I remember a colleague pontificating about irresponsible students.  She emphatically proclaimed in disgust, “Why can’t they make their doctors’ appointments at times when class is not scheduled.”  I decided not to point out that she had recently missed several classes due to illness.

Yet, my colleague had identified a problem that has been getting worse during the past couple of years; the student who misses class and (1) does not realize that there are consequences for lack of attendance, (2) makes no effort to minimize those consequences, and (3) believes that they should receive automatic credit for the missed work.

One of the differences between when professors miss class and students miss class is that we know we are held accountable for our absence.  At a minimum, we are required to fill out a time and attendance report if we miss class due to illness.  If it is a planned absence, we work with the dean’s office to make sure that classes are appropriately covered.  However, there are no such processes for students who miss class.  Therefore, I created a “Time and Attendance Report” which students are required to complete if they miss or plan to miss class.

The form begins:

If you plan to miss class and want to request the opportunity to make arrangements to submit work late or to come up with a plan to make up work missed during the time you are gone, you must complete the Time and Attendance Report and submit it to me at least one week before your absence.  If you are ill or miss class for an extraordinary circumstance and want to submit a late assignment or have the opportunity to make up missed work, you must complete the Time and Attendance Report within 48 hours of the class you missed.  Submitting the report does not guarantee that your request will be approved.

On the Time and Attendance Report, students are required to list the reason for their absence as well as the arrangements they made or will make to learn the material that was (will be) missed.  It does not take students long to complete the report and I have found it has several advantages.

1. A link is made between class attendance and learning course competencies.
2. Students are taught to be pro-active in making arrangements to make up missed work.
3. Students who are going to miss a future class are encouraged to begin making arrangements at least a week prior to their absence.
4. Because the Time and Attendance Report is included in my syllabus, it gives me the opportunity to explain how work in class builds on itself; that a one day absence could affect a series of assignments.
5. Because students are required to state the reason for their absence, they need to consider the true validity of their reason for missing class.
6. If a student approaches me about making up work and has not completed the Time and Attendance Report, I can respond, “There is nothing I can do to help you until you fill out the report.”  The student therefore maintains accountability for their actions and cannot shift responsibility for their behavior to me.
7. If the student had a planned absence and wants to make up work after returning, I can ask, “Why didn’t you complete the Time and Attendance Report before you left?”  Learning that there are consequences for actions can be unpleasant but is an important lesson.

In the two semesters I have utilized it, the Time and Attendance Report has had a positive impact in holding students accountable.  But, more importantly, it has given students a procedure to take responsibility for their learning even when life intrudes on their academics.

–Steven L. Berg, PhD

Photo Caption:  Screen capture from Fritz Lang’s Metropolis (1927).

Post Script:  The “Time and Attendance Report” is one of many handouts, worksheets, and tutorials available at Resources for Researchers.