Attendance policy

Attendance is mandatory and an unexcused absences will affect your final grade. This may seem draconian but it is a policy I implement this semester, and probably from now on when I teach the film class.

• A total of one (1) absence for the semester is allowed for any reason. (One class equivalent to three credit hours.)
• Each absence beyond the one absence—including classes missed in the first week—will be a deduction of your participation grade @ 7.14%/absence.
• Please consult with the instructor if you have an emergency. If you miss more than 5 classes in total for any reason, you will not receive a passing grade.
• Excused absence: Absence due to emergency—illness, accident, etc.—or GW-related obligation (athletic competition, Model U.N. participation) will be excused only if the student
1. Provides verifiable evidence—doctor’s note, accident/police report;
2. Writes a 300 word mini-review of the film screened in class.
3. Documentation and mini-review must be submitted within a week upon return to class. If both 1 and 2 are not completed, then the absence is not excused and will count against your participation record.
• Tardiness is frowned upon. Arriving late can disrupt the class, and habitual tardiness is not tolerated.
• Arriving 10 minutes or later is logged as a half absence.
• 30 minutes or later will be logged as a complete absence.
• Early departure will also count as a half absence (3.57%) toward your participation record.

Winter break

I think this past Fall semester has been the busiest semester I've ever had. In fact, it seems like every semester is getting busier each year. Anyway, glad that the semester ended without incident but wish that winter break was a week longer. I didn't do half the things I wanted, not with pipes leaking and microwave breaking.