I've been sick for about three weeks now, and I still have not completely recovered. Part of the reason for my prolonged sickness is that I was never given the chance to rest and get well, which I accredit to the university's lack of a clear and universal attendance policy.
College campuses breed disease between the lack of sleep, abundance of stress, cramped living areas, and the fact that we come into contact with several hundred people a day. The attendance policy outlined in the student handbook leaves the number of days missed up to the individual professor. That's great, but some professors give you only a small amount of days that you are allowed to miss before disciplinary actions are taken, which can include being removed from a class.
Having an attendance policy, in general, does not foster the type of individual that the university has repeatedly stated they want us to be. This overly vague policy provided by the university is harmful to its students.
I think a no attendance policy is far better. Each of us pays $40,000 a year to go here. If we want to waste our money by not going to class and not doing well in the course, why should the university stop us? Especially considering the fact that anybody who has a poor GPA have consequences such as academic probation, as per the student handbook.
Not to mention, not having an attendance policy provides students with an intrinsic desire to go to class, which in turn makes it more enjoyable. One of my professors does not allow for us to miss, unless we are sick and have been to the Wellness Center, which still does not provide time for recovery. As a result, I dread going to that class because I am forced to go.
On the other hand, another one of my professors has an open attendance policy. She could honestly care less if we are there. She wants us there, but because she does not force us to be there (with the exception of tests, quizzes, presentations, and graded discussions), the vast majority of the class is present. As a result, I love going to her class. Ironically, her class is at 8:10.
Hypothetically, I could sleep in, but because the choice is left up to me, I go to class because I want to. I'd argue that the majority of students at DePauw would make the same decision as me, simply because that is the type of student attracted to DePauw.
With being forced to go to class regardless, students come to class sick as a dog, which is detrimental to not only their health, but the health of others.
This vague policy leaves the decision on whether or not a student has to come to class, without any regard to certain circumstances, up to the professors, when the ultimate decision should be up to the individual student.
Thus, the university needs to revise its attendance policy and either have a set number of days that students can miss throughout a semester, or better yet, not have an attendance policy at all.
- DeCriscio is freshman from Ft. Wayne, Ind., majoring in political science.