Monash College has specific policies and procedures for attendance. See them below. To check your attendance record, please contact the Student Administration team via student.admin@monashcollege.edu.au.
At Monash College we want students to succeed, and attending classes is an important part of this. We have people and systems in place to support students to progress through their studies, including providing any additional support students may need.
One of the ways we help keep students on track is by monitoring class attendance. This is done to ensure that students don’t miss any important learning tasks or new concepts introduced in their discipline.
This is also a legal visa requirement for international students undertaking Foundation Year and English programs.
Below are some FAQs around attendance.
Attendance FAQs
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Why do we monitor student attendance in classes?View
Students enrolled in English or Foundation Year programs who are on an international student visa with conditions, have a legislative requirement to attend at least 80% of their scheduled classes. If a student’s projected attendance drops below 80% the College is required to report this to the government, which can result in their Confirmation of Enrolment being cancelled. The College monitors attendance so that we can warn students when they are dropping below expected projections, to allow them to improve their attendance and meet the minimum attendance requirements.
What is the difference between expected and required attendance?View
Required attendance: you must attend for either program attendance and/or government attendance requirements.
Expected attendance: while there isn’t a legislative requirement, you are meant to be attending the classes for your own progress.
What if I’m not an international student or am enrolled in a Diploma program?View
Students are still expected to attend 100% of their classes so they can do well in their course and successfully transition into Monash University. If you are not attending the College may check in with you to make sure you are OK. We have welfare checks and the Student Engagement team might contact you to see what is happening if you are not attending your classes.
The College has a system which is used by teachers and central teams to record and monitor attendance. Teachers enter information on when students attend classes, allowing them to monitor attendance at a unit level. This data is stored securely in a College system used for monitoring attendance.
What happens if I miss my classes because I’m sick or for other reasons?View
If you cannot attend your class you must report this to your teachers, using the Absence Form. Explain to the teachers why you can’t attend. They may ask you for evidence, especially if you are missing a few days in a row. If you miss five days in a row the College will check-in with you to see what is happening. You need to attend at least 80% of your classes. if you are an English or Foundation Year student on a student visa with conditions. You may also be contacted at other times by welfare teams who check-in on students to make sure they are OK.
If I get sent a warning letter about my attendance what does this mean?View
This means that you might have had several days of absence in a row and aren’t attending enough classes as an international student in an English or Foundation Year program. If you miss five days in a row of your classes, the College will contact you, and if it means you might not meet the attendance requirements, we may send you a warning letter. You still have the chance to improve your attendance by going back to classes.
This letter means that it is likely your attendance is going to fall below the 80% requirement. If you receive this letter you should respond to it straight away and explain why you are not attending your classes. If your projected attendance drops below 80% the College is required to report this to the government, which can result in your Confirmation of Enrolment being cancelled.
Can I appeal against the Intention to Report letter?View
Yes, you can appeal, but you must have grounds to appeal which includes extenuating circumstances (such as illness or other medical issues which prevented you from coming to College). These circumstances have to be evidenced by a professional (you can find further detail on this in the Policy and Procedure). The team will review your appeal and decide whether you are allowed to continue studying. With any reason for not attending you will be unlikely to have any grounds to appeal against the decision. That’s why it’s so important to attend your classes!
Should I keep attending my classes if I have submitted an appeal?View
Yes! It is very important that you attend as many classes as possible. Even if your appeal is successful, but your attendance continues to drop, it may not prevent you from being reported. The College has a legal requirement to the Australian Government to monitor student attendance and report unsatisfactory attendance.
Unfortunately if your appeal is unsuccessful and your attendance remains below the requirements, the College has no option but to report you to the Australian Government for unsatisfactory attendance and your Confirmation of Enrolment may then be cancelled.
How will the College contact me about any of these issues?View
The College will always contact you on your Monash College email address. Staff may also contact you on your phone, so you must make sure that you keep your contact details, including an Australian phone number up-to-date in Web Enrolment System.
Student Attendance Policies applicable before 8 January 2024
