Midterm Withdrawal

At Heartland Community College, faculty are required to withdraw students who are not making sufficient progress toward course completion by midterms.

For my courses, a student may be withdrawn for missing two consecutive weeks of class without notice and/or failing to complete at least sixty percent of the assignments by midterms.  For a course with 16 units, you need to have completed all the assignments through Unit 5 by midterms.  They don't need to be perfect — they just need to be submitted.

That said, I do account for extenuating circumstances.  If you're experiencing illness or a family emergency, please let me know — I'm happy to work with you so you can succeed in my course.  But communication is key.  If I don't see you in class or hear from you for an extended period of time, then I will have to assume you are not working on the course.  I do regularly reach out to students and submit referrals to campus resources — if you get a message from me or campus resources about your attendance, please respond!

Per the Student Handbook at Heartland Community College (2025 edition):

At midterm, the instructor is required to certify students’ attendance according to the

requirements of the Illinois Community College Board. At midterm, or at any other time

during the semester until the close of business on the last day to withdraw, an instructor

may administratively withdraw a student whose pattern of absence causes the instructor

to seriously question the intent of the student to further pursue the course or to

complete the course with a passing grade.

A student also may be withdrawn from a class by administrative action as a result of emergency or disciplinary procedures under the provisions of Board policy on Students’ Rights and Responsibilities. Students have the right to appeal either a faculty or administrative withdrawal through the appeal process. (40)