Montclair State University

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Student Toolbox
Section Name

First Year Monitoring

Guidelines for Instructors

Review with your students your syllabus and the New Student Seminar course attendance policy

  • Share your attendance policy with your students.Explain that there is a positive relationship between regular class attendance and student learning and achievement. It would be important at this time to also discuss your policies regarding missed or late assignments.
  • Inform your students that you will be tracking their attendance to coach them for success rather than to police them. A significant amount of research proves that students who regularly attend their classes outperform those who do not.
  • Explain to your students that student attendance is monitored since Montclair State University cares about its students and wants to make sure that they are successful. This process helps us ensure that first-year students do not get lost in the complexity of the larger university.

Speak with your student about their attendance after her/her second absence, preferably in person or the phone. 

  • Let your student know that you are aware of his/her absences. It will help the student realize that you are being consistent with the expectations you stated during your syllabus review during your first class meeting.  It will also confirm that you care about their well-being.    
  • Stress to your student the importance of class attendance to her/his academic success.  Emphasize that these absences cause her/him to miss out on class discussions, updates, and assignments.

After a student’s third absence:

  • Remind them of the course attendance policy.
  • Complete the New Student Seminar Excessive Absence Form.  Using the student’s last name, select the appropriate link below and complete the form.  The First Year Counselor will reach out to the student to further intervene and develop a plan for improvement.  This might include regularly scheduled appointments with the First Year Counselor, campus or community referrals, and/or other possible interventions.

After a student’s fourth absence:

  • Complete the New Student Seminar Excessive Absence Form, indicating the date of the fourth absence.  The First Year Counselor will follow-up again with the student to reassess the student’s needs and goals.

Click here to document a student who's last name begins with the letters A-CI and L

Click here to document a student who's last name begins with the letters CL-HA

Click here to document a student who's last name begins with the letters K and MAP-ROB

Click here to document a student who's last name begins with the letters HE-J and ROC-WH

Click here to document a student who's last name begins with the letters M-MAN and WI-Z

 

Note: New Student Experience would like to recognize The University of South Carolina’s Class Absence Early Intervention Program for serving as a model for this project.