities and by meeting the submission deadlines as defined within the individual course syllabus. Simply logging into a course is not evidence of attendance. A student is considered in attendance when actively participating in the academic activities of the course. Active participation is defined as, but not limited to, the following:
- Submission of an assignment or an exam
- Substantive comments on course reading material
- Activity in an interactive resource
- Contributions toward a class discussion or within a study group
- E-mail or other documentation demonstrating that the student initiatied contact with the instructor regarding course materials or assignments
| Absences that Equate to Course Failure | 3-week course | 5-week course | Half-semester course | Full-semester course | Full-semester course meeting once per week |
| 1.5-credit lab* | 3 days | - | - | - | |
| 1.5-credit lecture | 3/2# days | - | 3 days | - | |
| 1.5-credit online course | - | - | 3 activities | 7 activities | |
| 1.5-credit hybrid course‡ | Total of 3 days and/or activities | Total of 7 days and/or activities | |||
| 2.0-credit lab* | 3 days | - | - | - | |
| 3.0-credit lab* | 3 days | 3 days | - | 3 days | |
| 3.0-credit lecture | 2 days | - | 3 days | 7 days | 3 days |
| 3.0-credit online course | - | - | 3 activities | 7 activities | |
| 3.0-credit hybrid course‡ |
Total of 3 days and/or activities |
Total of 7 days and/or activities | |||
| 6.0-credit lab | - | - | 3 days | 5 days |
* Including kitchen, bakeshop, restaurant, culinary science lab, or wines courses meeting for any amount less than a full 15-week semester.
# Two classes in a 1.5-credit lecture course that meets eight or fewer times.
‡ Hybrid courses meet for in-class and online learning sessions. Students are expected to be engaged in the online portion of the course and to follow the attendance policy for fully online courses. Students are also expected to attend the in-person classes and to follow the attendance policy for missing classes as outline in the chart. If a student does not satisfy the attendance requirements for the online portion of the hybrid course the student will be at risk for failing the course even if they attend the in-person classes. If a student completes the online assignments and is following the online attendance policy but fails to attend the in-person classes, the student will be at risk for failing the course.
Personal Emergencies and Exceptional Circumstances
If a student is forced to miss a class due to sickness, personal emergencies, or unforeseen circumstances, the student must notify the Health Services Office or the Student Affairs Office (U.S. campuses) or the Administrator's Office (SG), who will notify the faculty member. Depending on the nature of the situation and the academic circumstances, the dean of student affairs, student affairs manager, or managing director, after consultation with the faculty member, may recommend a withdrawal from the course.
In exceptional circumstances and if the student has not exceeded the maximum number of absences that would cause one to fail the course, the faculty member may assign additional work and give partial credit for a missed class.
In the event that a Singapore student is sick on the day(s) of their practical exams and/or make-up practical exams, they should (if possible) contact the managing director.
Religious Holidays/Military Reservist Duty
Students who are observing a religious holiday or have required military reservist duty that coincides with regularly scheduled class days are excused for that time period. In such cases, students can be excused for no more than two days of that class, and will be held accountable for information they missed. If students need to take more than two days for religious or military service reasons or have any unexcused absences, they may be required to withdraw from the course. As a participant in religious or military reservist activities, students will not be academically penalized for missing class.
Leave of Absence
A leave of absence (LOA) will only be granted between semesters for military service or medical, personal, or financial situations in which a student may find it impossible to continue in regularly scheduled classes without interruption. Students may not take an LOA in lieu of disciplinary action or to delay their return to the CIA from externship. Regardless of semester, all students may request an LOA upon the completion of a semester and prior to the beginning of a new semester with appropriate approval.
To qualify for a leave of absence, students must meet with an advisor in the Center for Career and Academic Advising and provide a reasonable expectation of their return to the CIA. Supporting documentation will be required by the college to grant the LOA. A leave of absence is valid for a period of up to 180 calendar days within each calendar year. Leaves of absence from all U.S. campuses are granted with the approval of the director of student financial and registration services. Students returning from a leave of absence must contact the Center for Career and Academic Advising a minimum of six weeks prior to their anticipated return date to confirm course availability. Students who do not return to campus when their LOA expires will be withdrawn. See Withdrawal from the CIA.
Students at the U.S. campuses who leave the CIA without requesting a leave of absence will be unofficially withdrawn from the college. This may result in additional campus housing charges, a delay in obtaining any housing refund, failing grades due to absences, and/or a delay in returning to classes.
Withdrawal from the CIA could affect a student's financial aid, including loan repayment terms and/or loan grace periods. If a student fails to return from a leave of absence, the student will be automatically withdrawn, and the schedule for a withdrawal refund will apply effective from the last day of attendance (as indicated in the student's leave of absence record).
Students at the CIA Singapore who leave the CIA without requesting a leave of absence will be withdrawn from the college and may incur financial and/or academic consequences. For more information, students should contact Financial Services at the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT).
effective from your last day of attendance.
Temporary Medical Condition
Due to essential hygiene reasons and the safety of oneself or others, students who have a medical condition requiring a hard or soft cast on an upper or lower limb, a sling, or the use of crutches will not be permitted in culinary, baking, pastry, or table service classes.
Students who have any other temporary medical condition that significantly affects mobility or normal stride, prevents the wearing of required footwear, or causes restricted vision will not be permitted in culinary, baking and pastry, or table service classes.
In addition, any splint, cast, sling, boot, brace, or wrap that affects the ability to receive first aid treatment to the covered body part in cases of cuts or burns would also prohibit the student from participating in the above classes.
When the student's condition is fully healed, the student must present signed documentation from a health care provider indicating permission to resume culinary, baking, pastry, or table service classes to Health Services (NY), the assistant director of student life (CA), the manager of student services (TX), or the managing director (SG).
If a currently enrolled student cannot remain in a class at the time of the injury, the college may withdraw the student from the class. If a student is unable to resume any courses, that student will be withdrawn for that semester.