From: Jonathan Gourlay
To: Curriculum
Date: Wed, 08 Feb 2006 14:58:29 +1100
Basically, there are two concerns:
This draft that I am sending is a fix for concern #1. Concern #2, I
think, is best taken care of the way that Dana or PKK or I or basically
most of the faculty suggest: do something every day of class and give
them a test on it on Friday or Thursday. ([One instructor] always gives them a
test on the syllabus at the second meeting). Students will still fail
to show up the first week -- but they will, at any rate, be penalized
for it.
My problem with the current draft is basically that it seems to me not
enforcable. Only some of our classes are of the type that [some instructors] have --
continually full classes (with a strict cap) that students need to
graduate in their major. But I might venture to say that most of our
classes are not this type of class -- we certainly fill up classes,
sure, but some fill up during add/drop, others are electives... Some
classes have seven sections, where their might be room in one. In other
words, if I was teaching, for instance, EN 110 and 20 out of 25 showed
up the first day, I don't believe I would automatically kick the 5 out
of the class, particularly as there might be room in some other section
of EN 110 if students want to add. ANYWAY, here is my little draft which
I have just produced. I believe that it would solve [problems wherein a class is oversubscribed]
while still not kicking every student who wasn't there the first day
out of class. Perhaps that is too wishy-washy, but it seems more "real
world" to me.
DRAFT amendment to Attendance Policy.
Policy: Students who are absent for more than six MWF classes, or more than four TTH or summer classes, will automatically be dropped from the course. The total missed classes include unexcused absences, such as sickness, funerals, and any other circumstances. Instructors will notify the Office of Academic Records to complete the withdrawal slip for the student.
Students must attend the first day of class. If the student cannot attend the first day of class, they must inform the instructor. If the student does not attend the first day of class or inform the instructor of their absence prior to the class, then the student may lose their seat in that class. At the instructor's discretion, the student's seat in that class may be taken by another student who wishes to add the class.
Students who add a class during the add/drop period must attend the next meeting of the class they have added. If the student does not attend the next meeting of the class they have added, the student may be dropped from the class at the instructor's discretion.