Jeff:
This is a tricky issue. I've only seen it in Intro Psych, and only for
examinations (not presentations). I ignore all the "excused absence" slips.
Instead I drop the lowest exam score - period - no matter the reason, and only
under the most unusual of circunstances do I ever deviate from it. If a student
misses an exam because of a sporting event, I tell them this is their lowest
score. This past semester one or two students compained about the policy, saying
they are penalized for being involved in sports - because they would have taken
all the exams otherwise. I explained this policy covers everything - sports,
theatre presentations, car stuck in snow, etcetera. They didn't like this
answer, and compained to their coach and the dean. The dean emailed me, reminded
me about the college policy that students will "not be penalized" for
participating in sports, and told me to do a make-up exam. I said no, and quoted
word for word from our Fair Grading Policy, which says all students are treated
alike. I reminded her that my policy was put in place so as to not penalize
students if they have to miss for a sporting event _but_ I extended the policy
to other circumstances (illness, car stuck in snow, etcetea). She never
responded back. The student ran into me a few days later and said "I spoke to my
coach and the dean - got it all squared away - you have to give me a nake up." I
said no.
Loosely construed, I can accept the idea that students "not be penalized"
for college events. On the other hand, if taken too precisely, it implies that a
student can miss classes and get the same education. But they cannot. I don't
know if you can do this, but consider a blanket policy that accomodates college
events that can also apply for other "excused" as well as "non excused"
(whatever the heck these terms mean) absences. Don't count on administrative
support. Do you have tenure?
My policy is in my syllabus (it says there are no make-ups, and we drop the
lowest exam score). But after the flap this semester, I will add a few examples
of absences covered under my policy, and I will explicitly mention "sporting
events." This way, they can complain at the beginning of class, and, have the
option of dropping the course and picking up another.
Jeffrey Nagelbush wrote:
> I would like to solicit your thoughts on a problem I have every semester or
> two. Every college or university I know of has a policy for excused
> absences. Most of the absences are for sports activities (at least at those
> schools that have sports) but some are for field trips and other academic
> activities. In most cases I have no problem adjusting to the student
> absences and the students make up any missed work. However, in one of my
> courses students make brief presentations that are integrated into our
> discussion of the material. If the student is not present, the other
> students suffer by not hearing the presentation by the absent student. I
> cannot really have the student present at another time since we will be
> discussing other topics by the next class. My question is what is the right
> thing to do in this situation. Can I tell a student that her or his grade
> will suffer if the class is missed (if I put this in my syllabus)? Will my
> (or your) institution back me in this case? Or do institutionally approved
> absences always trump classroom activities? And if so, is this really
> appropriate? What message does this send about the importance of being in
> class?
>
> Any thoughts will be appreciated.
>
> Jeff Nagelbush
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
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John W. Kulig [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Department of Psychology http://oz.plymouth.edu/~kulig
Plymouth State College tel: (603) 535-2468
Plymouth NH USA 03264 fax: (603) 535-2412
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