A family emergency. Bad weather. Car troubles. Feeling under the weather. Something coming up at work.
There are many reasons out of a student’s control that may affect their class attendance.
According to UNK’s student attendance policy, “Students are expected to attend all meetings of classes for which they are registered, including the first and last scheduled meetings and the final examination period.” Professors can outline their attendance policy in their course syllabus.
The University policy also states that, “Instructors shall seek to make reasonable accommodations for a student with an excused absence.” University sponsored activities, documented serious health concerns, medical or personal emergencies and religious observances all fall under the University’s definition of an excused absence.
Even when missing class under a condition that aligns with the outlined excused absences, some of our staff have still had some difficulties.
We ask professors to be more lenient when a student misses class or is late.
We agree that an attendance policy is necessary. There is a small group of students who would take advantage of it if they could skip class with no repercussions. Most students, though, will only miss if they have a good reason. We are paying large sums of money for college, and most of us are not going to let that money go to waste.
Students’ grades should not have to suffer if there is an open line of communication. We should be able to communicate with our professors, be honest and give and receive respect. A little bit of understanding from both parties can go a long way.
In cases where a student is sick, getting documentation may not always be a reasonable expectation. One can test at home for certain illnesses like influenza or COVID-19. Other illnesses are often recognizable and don’t need a doctor’s diagnosis to confirm. Plus, if a student is sick enough, they may not have the energy or ability to get to a doctor.
One of our staff members took an at-home test that came back positive, but the professor still wanted a doctor’s note and was not going to offer a make-up quiz.
It is a student’s responsibility to get caught up on what they missed. In-class activities or assignments may be harder to make up, but professors should be willing to help students make those points up in some way.
Most typically do, but our experiences prove that not all are as accommodating.
Professors, try to be understanding when a student misses class. For most of us, missing class is stressful and something we try to avoid whenever possible. Adding in a few more excused absences so students have more of a cushion when things do come up will alleviate the pressure to get to class when conditions deem it impossible.
Students, get familiar with the attendance policy to make the best informed decision on whether or not attending class is worth it. Don’t feel pressured to go if circumstances create a challenge.
