Overview
Filmmaking is a profession where punctuality is of the utmost importance. Showing up to work five minutes late could cost a production thousands of dollars — and will often cost a tardy employee their job. We therefore take it very seriously at the film school, to better prepare you for future career success and to foster the professional work ethic that’s a signature of FSUFILM graduates.
Attendance policy
Attendance is mandatory. Roll will be taken at the start of each class and, during principal photography on film productions, students will be required to clock in and out at the start and end of the work day.
Each late appearance results in the loss of third a letter grade from the student’s final grade for the course (A becomes A-, B+ becomes B, etc.). Failing to attend class, or arriving more than 30 minutes late, is counted as an absence. Unexcused absences result in the loss of a full letter grade from the student’s final grade (A becomes B, B becomes C, etc.).
Excused absences
Missing class is acceptable only if permission to miss class is approved by the instructor prior to the absence or if the excused absence is covered by the University Attendance Policy, which includes documented illness, deaths in the family and other documented crises, calls to active military duty or jury duty, religious holy days, and official University activities. These absences will be accommodated in a way that does not arbitrarily penalize students who have a valid excuse. Special consideration will also be given to students who have dependent children or serve as caregivers. Students are responsible for making up all work that is missed due to absence, and for contacting the professor to determine appropriate make-up assignments or activities. Failure to do this will result in the absence being considered as unexcused.
It is very likely that your friends will get married, your family will have anniversaries or other gatherings, or your films will get into festivals during your enrollment in the College. We understand the importance these events and your desire to attend. Whenever possible and with sufficient notice, the administration will try to adjust the schedule to accommodate the most important of these events. The earlier you can inform your instructors and the Assistant Dean for your program, the more likely it is that we’ll be able to make it work. Sometimes, however, it simply is not possible, and you will have to apologize to your loved ones and miss the event. We try very hard to work with you, but it is a condition of enrollment that you attend required film school activities, regardless of outside occurrences. This is because it can cause significant negative ramifications on your own education and that of your classmates if you do not show up for work when required; e.g., you may miss an important safety class or you may leave a production missing a vital crew member.
If you book travel or otherwise commit to an activity without requesting approval in advance, the absence will not be excused. A grade penalty will be issued for any missed classes or production days, as defined in each course’s syllabus, and you may be placed on professionalism probation for unreliability and failing to communicate in a proactive manner.
Please use this form to request an excused absence: https://wkf.ms/3OO1opi.