Attendance Requirements
New Regulations Adopted by Committee on Administration to Meet Faculty Revisions of Policy
AFTER THE FACULTY has decided what should be done the Committee on Administration must determine how to do it. It was easier to decide to do away with the cut system than it was to devise a better method of regulating attendance.
There are at least four good reasons why students in college should attend classes regularly. First, the student may learn something from the instructor; second, from each student's participation in the work of the class other students learn something; third, by his participation or lack of it the instructor can appraise the student's accomplishment; fourth, purely as a matter of training, requiring attendance instills the habit of giving necessary work preference over more agreeable diversions.
The reasons students give for not attending classes are manifold but commonly are defended on the grounds that no one but the student loses or should be concerned if he chooses to pay for instruction and not accept delivery. Those who argue so fail to recognize the obligations of joining an enterprise which is cooperative.
The importance of regular attendance varies according to the methods of instruction used in the class and the nature of the subject. Any interruption in the day- by-day progression of the work may prevent the proper development of subjects such as the sciences and languages. In any subject a particular series of exercises may be of essential importance to every student. Absence from classes taught by discussion between students or between students and the instructor handicaps the entire class because the class profits from each man's questions and the statement of his opinions. Absence from lectures does not necessarily affect any one but the student himself and the student may be able to cover the material of the lecture by independent research.
PENALTIES FOR EXCESSIVE ABSENCE
New attendance regulations were devised which allow each instructor to determine the effect of absence at any specific time by an individual student in a particular course. It is the duty of the student to satisfy the instructor upon request regarding the propriety of any absence. The bearing of work missed upon the grade in a course will in every instance be determined by the instructor. The instructor cannot prevent a student from being absent, but after taking into account the student's explanation of his absence the instructor may choose between several courses of action. He may fail a student in all gradable work missed; allow only partial credit for making up the work; count the work missed neither for nor against the student and determine the final grade entirely upon other work completed; or, if the explanation is entirely satisfactory, he may provide an opportunity for the student to make up the work missed and allow him full credit.
The ultimate penalty for unreasonable or persistent absence is to drop the student from the course. Such action is taken by the Administration Committee upon the recommendation of the instructor and the departmental chairman. At some time previous to making such a recommendation the instructor is expected to notify the Dean of the student's negligence.
By common agreement members of the Faculty will treat as unavoidable absences those taken for sickness, for trips of college organizations, and for such serious emergencies as death in the family.
Both the principle and mechanics of the new regulations have been conceived without regard for the student who is careless of the consequences of his absence or willing to avoid them dishonestly. Up to the point where negligence is apparent or college discipline is affected, the relationship is confined to the parties concerned: the instructor and student. No provision has been made to verify the student's word but in unusual cases it is always possible to do so.
It may take some time for students to accustom themselves to determine the occasion of absence by virtue of reason rather than convenience, and some time for instructors to learn to evaluate excuses by reason rather than by routine. It is fundamental to the new system that consideration be given the time, cause, and effect circumstantial to each particular absence before any penalty is determined.
During the course of the year defects in the system may become apparent but I feel confident that the new system will work to the advantage of both undergraduates and Faculty.
The value of a college degree is measured at least in one dimension by the standard of scholarship required for its attainment. Even with such an effective admissions system as we have, we occasionally enroll men who prove to be incompetent. The relationship to the College of students who cannot or will not meet the minimal standards must be severed and it is to the advantage of both parties to effect this separation just as soon as their incompatibility is certain. In fairness to the student there must be proper provision to give warning before the student is separated. It is the duty of the Administration Committee to determine the necessity of such action and they do so after careful examination of the records of all students who in any semester make an unsatisfactory average. The record of any one semester is not often conclusive, and the Committee takes into account the previous record and the prospect of improvement which is to some degree dependent on the student's attitude. In doubtful cases further evidence is taken during a probationary period.
PROBATION MORE SERIOUS
For many years probation has been imposed for such a wide variety of reasons that it was quite logical for students to compare being on probation in its seriousness to a black eye rather than to a fractured skull and to do nothing about it accordingly. Under new regulations going into effect this semester it has been made harder to get on probation and impossible to get off—at least in the sense that after one probationary period the subsequent record can never again be unsatisfactory. Only men seriously in danger of being separated will be put on probation for unsatisfactory scholarship. All students whose average is less than 1.5 will be warned, this warning being roughly equivalent to probation under the old regulations. Some men warned will be made ineligible depending entirely upon the need for restriction of their activities.
The new regulations are planned to protect men in future classes by warning them before they fail to meet the new conditions for admission to the junior class and before their averages can drop to a position from which graduation is impossible. The student who is passing his courses with very low grades will normally have three warnings and three opportunities to show improvement before being separated from college. Even the student who makes a very bad record in some particular semester will normally have a period of probation to demonstrate his fitness to remain in college, but no student will be allowed to remain unless there is a fair prospect that he will meet the quality requirements and eventually secure his degree.
It has been a difficult task to foresee all of the complications that might develop from such major changes of policy as those inaugurated this year. It will be interesting to see what develops from this first attempt to put into practice procedures that have been carefully tested in theory. While it may prove to be necessary to make changes later on we are confident that in general the steps taken will prove to be advantageous to the College and its students.
DEAN L. K. NEIDLINGER
DEAN OF THE COLLEGE
