Student Absence Policy

Created
March 16, 2020
Last Updated
May 20, 2022

All students in the Blind People in Charge program are asked to make their Blindness/DeafBlindness skills training a priority.

Students in the Focus on Braille and Focus on Technology streams are expected to make every effort to book appointments on non-training days.  An appointment with a specialist or professional who is not available any other day would be automatically viewed as an exception but GP or dental appointments would not, as alternate days are usually available. If a student’s GP or dentist does not have availability on non-training days, the student should discuss the situation with the Program and Student Affairs Coordinator or their designate.

All students are expected to attend the centre unless they are sick.  If a student does not report in sick before or on the day they are absent, makes alternate plans for a training day or Just does not turn up, they will be marked absent. 

Students are allowed one unannounced full-day absence or two unannounced partial-day absences per term but subsequent absences may result in the student being put on the inactive list and their spot being filled by someone on the waitlist. 

Students should inform the Program and Student Affairs Coordinator or their designate about anticipated absences which cannot be avoided and an exception may be made (e.g. a school exam or a funeral). All exceptions are to be cleared with the Program and Student Affairs Coordinator or their designate.

Students relying on paratransit (e.g. HandyDart) should attempt to make a booking at the earliest opportunity (first thing on the morning two weeks prior to the training date).  Failure to do so may result in no transportation and this is not a valid reason for being absent.  If a student does call at the earliest opportunity and is told they are on standby, they should let the Program and Student Affairs Coordinator or their designate know immediately.  If paratransit lets a booked student down, the student will not be marked absent so long as this is communicated to the Program and Student Affairs coordinator or their designate.