Be There or B-
Rachel Jane Allen
The majority of professors at the University of Wyoming have some kind of attendance policy. It varies between departments, but the basic premise is that you get a certain number of unexcused absences without penalty. Any absences beyond that result in a deduction from your grade. Not all professors have this policy and I’ll be honest, that makes me happy. There was a time when I showed up to a class for the first couple of weeks, midterms, the final review, finals and nothing else.
I’m sure that many of you have been reprimanded for skipping by your professors, your parents or your peers. It doesn’t matter who scolds you, they all say the same thing: “You’re wasting money if you don’t go to class.” “Why aren’t you getting an education?” “You’re being irresponsible.” Sound familiar?
The truth is, they’re right. When you pay money for tuition, you’re paying for credits for the classes you take. So it actually costs you more when you don’t go because you’re not getting anything in return. The attendance policy is also an attempt to prepare you for the real world. You can’t just not show up to work and get away with it. Granted, not showing up to class only costs you some grade points while not showing up to work can cost you your job.
However, all of that aside, having mandatory class attendance just doesn’t give students any wiggle room. There are no absences provided for anything other than family emergencies or illness/injury. I’m sure that none of us want to go through the hassle of talking to student health to get a doctor’s note, especially when we’re bedridden with whatever virus is circulating at the time.
Let’s be honest. There are some days when you just. Don’t. Want. To. Go. That’s not really a valid excuse for playing hooky, but it happens. Whether it’s depression, exhaustion, stress or just plain old lethargy, there couldn’t possibly be any place more comfortable than your bed while everything in your body is screaming at you not to move. Sadly, professors won’t accept that as a reason for not attending, but I feel that it should really be the student’s decision. If the student’s decision is to sleep through every class, passing only be the skin of their teeth, or all-nighters and cramming, or by sheer dumb luck, maybe college really isn’t for them.
I believe it should be up to the students to decide whether or not they want/have to attend their classes.
Unfortunately, most students are not responsible enough to make the “right” decision and go to class, which is why the mandatory attendance policy is in place. If it were removed, that just encourages students to stay home and do the minimal amount of classwork. On the university’s part, it’s a good decision and I understand why it exists. However, I am writing as someone who got less than six hours of sleep. Screw the attendance policy. I’m staying in bed.
