One of the challenging issues for me is the conflicts that arise between coming to class and job interviews. At several of the schools where I have taught, profs are advised to be somewhat flexible with seniors who "have no choice" but to miss class for job interviews. Yes, it is (unfortunately?) much of the reason they're there in the first place but it has been troubling to me. My response is usually (1) everyone has choices, and (2) they can absolutely miss class but it will affect participation score.
But I'm left not feeling completely comfortable with that result, either . . .
Laura P. Hartman
Assoc. Vice President, Academic Affairs
Professor of Business Ethics
DePaul University, 1 E. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604
Ph: 312/362-6569, Fax: 312/362-6822
Cell: 312/493-9929
-----Original Message-----
From: Lee Reed <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Tue, 21 Feb 2006 19:36:16
To:[log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: student emails to profs.
About excuses for missing class . . . several years ago I
visited for a semester at one of our more prestigious schools.
Toward the end of the semester, a student I didn't recognize
came to my office, stated that she hadn't taken the midterm
exam--and in fact hadn't come to class at all--but now wished
to take a midterm exam, followed shortly by the final. I told
her I'd have to talk with the department head, which I did. To
my slight surprise, instead of saying "flunk her," he
responded to the situation by observing that this student's
parents were paying $40,000 a year for her schooling, and I
should give her a makeup and final.
I did give her the exams (and she escaped with a "D" as I
remember), but I'll never forget how she replied when I asked
her why she hadn't come to class at all. Now, I've had similar
situations arise at Georgia, but the explainations are so
pedestrian, involving relationship problems, family
imbroglios, sickness, etc. When I asked this Ivy League
student why she hadn't come to class at all, she looked me in
the eye unflinchingly and replied, "Professor Reed, my
psychiatrist says I have movivational disfunction syndrome."
Oh, I thought, you're lazy! And that's the best excuse for
missing class I've ever heard.
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