TEACHSOC: Re: e-mails, continued

[Eric Godfrey]

Sarah, You have my sympathies.  One week maybe, but six???  This sounds like one for your Dean and department chair.  I have denied admission to a course after the 2nd week, because (as I explained to students affected over the years) they would simply have missed too much work.  And are there exams in the first 6 weeks?  Papers due?  I would politely but firmly reply to the student explaining why what she wants is simply not possible, perhaps say something about why class attendance and development of work cumulatively is so important, and then advise her to take another course.  You could add that she would be welcome to take your course at a later date when she is able to get full value out of it.  And copy the e-mail to the chair and dean.  Of course, if you teach at an institution at which faculty are undermined instead of supported by the administration in such cases, you're in a bit of a pickle.  In that event, I'd copy and paste in all the assignments and e-mail them to her.  It is still up to her to get the work in on time, right? Another twist you might use (as long as it's true):  you cannot give her work which has not yet been made up, and frequently there are impromptu quizzes, new subject matter added in response to student requests, additional assignments given to clarify subject matter, etc.  You can't give her those in advance, and if she isn't there to get them, she's out of luck.  Sounds hard-hearted, but you could also compare this to meeting the requirements of a job. Hope these ideas help.  Our institution has an attendance policy stating that students are responsible for all work in a course, regardless of the reasons for absence (I actually chaired the committee that drafted that rule in an earlier version).  This rule has been of enormous help in such cases over the years, and I highly recommend adoption of a college-wide policy like that.  Good luck. --- Eric Sarah Murray wrote at 11:00 AM on 22 February 2006: Hi all... I'm just wondering what might be the most constructive way to respond to a student e-mail stating that the student was missing the first 6 weeks of class (there are 14 weeks in the semester), and could I please give her all the work for those weeks in advance. (I mentioned this story light-heartedly yesterday.)  She was traveling for pleasure, she told me.  Her other profs. obliged with the work, as did I.  Yet I'm not so sure this was fair to the other students, since there is an attendance policy.   Sarah -- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NOTE: If e-mail to me is rejected or not answered promptly, please re-send to my other e-mail addresses: [EMAIL PROTECTED] or [EMAIL PROTECTED] * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Eric P. Godfrey, Professor Emeritus of Sociology Ripon College, P. O. Box 248 (mail), 300 Seward St. (courier) Ripon, Wisconsin 54971-0248 920.748.6789 (home) Home US Mail: P. O. Box 75, Ripon, WI 54971-0075 "Save the earth, we don't have a backup copy" (made up by my son Forest at age 16) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Teaching Sociology" group. To post to this group, send email to teachsoc@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/teachsoc -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---